Crown Poetry Summer AS LVI
From MiddleWiki
Bards of Sternfeld Praise Poetry Project
Crown Tournament, Summer AS LVI
7/17/2021
Introduction
MiddleWiki Notes
The complete PDF may be found on the Midrealm facebook group waiting link
To link to a specific poem
You may link to a specific poem by putting the following code on your middlewiki page:
[[Crown Poetry Summer AS LVI#Full Name as in the header|Name]]
(note: no spaces before or after the vertical bar)
For example, to link to the poem about Duchess AnneLyse van Gavere, you would enter:
[[Crown Poetry Summer AS LVI#Duchess AnneLyse van Gavere|Duchess AnneLyse van Gavere]]
which would look like
Introduction To The Compilation
Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, Lords, Ladies, Gentlefolk all – warmest greetings!
In the Coronation ceremony of the Middle Kingdom, there is a monologue where the King instructs the Tanist "This is what it means to be a King." There's a phrase - "And in the time of famine or leanness, as must come from time to time in every land...." My dear friends and companions, we find ourselves living through That Time. It has been a bitter, longlasting pestilence, and many have lost precious friends and family. None of us are untouched. But the longest night must end at last, and so the first glimmers of daylight smile upon the Middle Kingdom. Words have power, and I hope this collection of words starts to bring back some of the sense of normalcy, and returning to the things that have brought us joy in the SCA.
Our greatest praise and thanks go to Their Now-Ex Majesties Felix and Madeleina. They bravely faced the unknown, and kept our kingdom together as best anyone could, with shenanigans and sincerity and the magic of Zoom. This Longest Reign was truly a trial by fire, and the Middle Kingdom was blessed to have these two at the helm.
The tradition of the Crown Tourney Praise Poetry Project so far has been to write for the Combattants in the Fall, and the Consorts in the Spring. Honoring both the unusuallness of a SUMMER Tourney and the uncharacteristically short list, we decided to throw tradition to the wind and write for BOTH.
Thank you, beloved readers, for giving us the gift of your time and interest. It is sooooo good to share with you all again.
In Service,
Bards of Sternfeld Praise Poetry Project Crown Tournament - July 17, 2021
Lady Albreda Ismeria, Baron Breddelwynn ap Taliesin, Lady Brigitta Rosa von Metten, Lord Dai Gerdwr, Baroness JahanAra amat al-Hafeeza al-Shayka, Lady Líadan Liathán, Baroness Lizabetta von Atzinger, Lady Meadhbh Ramsay, Lady Maddie Wyatt, Lady Morgan Woodsende, Baroness Sophia The Orange (Atlantia), Lady Tualaith of Sternfeld, Sef Wulfwen atte Belle, and Maestra Lucia Elena Braganza
Duchess AnneLyse van Gavere
Honored by Duke Ullr Amaranthson
By Lady Albreda Ismeria
Bright her mind is, ever learning
Patience deeper than the ocean
Travel far, then home returning
Research any craft or notion
Metal melting, fiber turning
Brewing up the cattle’s potion
Bright her mind is, ever learning
Patience deeper than the ocean
Mind flies fast, an arrow burning,
Calm in clatter and commotion
Earning Dragonsmark devotion
Skills increasing, ever yearning
Bright her mind is, ever learning
Patience deeper than the ocean
Trochaic Rondel
The Rondel is a 14th-15th century French style with fourteen lines of verse. The first two lines repeat at the end of the second and third stanzas.
Jarl Ullr Amaranthson
Honoring Duchess AnneLyse van Gavere
by Maestra Lucia Elena Braganza
Ullr stands bright shining
Scion of the self-knight
Amaranth his ancestor
Architect of Trotheim
Aesir-favored farmer
Finds fun in plain functions
Fjord-flame of Cariadoc
Calls renown to crown list
Style: Drottkvaett (almost) – a Norse form for praising rulers, four couplets with alliteration and internal rhyme.
Kennings fjord-flame = crown fjord-flame of Cariadoc = Midrealm Crown
THL Aveline de Ceresbroch
Honored by Sir Lothar Nachtshatten
by Lady Brigitta Rosa von Metten
Here in the summertime sunshine
Comes bold, brave, brilliant Aveline.
Strong and fearless in word and deed,
She is worthy of noble creed.
To Lothar she brings love and light,
Inspiring him in every fight
Whatever task she takes to hand
She follows through to the end.
