The Three Fishermen Poem by Jürgen Wagner

The bishop's ship, it made a stop
On an island far away
The cleric walked along the shore
Discovered in a bay

Three fishermen, they mended nets
And greeted him so kind
'We are Christians, just like you,
and have the peace of mind! '

'What do you pray, the bishop asked? '
They answered, ''so we call:
'Three are you, three are us
Have mercy on us all! '''

The bishop was surprised and said:
'Lord's prayer you don't know?
I'll teach you, poor old fishermen
That's, what I can bestow'

'We've never heard it anywhere
Instruct us, holy man! '
He taught them patiently at shore
Reciting again and again

The next day, he set sail at morn
And had'nt got so far
He could hardly trust his eyes:
'Three men, oh yes, they are! '

They came to him across the waves
The prayer 'd slipped their mind
'What were the words? Please say again! '
The bishop then inclined:

'Oh, holy men, return once more
Speak simple words so pure
I'm humbled to my very core
You're at Heaven's door, for sure! '