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A Poem for Martinmas
On 11.11 – Martinmas, Veterans Day, Armistice Day
St. Martin
a poem by Eugene Schwartz
“St. Martin, St. Martin, a Roman soldier bold,
Swiftly on his snow-white steed through icy streets once rode,
Not fearing bleak November skies nor numbing winds so cold!
An aged, ailing beggar Martin met upon his way,
“Oh, could you spare a coin for one so poor, my lord, I pray?
“Oh, would you save a soul who suffers from the chill this day?”
Martin drew his cloak more tightly ’round his shoulders broad;
Bright red was the woolen cloak that stretched from helm to sword;
Only Roman soldiers wore such warmth as their reward.
Yet the wind cut keenly through the rags the beggar wore;
Beneath the soldier’s Roman garb a Christian heart grew sore–
From his armor Martin now the woolen mantle tore.
With his sword he cut the bright red cloak in pieces two:
“What was one I’ll double so that it may be shared with you!”
(Multiplying by dividing was a secret Martin knew!)
Martin dreamed a wondrous dream upon that icy night:
Hosts of angels drew him upwards to the starry heights,
Where the Lord his mantle wore, wrapped in radiance of light.
“It was I in beggar’s guise who asked your charity;
You were wise to trust to heart and give so graciously–
For what you do to any one you do so unto Me.”
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Written by : Jean Cavanaugh
Jean Cavanaugh is the founder and steward of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, established in 2019 as a living, learning community devoted to reconnecting people with the wisdom of nature, the sacred order of creation, and the presence of Christ within all life. Her work brings together spiritual formation, ecological stewardship, ancestral wisdom, and hands-on community practice.
Through years of practical work on the land, study of the Mysteries, and the healing of her own severe health challenges through natural methods, Jean has come to recognize God’s hand at work throughout creation. Her teachings, rooted in the Mystery School tradition and Christian gnosis, explore how the patterns of heaven, earth, and the human body reveal the way back to divine presence, peace, and inner strength.
Jean leads with honesty, integrity, and a deeply welcoming spirit, inviting others to let go of inherited assumptions and rediscover truth through lived experience and embodied understanding. She works with all ages—from preschoolers to elders—offering programs and celebrations that emphasize direct engagement with nature, music, story, homesteading skills, and in-person community.
She and her family live at the 21-acre Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, where daily life reflects a commitment to simplicity, beauty, and harmony with the land. The sanctuary includes gardens, woodland trails, a seasonal creek, gathering circles, and spaces designed to nourish both people and wildlife. Jean is especially passionate about creating environments that are grounding, beautiful, and spiritually restorative.
Through her writing and teaching, Jean encourages others to know themselves, know creation, and recognize Christ as the living truth present within and around us—always inviting a return to love, beauty, and the sacred order of life.
