Whose Good Night?

(after viewing the painting, “Jesuit Martyr-Saints of North America”)

The Jesuits do not want to go gentle into their good night
even though it’s the fastest way to martyrdom and halos;
they hold up crucifixes to show they’re in the right.

Those wise men stand firm, let the tomahawk take a bite, 
say their prayers at the stake as flames nibble their toes 
but they’d rather not go gentle into God’s goodnight.

Pierced with Indian arrows still full feathered in flight,
struck dumb by wooden warclub’s brutish blows
they hold up crucifixes to show they’re still in the right 

See, already they ascend into heaven, a glorious sight 
treading soft fluffy clouds with their heads all aglow; 
already it’s worth it, going so gently into good night. 

Brave men far from home, faith your only might  
Let go, let God, above all let baptismal waters flow! 
Hold up your crucifixes of gold to show you’re in the right 

Attend your Father, your angels, look down from new height
Forgive us, we’re savages made simply, from clay.
We refused to go into colonization’s good night.  
We gave up our bodies, we’re martyrs too, right?