Her father understood the three windows
in her new bath house proved her conversion.
Patron saint of mathematics– pray for us.
He oversaw her torture but the fire snuffed out,
by morning all her wounds had healed.
Patron saint of extreme events – pray for us.
He beheaded her himself and she swore before dying
that to call her name in distress would bring relief.
Patron saint of the Italian Navy – pray for us.
Heading home in a thunderstorm,
her father was consumed by flame.
Patron saint of lightning – pray for us.
In 1969 she was cut from the Litany;
her story judged to be entirely fabulous.
Patron saint of fireworks – grant us peace.
Eithne Hand is a writer, radio and theatre producer from Greystones, Co Wicklow in Ireland. In 2021 she was an Artist in Residence at the Hawk’s Well Theatre in Sligo. Her first poetry collection Fox Trousers was launched by Salmon Poetry in February 2021 and her second collection will be published in spring 2024.
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