Crown Poetry Fall AS LIV
From MiddleWiki
Bards of Sternfeld Praise Poetry Project
Crown Tournament, Fall AS LIV
10/19/2019
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 Fall AS LIV#Full Name as in the header|Name]]
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For example, to link to the poem about Duke Felix the Just, you would enter:
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which would look like
Introduction To The Compilation
Welcome back, dear reader, to the FIFTH edition of the Crown Tourney Poetry Project.
I am once again honored and floored at the enthusiastic reception this project has received. It warms my heart to hear from **non-combatants** how much they enjoy the poetry and the performances. It was a short list this time - only 18 combatants - but the ten writers raised the bar, delving into new poetic areas for Spanish, Turkish, Ottoman, and AZTEC personas.
Seto-Heika and Reina Ynes have declared five Bardic Champions for their entourage, and at Crown Tourney the Champions issued this challenge:
"With Their Majesties’ permission, the Bardic Champions issue a poetry challenge to the people of the Midrealm. In medieval Japan, the art of poetry was open to all who were moved, not just those with special training or official recognition. So it is with the Bardic Arts in the Midrealm. Therefore, in celebration of this singular reign of the Dragon King and Queen, we, the five regional Bardic champions, invite all and sundry who are so moved to compose verses about the Midrealm and her Centennial Sovereigns.
Note that alternating lines of five and seven syllables IS period! Further details and documentation references – for those interested in such things – will be distributed via the usual messaging methods.
Draco Invictus!
Let the people sing out praise!
Yes, let us rejoice!
Hai! Yoroko bimashou!
Draco Invictus!"
Again, I'd like to thank our Technical Support team: Lady Brigitta Rosa Von Metten collects and formats the poems into one big PDF collection for distribution, and Lord Dai Gerdwr takes care of uploading all the completed CTPPP poems to the Middle Wiki. It means we can share these wonderful creations with a much wider audience.
Lastly, for those of you watching the testing of our oracle Lady Brigitta Rosa Von Metten, the "Seeress of Crowns", we did indeed restrict her to writing for ONLY unbelts this round. No ex-royals, no Chivalry. Even so, two of her three made it to the semi finals! So if you're a gambling person, be sure to come chat with Brigitta before you place your next bets with Konrad and the Moniers guild!
Thank you, dear readers, for giving us the gift of your time and interest. Once again, this is OUR gift, to the fighters, to the consorts, to the crown, and especially, to you.
In Service,
Bards of Sternfeld Praise Poetry Project Crown Tournament, 20 October 2019
Baron Breddelwynn ap Taliesin, Lady Brigitta Rose von Metten, Lady Caristonia Ainslie, Lord Dai Gerdwr, Lady Líadan Liathán, Baroness Lizabetta von Atzinger, Lady Meadhbh Ramsay, Baroness Odile de Brienne, Lord Robert the Perylous, and Maestra Lucia Elena Braganza
Duke Felix the Just
Honoring Duchess Madeleina de Lamans
By Baroness Lizabetta von Atzinger
Are ye redy childe?
Yea verily
I canna hearken thou
Yea verily
Ohhhh Who embraceth the vertus of chiavalrie?
Felix the Yust
Bountevous, honeste and feithful is he?
Felix the Yust
K-nowen by an sonne in his splendor bright
Felix the Yust
A pereles duc, a worthy knyghte
Felix the Yust
Redy?
Felix the Yust,
Felix the Yust,
Felix the Yust!
Feeee-lix the Yuuu-st
Ha ha ha ha
Translation
Are you ready child?
Yes yes truly
I can’t hear you
Yes yes truly
Ohhhh Who embraces the virtues of chivalry?
Felix the Just
Generous <and> honest and loyal is he?
Felix the Just
Known by a sun in its splendor bright
Felix the Just
A peerless duc <and> a worthy knight
Felix the Just
Ready?
Felix the Just,
Felix the Just,
Felix the Just!
Feeee-lix the Juuu-st
Ha ha ha ha
Written in Middle English (Can be sung to the tune of the SpongeBob SquarePants Theme). Baroness Lisabetta wishes to thank Fionnghuala inghean Cormac for her help with pronunciation help.
Lord Ambrose St. John
Honoring Isabella Margaret St. John
By Lord Robert the Perylous
Like the thunder that rolls
Down the mountain side
So advances Lord Ambrose
Comes to battle once more
For his honored bride
Works another day of war
Be he battling nations
Or a single foe
He is mighty and gracious
By his rattan or steel
Makes his power known
When employing sword and shield
Stay fierce throughout the fray
He shall never cease
For victory here today
To be Dragon Throne’s heir
Clash with Tiger East
And unconquered crown wear
Based on Terza Rima
Sir Cedric Adolphus
Honoring THL Honor von Atzinger
By Maestra Lucia Elena Braganza
Sir Cedric holds his Honor high
And Dragon throne he hopes to try
For noble knight - a noble quest
A life in harness ever blessed
King's Champion to Ragnvaldr
For God and good Saint Alexander
All aspects of Chivalry suggest
A life in harness ever blessed
With Prowess and a joi de vivre
Pursuing perfect mastery
The path through darkened woods a test
A life in harness ever blessed
The Brotherhood sustains his heart
The Grail revered in every part
For Lady wife he fights his best
A life in harness ever blessed
So will we see our Cedric King?
