Walburgas 09 Poem
Waving wheat once left for weaving
When watching wide in walking wake
Field of toil grown to broad, ford, falls and fruiting
For beast, on bare, from blessed to bake
Best loved grains wove for leaving
Thankful tresses, the toll for take
Is saving corn now just for cleaving?
No feast, no fair, just ill dressed and fake!
Rock and oil just sown to hoard, with walls and shooting?
No! The crowning glory's the pity's sake
Bring smoothing gains to enwrap the grieving
Then bank full blessings from the joy you make.
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Below is on the inside face of the card
I sent the 1st Walburgas card decades ago. I forgot Valentines, picked St Walburga's Day, 25th Feb., and did a card with a drawing and poem; claiming she was the Patron Saint of lost greeting cards and forgetfulness. The only effect was probably an increase in the demand for banning orders, but I thought it was a great idea, and have done a card almost every year since. This should also be the fourth year I have done a Walburgas Show.
Below is on the inside opposite face
St Walburga (there are various spellings) turned out to be one of the most important women in 8th Century Europe. Born around 710 in what was becoming England. She became a nun at Wimbourne, went to Germany and became Abbess of Heidenheim in Germany, ruling over monks and nuns. Oil oozed from from the rock beneath her shrine. Other symbols include wheat, and a crown and sceptre. Walpurgisnacht is named after her. (for more see The A&C Black Book of Saints, B. Watkins.). I know of 3 19th Century churches dedicated to her in England, including a big one in Preston, and one in Shipley, near Bradford .
The picture is water-colour and some pencil. Ageing computer and software meant I had to combine scans with Adobe Elements. The 5 pointed signature star is based on what my Finnish grandpa marked on the net floats he made. Apart from Walburga references the wheat also represents the dolly my grandma made with the last few strands of standing corn; woven with special words and left uncut. It also looks a bit like a crown, and a pylon (one of my usual artistic themes) or an oil derrick.
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