France had fallen
Under foreign control
The British had invaded Orleans
On the fate of which
Hung the entire kingdom
Royal factions did intensify
Rumors about affairs did petrify
The Hundred Years War
For Aquitaine
Was fought with much pain
The rich land in the southwest
For which England lusteth
They did for some time rule
In the 12th century
Though this would not
Forever be
As for the French army
They had won no major victory
For a generation
Nevertheless their prayers were heard
By God above
Who shined upon Joan
With mercy and love
Visiting her with repeated visions
Hearing God’s voice
Speak to her ever so clearly
Joan surrendered to
The heavenly
And embraced the divine call
Wholeheartedly
She obtained an interview
With the commander at Vancoulers
Tirelessly pushing through the doubters
It was then that she
Finally explained her mission
France’s regime was in desperation
Thus Joan was sent
Fervently she went
Dressed in soldier’s clothes
To Charles VII
Miraculously and prophetically
Joan revealed to him secrets
That were known
Only by Charles and God
Hence Charles gave Joan
A suit of white armor
Though with God’s hand
Fully upon her
She was already clothed
With honor and splendor
Joan like a Bible Seer
Instructed her attendants
Where to go to fetch her sword
Seeing by the Spirit
Speaking forth the word
She gave the location
With certainty and no hesitation
Behind the altar of St. Catherine’s Church
Although Joan had never been there before
Such divine inspiration
Opened the door
Releasing a spirit of faith
A force from on high
By which she courageously
Inspired her soldiers to battle
To bravely persevere
To recover her homeland
From English domination
To victoriously bring about
King Charles VII’s coronation
The English however were clever
And had nearly achieved their goal
Of a dual monarchy
Under their control
Nevertheless loyal to the French crown
Joan and company
Did valiantly
Proceed to fight the enemy
Though surrounded
Their love for their country abounded
Joan made the journey
Fearlessly
Through Burgundian territory
As a man in disguise
Her relentless leadership
One cannot despise
Though but a 17 year old peasant girl
She had fire in her eyes
Uneducated but learned in heart
From such a vigorous passion
No soldier can depart
Thus she was given permission
To travel with the army
Wear the equipment of a knight
Though wounded
She did continue to fight
Motivating her troops
Day and night
Uplifting her standard
Above her sword
This woman
Was no coward
Demoralized and discredited
After years of humiliating defeat
One after another
France had found in Joan
A spiritual mother
To fortify its spirit
Arouse its will power
Before their hope in God
Departed and went sour
Joan aggressively arose
Beseeching the king of England
To settle his debt
To the king of Heaven
Return to His maiden
His French envoy
The keys to all the towns
He had taken and violated
For such hostility
Would no longer
Be tolerated
Joan also defied the French
Despite their cautious strategy
Joan went forth offensively
A skilled orator and tactician
A successful strategist
The lioness rode out
To capture the fortress
Of Saint Augustins
Marched through towns
Near Paris
Assaulting the English stronghold
The army becoming increasingly bold
Pulling an arrow from her shoulder
Though wounded
Joan returned ever bolder
Indefatigably leading the charge
Chasing the English out
Bringing about a triumphant route
Accepting more peaceful surrenders
Continually gaining more supporters
Ready to honorably make peace
Expressing the gentleness
Of the king of France
Yet cautiously examining every truce
Lest it merely be a trap and noose
Enduring accusations
About her character being loose
On what grounds?
The length of her hair
The clothes she did wear
Her faith in God
By which she did dare
To hear His voice and obey
Much more than
The slothful priests of her day
Others did say
She was a heretic
Some claimed a witch
Not so, it was they
Who were bewitched
By the devil himself
And his hellish envoys
Who employed
A political ploy
By which to overtake France
Overturn justice
Appear religious
Though they were slanderous
As for Joan
She feared Christ
Wholeheartedly gave Him
Her precious young life
Upheld her calling and testimony
Even while in prison
Where she was threatened greatly
Though martyrdom drew near
Joan held to her cause
And never did fear
Joan remained a pure virgin
Even unto execution
Though the British soldiers
Sought to molest her
Subject and rape her
This holy woman
Born of the Spirit
Who they called illiterate
Spoke eloquently
Truthfully and wisely
Baffling the scholarly
While remaining in God’s grace
Yet not uplifting her face
Not seeking self-exaltation
Nor desiring self-preservation
Preferring to fulfill
Her God-given mission
Telling whosoever would hear it
As for the ecclesiastical and political
They made assumptions and errs doctrinal
Proved themselves to be incorrigible
Disregarding the 10 Commandments
Particularly
“Thou shalt not kill”
Preferring to major on the minors
With Pharisaical skill
Split theological hairs
Concern themselves
With the length of Joan’s hair
As for her divine mandate
They did not care
Such insincere and evil men
Were very unfair
Nevertheless
Truth did eventually prevail
The executioner
Who burned Joan to the stake
Later stated
That he greatly feared
The damnation of hellfire
For burning a holy woman
Yet today
She burns on!
Her spirit
Is alive and well
Her mission she accomplished
Freeing France triumphant
Spiritually glorious
Giving hope to us
That God still speaks
To whosoever will
That He anoints sons and daughters
To hear and see
To arise and move prophetically
There is no male or female
In Christ our Lord
Performance over dress
By obedience to the call
We are blessed
Joan you successfully destroyed
Gender bias
Proving yourself pious
The pope himself
Later recanted
Overturning her excommunication
Declaring Joan of Arc a saint
A liberator
That did not faint
A revolutionary
Of the highest quality
A burning light
To every generation
Joan you received
Your vindication
Your fight against
Foreign occupation
Brought your beloved France
Liberation
Today you remain to all
A source of inspiration.