Uncompromising in desires,
She fearlessly pursues, acquires
Anything she seeks; she believes
That her success will be achieved.
She is a queen in Lothar’s eyes.
Her grace is not a mere disguise.
Her eagerness and love for life
Will guide our Midrealm through all strife.
12th century French Lai style
Sir Lothar Nachtshatten
Honoring THL Aveline de Ceresbroch
by Baroness Sophia The Orange
A Journey Blessed By Aveline
A great man pained by heartache and
The natr'l shocks of life's long span
Can face a new tall summit climb
His journey blessed by Aveline.
We judge him not by height nor scars.
His shining head nor lightning spars.
We view him through the friends he finds,
His family blessed by Aveline.
A wide arena spreads before
A man who's seen his share or more
Of Dragons, Tigers, Wizard's crimes
And vanquished them for Aveline.
Today's arena tests him more.
He's been down this hard path before.
With love and friends from distant times.
This one he fights for Aveline.
Style = 16th century French Kyrielle
Lady Anne Mulligan
Honored by Master Tonis van Driele
by Lady Líadan Liathán
Anne Mulligan owns eyes for line,
For color, texture, and design,
For subtle art in image fine.
Creatrix’ tools she wields.
Though capsicum may lay her low,
She understands her body’s foe
And arms it well to fend all blows
On many battlefields.
So soft of voice and sweet of smile,
And absent of the hint of guile,
Do not mistake her gentle style,
Tried, tested, and annealed.
They underestimate who look,
See but the binder of a book
With needle, thread and tooling hook;
Not fighter there concealed.
Respected by her friends and spouse,
Anne guards the gateway of her house,
Her motto: ‘B‘ware the roaring mouse’
That dons sword, pen, and shield.
Irish poetic form ochtfochlach.
Master Tonis van Driele
Honoring Lady Anne Mulligan
by Lady Tualaith of Sternfeld
In praise of Tonis this poet speaks.
He has been training many weeks.
For his Lady Anne he seeks
To rule the kingdom of the Middle.
Often sharing his noble largess
By lending aid to those in distress
Or acting in surreptitiousness
His kindness has helped several.
Involved in harmless shenanigan
With sparkling eyes he stops to grin
And always let’s the Nancy win
He is the jovial gentle
When proclamations are required
By Royal court he has been hired.
His voice projects like munitions fired
Yet softly also as a flower petal.
With skillful hands Tonis wields
For fighting on the battlefields
Rapiers, poles, swords and shields
This day he tests his mettle.
Cpt. Magrat Catte
Honoring Duke Palymar of the Two Baronies
Honored by Duke Palymar of the Two Baronies
by Baroness Lisabetta von Atzinger
Tiny but fierce, Magrat takes the field
To win the day for a crown of gold
With noble force she will never yield.
Graceful visage, a sight to behold
With sword and shield our hero takes arms
All challengers by her strength controlled.
As Queen by right this conqueror charms.
Solemnly she makes a sacred vow
To protect her Kingdom from all harms.
Red-headed warrior, brave and bold
Fights with honor for tradition old.
Terza Rima
Duke Palymar of the Two Baronies
Honoring Cpt. Magrat
Honored by Cpt. Magrat
by Lord Dai Gerdwr
He is the "true and perfect gentle knight"
Who fights to take his Captain to the height
For which she fights to raise his state as well -
While honest truth must state both would excel,
Indulge this Poet to concern his praise
Upon Our Duke and such Tales of his days
That all may know the fullness of Esteem
Where Arm and Heart give service to the Dream.
Though Arm is thought to make a Consort Queen,
The Heart is stronger still, but seldom seen
Except when Duty calls as fates demand:
To guard an empty throne and tend the land,
To lose a Prince and with his realm to mend,
To carry mournful words to future friends.
Here claiming lead, there standing in support
In fealty fierce no matter whose the court.
And so it is that One may be so fit
To win or to be won, and so to sit
Upon the Dragon Throne as we bear on
From times of Plague into a crucial dawn.
Where field of Stars and riven Star align,
Where prowess and fidelity entwine,
With Arm to earn and Heart to hold the field,
The victor rightly serves as Midrealm's shield.
Chaucerian Couplet
Dame Eleanor Von Atzinger
Honored by Sir Jaime Von Atzinger
by Lord Dai Gerdwr
Il y a un rêve dans ce beau coeur,
Ce coeur qui sert bien tout le monde.