Will heralds cheer and Flamma sing?
Withal the outcome, he'll express:
A life in harness ever blessed
form = kyrielle
Captain Criomhthann CuRua
Honoring THL Sabh ingen Neill
By Lady Brigitta Rosa von Metten
For love of Sabh and land combined
Kind Criomhthann CuRua Mor
Seeks Dragon throne to reign brand-new;
Pre-war Prince through love called for.
Just is the man who is loyal.
Always for family must
This humble husband, father
Earn trust both earnest and just.
Style: Seadna
Sir Crispin al-Rumi
Honoring Baroness Gianna Vettori
By Lady Líadan Liathán
Of of Crispin al-Rumi, who fights to earn the crown,
Takes his stance and raises up his scimitar of, of.
Aman, Crispin decked in belt of white commands the field.
Allah Allah deyip geçti Crispin al-Rumi of of.
Of of Crispin al-Rumi possessed of great renown,
Hears command “Lay on!” and never falters of, of.
Aman, Crispin dances zeybe?i* with sword and shield.
Allah Allah deyip geçti Crispin al-Rumi of of.
Of of Midrealm battles rage ‘til all but one are down,
Only one remains to claim a princely circlet of, of.
Aman, Crispin gives full-measured fight and never yields.
Allah Allah deyip geçti Crispin al-Rumi of of.
Poem patterned n the style of the praise song for 15th century Turkish sultan Genç Osman.
Of of = Chanted at the start and end of stanzas meining ‘of whom you speak’.
Aman = Oh!
Allah Allah deyip geçti Crispin al-Rumi of of = Crispin al-Rumi passed by saying “Allah, Allah.”
*zeybe?i = Men’s circle dance requiring great balance, employing strong, striding steps and raised arms mimicking the posture of eagles
Duke Dag Thorgrimsson
Honoring Duchess Anne Marie de Garmeaux
By Maestra Lucia Elena Braganza
Full seven reigns Dag Thorgrimsson
With victory on this field begun
An eighth time seeks he high renown
To stand one heartbeat from the crown
A dozen times the skalds did shout
His place earned in the final bout
Will Fortune smile this time, or frown?
To stand one heartbeat from the crown
He strives for Perfect Mastery
Each well-judged blow where it should be
Focus, diligence compounds
To stand one heartbeat from the crown
His inspiration Anne Marie
He'll share with Midrealm joyfully
His love will never let her down
Standing one heartbeat from the crown
King Eliahu chose the name
"Black Wolf" to enshrine his fame
And once again wolf holds his ground
To stand one heartbeat from the crown
Style: Kyrielle
Captain Dyderich Wolfhart
Honoring THL Odette D’Amboise
By Lady Líadan Liathán
Captain Diederich Wolfhart is coming.
And, though he strides ten leagues away,
One knows by the sound of ground thrumming
And the movement as trees shake and sway.
Each vast, mighty step of his taking
Makes the very earth tremble and fail,
And the birds take to air from the quaking.
Brave men sensing grow timid and pale.
Shield your eyes from the sight of his armor;
Wolfhart decked, head to toe, in full plate
That so blinds any foeman or charmer,
To distract and disarm to sad fate.
Wolfhart owns every color of honor,
And stands captain of Company Red,
Inspired three generations of fighters,
And, his brew and his craft are well said.
But beneath all that metal and muster
Beats the heart, ever faithful and kind,
Of a husband, a father, a brother;
Under visor, a keen, brilliant mind.
As pure water flows true from Trust’s fountain,
So, is Wolfhart to Trust ever bound.
If this Crown comes not unto this Mountain
Soon the Mountain shall come to our Crown.
Written in anapestic tetrameter with a catalexis foot on the second and fourth lines of each verse.
Sargeant Gareth Bloodworth
H Honoring THL Yamamura Kitsune
By Lady Brigitta Rosa von Metten
When one is bred and born in bravery
To stand in support of Society,
Compassion comes before competition
Through love, kind leadership, and largition.
So Gareth goes to stand amongst the great
And mighty Midrealm Kings who mitigate
The justice, joy, and jubilation known
In equal elements to young and old.
Now he is ready and rekindling – Hark!
That sharp and splendid Draconic-born spark
Of passion, pageantry, and playfulness
That brings to all bright, beautiful bliss.
Late 14th Century alliterative verse in iambic pentameter rhyming couplet quatrains
Sir Ixtilixochitl Cucique
Honoring Lady Norelle of Scolairi
By Lady Líadan Liathán
You who are Ixtlilixóchitl Cucique,
In oceloti, jaguar, night fighter,
In ixtli, with keen eye,
In yollotl, with full heart,
In tetl, in cuahuitl, with stone and stick
Oaya ouayaye*.
You who are Ixtlilixóchitl Cucique,
You step from the shadows,
You fight all opponents,
You seize a crown, hard won.
