Welcome back to The Daily Poem, a podcast from Goldberry Studios.

I'm Sean Johnson, and today is Friday, December 6th, 2024.

And today is the Feast of St. Nicholas.

It is St. Nicholas Day.

This is a very exciting day in my own life, because it is the birthday of my dear and wonderful friend, David Kern, the original founder of the Daily

Poem. It is also the name day of my son, Nicholas. And just yesterday, our newest godson

named Nicholas was born into this world, so lots of celebrating in our household. But we are not alone.

There is an even greater reason for festivity. It is the day for commemorating St. Nicholas,

who was Bishop of Mira in what is now modern day Turkey. He lived from 270 to 343 and was

famed for his works of charity, especially to the poor,

and at least while he could manage it, his charitable work done in anonymity.

Today's poem comes from English poet, an Anglican priest, also occasional rock and roller, Malcolm Geite,

who has written and published many lovely poems following the cycles of feasts and seasons

in the Christian liturgical year.

This poem is entitled simply St. Nicholas, and it is a sonnet that is appropriately

earnest and free of ostentation, and commends to the reader, the various Christmas virtues that St. Nicholas exemplified his generosity and his charity,

most of all. And Guy even concludes the sonnet by commending to us something that is

downright subversive and countercultural in a world saturated with self-published social media photo opportunities,

and that is the charitable work done in secret.

Here is Malcolm Guides' sonnet, St. Nicholas.

St. Nicholas, protector of the poor, gift giver, wonder worker, patron saint,

renew our generosity and pour afresh on us your spirit without stint,

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