Demander son rêve, elle répond:
"C'est mon devoir. C'est mon honneur."
Elle rend son chevalier meilleur
Parce qu'il n'oublie pas une seconde
Il y a un rêve dans ce beau coeur,
Ce coeur qui sert bien tout le monde.
Elle protège sa patrie sans peur,
Elle inspire une vertu profonde
En son fidèle Seigneur, qui fonde
Leur destin d'être le vainqueur.
Il y a un rêve dans ce beau coeur,
Ce coeur qui sert bien tout le monde.
Demander son rêve, elle répond:
"C'est mon devoir. C'est mon honneur."
Literal translation:
There is a dream in this beautiful heart,
This heart that serves everyone well.
Ask for her dream, she answers
"It is my duty. It is my honor."
She makes her knight better
Because he doesn't forget for a second
There is a dream in this beautiful heart,
This heart that serves everyone well.
She protects her homeland fearlessly,
She inspires a profound virtue
In her faithful Lord, who rests
Their destiny on being the victor.
There is a dream in this beautiful heart,
This heart that serves everyone well.
Ask for her dream, she answers
"It is my duty. It is my honor."
Rondeau Quatrain
Sir Jaime Von Atzinger
Honoring Dame Eleanor von Atzinger
by al-Shyka (Baroness) JahanAra bint al-Yehya amat al-Hafeeza
Hear, friends, these words of mine, in praise of one
With virtue and honour bright as the sun
Who joins the list for this sovereign deed
So he may bring joy to our great Kingdom.
As he strides into the combatant’s ring
With him, his lovely consort does he bring
Eleanor, his lady, who makes his heart sing
Will stand beside him should he become king.
From her own words, know he is ever kind,
His quest of right so too is she inclined,
A journey of a true and most noble kind
With thoughts of you and yours upon their mind.
Often a thinker and a learn’ed soul
Strength and justice, would guide him in the roll
To lead the people and share their wonder.
To the far ends of the world would he go.
Appreciate the people in these lands
Do Jamie and Eleanor hand in hand
And with promise they bring of peace and calm
For you, the Kingdom shall they vow to stand.
A Ruba’i/Rubiayt in Iambic pentameter, inspired by 10th and 11th Century Arabic poetry (specifically Baghdad)
©2021, Galen S. Skye aka S. J. Scott
Baroness Maddie McCrae
Honored by Master Zygmunt Nadratowski
by Baron Breddelwyn ap Taliesin
In Honor of Baroness Maddie McCrae, from the Thoughts and Feelings of Master Zygmunt Nadratowski
By his side, She Stands.
His Inspiration, She Is.
His Heart Fire, She Is.
Good Wisdom, She shares.
Of Firm Mind, She Is.
Of Herself, She Gives.
Humble Majesty, She Has.
Light of Heart, She Is.
Equal in Spirit, They Are.
Joy to the Kingdom, They Give.
Together in Heart, Mind, and Spirit, Will Be Their Reign.
Lady Rowen Hen Enaid
Honored by Sir Ustad Hasan al hajjii
by Maddie (Magdelena Wyatt)
1) [G] She’s the lady of [D7] Sor Usted the [G] Dreaded,
the warrior with the longest [D7] mane.
[C]She is a bard of the [G] Midrealm,
And player of [D7] ancient [G] games.
2) [G] This lady collects stories, [D7] myths and [G] legends,
From tales that have gone on [D7] before.
[C] From many lands and peoples [G] afar,
And from the [D7] rich and the [G] poor.
3) [G] In her mundane world, [D7] she works in the [G] woods,
And tries to heal rivers and [D7] trees.
[C] She loves to work with [G] animals,
And heals them, [D7] then sets them [G] free.
4) [G] She’s here to cheer [D7] for her [G] knight,
In a battle to win the [D7] Crown.
[C] to be among us is her own [G] delight,
For she’s a lady of [D7] high [G] renown.
Ballad form
(This entry is a filk of the Child Ballad 150, Robin and Maid Marion….I got the initial melody and chords from the youtube video “Raymondcrooke…. 2206 Robin and maid marian.) The chords had to be transposed to play in a key I could sing comfortably.)
Sir Ustad Hasan al hajjii
Honoring Lady Rowen Hen Enaid
by al-Shyka (Baroness) JahanAra bint al-Yehya amat al-Hafeeza
Do you know this man, this kind and generous knight?
Were you a stranger to him, he would aid you.
