Happy St. George's Day to all my family and friends in England........and those of you who have crossed oceans but continue to celebrate your 'Englishness' elsewhere.It was good to hear that Prime Minister Gordon Brown marked today by flying St. George's flag over No. 10 Downing Street - a symbol that was lacking in recent years.
For England, St. George's Day marks its National Day. Traditional customs include wearing a red rose in one's lapel, singing the beautiful hymn "Jerusalem" in a cathedral, church or chapel......................and then heading on over to the local pub for a quick pint which, as you probably know, is the Englishman's cure for everything!!
Below are the powerful words of William Blake's poem which, set to amazing music by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, was a hymn/song every English child learned at an early age. We always loved to sing it and I must admit it still brings tears to my eyes and pride to my heart.
Jerusalem
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green
And was the holy lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark Satanic mills
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spears o'clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire
I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land
-crop.JPG)
