The Passion of Joan of Arc

(A found poem extracted from the fourth and fifth public examinations of Joan of Arc, February 27 and 28th, 1431)

I fasted every day,

heard voices many times,

I saw the Saints adorned with crowns,

by the angels of God's heaven town.

I sent letters to the king,

I went to seek a sword in church,

behind the altar it was found,

there the sword was in the ground.

I had a banner of the field,

with the lilies painted there,

I went to Orleans, Saint Loup,

and afterwords the bridge,

was there I raised a holy siege

for king, my king, my liege

I in the neck was wounded,

was cured by my two saints.

My work revealed by voices,

blessed, blessed, heavenly respite,

of angel voices echoing

into my darkest night.