Were you known to him, so too, would he give such care.
The love he has for the Kingdom becomes
a reflection of all he has for his own Love,
his Songbird, beautiful, caring, and full of compassion.
Do you see the light she brings?
It adorns his soul and in turn
he gives it to all those he meets.
Embodiment of such courtesy and honour, is he
that when he is near, hearts are lifted high.
As inspiration, it is the music of her soul that lifts him up.
Oh, how fiercely he loves and gives of himself,
because she loves and gives so much to him.
And for his Beloved, he strives forward to glory.
He strives to honour her and to let her light
shine upon the Kingdom, should
destiny dictate they serve it.
And thus, should he prevail,
they will bring such joy, such diverting,
entertaining amusements to the Kingdom
that the people will rejoice in the revelry.
Rejoice as this most gregarious and generous Knight
walks before you, with his Songbird on his arm.
Their light shall remain, even as onward they have gone.
After the Sufi poet Rumi in style of songs
©2021, Galen S. Skye aka S. J. Scott
Mistress Odette D'Amboise
Honored by Cpt. Dyderich Wolfhart
by Lady Morgan Woodesende of Hoghton
Now as the sun shines, and makes us so warm,
And the coat of the plague has finally been shorn,
To Tournament, to Lists we’re driving our steeds,
We make a contest, to prove now our deeds
Should triumph be had for Dyderich her Lord,
Our Lady and Queen won’t find herself bored,
For family and friends are her army and crowd,
Sternfeld’s bright jewel would make them all proud
Such lessons we’ve learned from our generous swan,
Though cross this fair bird and she’ll show you her brawn
Her needles are sharp and her sauces are hot,
With glorious purpose she’ll render you “taught”
As flawless as diamond, our glittering gem,
Odette shines delight, from her crown to her hem,
With excitement we stand, awaiting her gaze,
In close, I just say,
This Lady slays.
Late Renaissance English style
Cpt. Dyderich Wolfhart
Honoring Mistress Odette D’Amboise
by ?ef Wulfwen atte Belle
Now before the Magnificent Majesties of the Midrealm
comes a Devoted son of the Dragon, Dyderich Wolfhart.
Many fierce combatants hail from Argentoratum, on the banks of the River Rhine, but none so fierce as Dyderich.
Warriors Worldly and Wise may rise to a level of Exquisite Excellence, and be justly honored. But a Rare and Righteous fighter it is, who serves others before himself.
Individual Feats upon the Field are duly lauded, as Dyderich’s feats have been. Heeding the impulse of His Heart, He also supports the Mighty Midrealm’s Engineers, belaying individual glory to serve a team, as it blasts the enemy’s fortifications into rubble, causing every other army to kneel before the Dragon, as they should.
A Worthy Warrior sees also the need to promote and foster new combatants, that they may provide for the Dragon’s future security. Many Strong Sternfeld Swordsfolk have learned and improved their skills under Dyderich’s guidance.
All the Above Aptly Demonstrate Dyderich to be a worthy participant upon this field of honor; yet more remains to be said.
As befits the wolf whose name he bears, Dyderich Devotedly protects, guides, and provides for his family, as a wolf does for his pack. A strong family is the very basis from which a strong warrior may rise. The strength of Dyderich’s shield arm is Amply Augmented by his Lady Love, Odette.
Thus Does Dyderich, a Dedicated and Doughty warrior, Come before Crown and Commoner, in quest to serve and lead.
Lyric style, focusing on alliteration as was common in Germanic languages
Duchess Vukasin Ullrić
Honored by Duke Cellach mac Cormaic
by Lady Brigitta Rosa von Metten
A hunter’s brave and fearless blow//a warrior’s aim and skill
Does prove this lady’s strength and worth//on range or battlefield.
She bears the spear that slays a boar//the arrow that finds its mark.
Her prowesss lays in her own right//she inspires her proud Cellach.
In the time of frightening plague//sits kind, reserved Vukasin,
See her quiet, calm demeanor//her gentle, smiling eyes,
And know this good and caring woman//can navigate the tempest
That rages still across our land//bringing challenges unknown.
Hail to the passionate heart//Cellach’s most beloved queen!
Skilled Vukasin’s fierce loyalty//to both people and throne
Can lead our beloved Midrealm//through this endless, fearful night
To the wonder of a new day//to endless possibilities.
14th century Serbian Bugarštica style, a form of epic and ballad poetry