Deborah Guzzi

Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version (KJV)
To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Time passes as the lay of the land calls
the tread of the seekers and penitents.
The sun God Apollo reigned overall,
beauty, wisdom, healing bought him acclaim.

The land of Provence is full of the fruit of life,
a cornucopia of bounty grows in hallowed
valleys along the slopes of the Maritime Alps-
all which can grow, will grow here.

Centuries pass and the lay of the land calls,
cross the sea from Palestine comes Maximin
to the shores, with Magdalene through the squalls
in Larzarus’ boat. A small chapel, he begins.

Dedicated to the Holy Saviour (le Saint Sauveur)
Sainted Maximinus of Aix grew his flock.

Time passes as the lay of the land calls;
the Saracens invade, fell the chapel’s hall.
No war, or plague, stopped the rebuilding of walls.
St-Sauveur rose again a place of worship for all.

A thousand years and more have passed in this sacred space,
a thousand years of birth, and marriages and death.
A thousand years and more, still song rises as the
choir sings, the organ’s pipes sound a youthful swell.