Easter Tuesday 2010
St Thomas’ Day
On this day each year, 21st December,
you, pious, pragmatic parson,
called together the poor of your parish
and dispensed charity and a feast.
(1788, “to 56 poor People of my Parish
at 6d. each gave £1.8.0.”),
Each expense meticulously entered,
as your father taught you,
for the avoidance of doubt.
Through many long years
you kept away from doubt
and kept your records,
James Woodforde, Parson,
Fellow of New College
and Gentleman.
But the years tested you
with love’s disappointment,
the trials of your family
the threats of enemies at home and abroad,
the fierceness of weather
and the frailty of your health near the end.
Devout yet reticent
you knew your place
in the order of society,
God’s and the King’s.
You knew how to party!
You knew how to regret and repent!
You have opened windows for us
to see into your lifetime.
But what would you make of us,
who pick and choose what we take for granted,
and what we want, like Thomas, to doubt?
One day we shall meet and feast together,
and there will no longer be the poor.
(C) David Grieve 2010
