I Am With Saint Jerome Poem by Mark Heathcote

Born anew each day into the light and dark
Woken from the cradle, placed into the grave
We are born both sinners and Saints
No good pretending you is one or the other
Because honestly, you-is-neither
We are born both sinners and saints
No good thinking you've turned a corner

Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Sisters and brothers, I am with Saint Jerome
I've left the wilderness
I've taken this scribe by the hand
I've turned over blackjack-card-tables and come home
I've transcribed the bible manifold in my mind
I've turned over a-new-leaf in my miserable soul.

With ink, blood and my marrowbone
I've toiled and died in both ports alone staring into the dark
Straight-jacketed fed to wolves I've loved you
And worn both evil and good crowns
Every soul is sinful, indulged and loose
But sisters and brothers
It takes a Saint a saint-like Saint Jerome born anew

To do it day and night in the light or the dark
It takes a Pentecostal spurred-rooster
To crow on high, hallelujah, hallelujah!
And spit in your eye and say he's never going to die
Say by God's grace I've left the wilderness
We are born both sinners and Saints

But brothers and sisters
But sisters and brothers
I've been born again, I've been baptised again, amen.
I am with Saint Jerome
I've left the wilderness
Do you silly people believe me?
There are riches that can't deceive the sunshine, not even mine.