Asceticism Of The Celtic Monks. Poem by Dr. Antony Theodore

St. David „the Waterman"
stood for hours in the waters of Alun River
Chanting psalms.
A naked woman was paraded in front of him
to induce him to leave the chill of the river
to find warmth, presumably in her arms.

St. Cuthbert, too stood in the frigid waters
of the North Sea to say his prayers,
Many are the report of the celtic monasteries having only bread, water, and a few vegetables as their normal diet. Extreme asceticism and bodily mortification were an accepted part of the Christian life for the early Irish Peregrini.
Their theology was: the Christian's life must be a constant warfare against self-will and gratification of the senses.
(This is not a poem. Simply giving notions of people who tried in different ways to achieve the nearness of God) .