A Trio of Villanelles for Allhallowtide
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A Trio of Villanelles for Allhallowtide
by Malcolm Bryan McGregor, member of St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Dallas, TX
As Dusk Descends to Usher in This Hallowed Night
A Villanelle for All Hallows’ Eve
As dusk descends to usher in this hallowed night,
Vigil candles glow, while lustered prayers entreat
All those of faithful heart to inwardly burn bright.
The world delights in jack-o-lanterns’ eerie sight,
Droves of costumed children rove to trick-or-treat,
As dusk descends to usher in this hallowed night.
Yet we keep watch, our vespers to recite,
All Hallows’ Eve reminds a tension bittersweet:
Recalling those whose faithful hearts burned bright,
Presaging holy feast, to celebrate the fight
The Church Triumphant waged without retreat;
The task descends to us, we say this hallowed night.
Church Militant wars not with superficial frights,
But unseen principalities in fiery heat,
Faithful hearts embattled, yet inwardly burn bright.
Combat the darkness, now don armaments of light,
Not carnal weaponry, but mighty through the Paraclete.
As dusk descends to usher in this hallowed night,
Might all of faithful heart still inwardly burn bright.
The Glorious Company of the Saints
A Villanelle for All Saints’ Day
Christ builds his holy Church against Hell’s fell constraints,
He beckons each elect by name to his embrace,
For all to join the glorious company of the Saints.
The Patriarchs endured sore trials without complaints,
They longed in hope to see God’s guarantees take place:
The promised seed to save against Hell’s fell constraints.
The Prophets suffered as they voiced their plaints,
Yet only saw through darkened glass Messiah’s face,
Before they joined the glorious company of the Saints.
Apostles touched the Word made flesh – seen not a feint,
But the true cornerstone – they preached Good News of grace:
The Church’s sure foundation built ’gainst Hell’s constraints.
The Martyrs rather died than yield to earthly taints,
Their blood still boldly testifies through time and space,
In death they joined the glorious company of the Saints.
This cloud of witnesses fain urge us not to faint,
Enjoin we persevere and run with faith the race.
Christ builds his Church victorious over Hell’s constraints,
We join rejoicing with the glorious company of the Saints.
All Souls Who’ve Entered Into Rest
A Villanelle for All Souls’ Day
Remember souls who’ve entered into rest,
Their time of mortal coil spent ever true,
These faithful ones who are forever blest.
The death of neonates and babes who ne’er transgressed,
Rachel’s rueful tears the soil of tiny graves bedew,
Lamenting innocents so soon called into rest.
We long for those whose parting aches our breast,
Our kith and kin with oil lamps trimmed, they flew
As ready faithful ones, forever blest.
Ancestors who, each generation, stood the test,
Bequeathed unspoiled to us faith’s legacy, we do
Remember souls who’ve entered into rest.
Each servant of the Lord, whose Gospel they professed,
In death their ardent toil was met, “Well done”. They knew
All faithful ones would be forever blest.
From every land whose tongues the risen Lord confessed,
The sting of death despoiled and hollowed through.
In hope remember souls who’ve entered into rest.
All faithful ones will be forever blest.
Malcolm and Kathi McGregor first visited All Saints Dallas in early September 2015. At that time they learned of the new church plant intended for East Dallas in the coming weeks. They have been with (what was later named) Saint Bartholomew’s Anglican Church from its beginning. Malcolm’s poetic interests go back to his days at Wheaton College in the mid-1970s. When he retired from the insurance claims profession in 2024, he resumed composing poetry.
Posted with permission.
