Maewyn Saccat

Now this is the legend of Maewyn Saccat,
a wee bairn who later became Old St. Pat.
He was born in the fair British Isles long ago
in the year of our Lord 3-8-7 or so.

When just a lad, Maewyn was stolen away
and sold into slavery; he there learned to pray.
He relied on his faith in his God to keep
focused and strong while he tended sheep.

He spent many years in Eire as a teen
where he came to love this Land o’ the Green.
He escaped from his captors and arriving back home
he vowed he’d return to the black Irish loam.

In a vision, God called him, so without concern
to the Emerald Isle he did soon return.
This country he loved; he would leave it never.
For Maewyn, now, it was Ireland forever.

He became legend in that fair lovely place
He banished the snakes—of them there’s no trace!
The shamrock he used with its leaves of three
in his teachings to explain the Blessed Trinity.

He lived his whole life in service to God
converting the pagans o'er all Ireland’s sod.
He died, it is said, on March 17.
We now celebrate him by wearin’ the green.

He’s believed to be buried in Old County Down.
St. Patrick, nee Maewyn, was quite renowned.
He’ll long be remembered and held in awe,
as the Patron Saint of Erin go braugh.