Last Three Words

 (of St. Thomas More)

To his best friend, Sir Thomas lost his head,
the patron saint of lawyers was well versed
in both the law and Church, but last he said,
“I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

Though England’s chancellor by the king’s decree,
he fled his friend’s new faith--his fate was grim,
still to the axeman’s doubts, these words said he:
“He’ll not spurn one so blithe to go to Him.”

From Rome, the English Church King Henry broke,
death he decreed if one did not belong,
pushing aside his beard, Tom made a joke:
“Don’t cut this please for it has done no wrong.”

St. Thomas trumped the king by what he’d say,
we keep his last three famous words today.

                         by Pete Voelz      12/19/14