You shelter and sustain, in ahuehuetl, in pochotl**
Oaya ouayaye.
Tlaneltoca. Believe.
Aztec free verse with diphrases.
* Oaya ouayaye = a celebratory repeated phrase chanted at the end of stanzas reminicent of ‘halleluhah”
**In ahuejuetl, in pochotl = the cypress tree, the silk cotton tree, that protect the People under their boughs and clothe them with fibers made from their bodies.
Sir Ivan Shishov
Honoring Boiarynia Katalena Ivaniaia zhen Shishova
By Lady Maedhbh Ramsey
Heels dig into earth
Strong Sir Ivan stands his ground
Guards well his kinsmen
Shields smash and spear wounds
He hits like the thunder’s clap
Pushing back the line
His loyalty shines
Noble kindness is his creed
Gem in Dragon’s realm
Haiku in three stanzas
Sir Lothar Nachtshatten
Honoring THL Aveline de Ceresbroch
By Baroness Lisabetta von Atzinger
Lothar strives to tip the scale
Vanquishing foes to crown her Queen.
His courage and strength will not fail
Highest honor to Aveline.
Excellence shines from noble brow.
His confidence is no conceit.
Talent with steel did God endow;
Flower of chivalry so sweet
Even to those he will defeat
Courteous when he does assail.
His courage and strength will not fail
Highest honor to Aveline.
Glory to her does Lothar vow
With each blow such promise repeat
.
A blade’s kiss he will not allow
‘Gainst death’s embrace he does compete
To be known as day’s best athlete
In victory his might prevail.
Lothar strives to tip the scale
Vanquishing foes to crown her Queen.
Style: Barzelletta
Sir Rodrigo Vargas de Leon
Honoring Baroness Collette de Valois
Lady Caristonia Ainslie
Sir Rodrigo Vargas de Leon, noble español
Le encanta la equitación y Sabila
Generoso para aquellos altos o bajos
Prestando una mano, padre de un rey dragón
En silencio, con calma, espera atacar,
Collette de Valois le da fe, honor y amistad.
León de oro español, se sienta a saltar.
La corona del reino medio, su objetivo.
Translation
Sir Rodrigo Vargas de Leon, noble Spanish knight
He loves equestrian arts and his daughter Sabila
Generous in helping those of both high and low station,
Lending a coat, hand or sword, father of a dragon king
Silently, patiently he waits for his moment to strike,
For Collette de Valois gives him faith, honor and friendship
The golden lion of Spain, sits still awaiting to pounce.
A monarch’s crown, most desired, of the middle kingdom, his goal.
Written in the Basit Arabic poetry form as codified by Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi which was the primary poetry form in Spain through the 15th century.
Lord Thorvald Jotunson
Honoring Baroness Isabella Pallini
By Baron Breddylwyn ap Taliesin
I Honor you,
O, Thorvald
Son of Jotun,
Son of a giant,
Son of the Earth.
I Honor you,
O, Thorvald,
To Their Majesties
Whose ancestors
You faithfully served.
I Honor you,
O, Thorvald,
For the Lady
Whose glory
You place in front
Of your own.
I Honor you,
O, Thorvald,
For the prowess
You bear
In your heart
That overcomes
Your challengers.
I Honor you,
O, Thorvald,
For the gods
Smile upon
You this day.
Sir Timothy the Just
Honoring THL Elizabeta Alegreza Foscari
By Maestra Lucia Elena Braganza
Fjord-flame of Cariadoc / Calls to fighters
Here is the season / To harvest honors
Timothy gathers himself / Justice and the Just
Friend to Fenrirs cubs / often laughing
People-stave of south Oaken / plentiful skills
Nourisher of wisdom / Wayland's student
Waits for his wyrd / today written anew
Perhaps the Nornir / will sing his name
Thunor resounding / Timothy has won the throne
Kennings:
Fjord-flame = gold
Fjord-flame of Cariadoc = Midrealm crown
Fenrir's cubs = wolves
People-stave = leader/commander
Nourisher of wisdom = teacher
Wayland's student = blacksmith
Nornir = fates, 3 sisters
Thunor = god of Thunder
Style: Anglo Saxon alliterative verse
Master Tonis van Driele
Honoring Lady Anne Mulligan
By Lord Dai Gerdwr
Above the ranks amassed for war
Sings out the armored troubador -
Not just with songs but with command:
Directing where his comrades stand,
And as the foe comes shield to shield
He takes advantage of the field.
With blade upraised, at battle's heart,
He wields both weapon and his art
To spur his corps to the attack
That drives the enemy well back
And breaks the line to make a way
To roll the wall and win the day.
As evening shades come drifting down
While friends and rivals leave the ground
They learn the leader of the rout.
With feigned surprise they seek him out
To clap him on the shoulder guard
And say, "We thought you just a bard"
This truth all those with wisdom know -
Although the feat is not the show,
The show may shade a greater skill
When voice the battlefield can fill.
With strength to shout the ringing chord
Comes also power with the sword.
Iambic tetrameter rhyming couplets after the style of Jacob van Maerlant
Sor Ustad Hasan al Hajjii
Honoring Lady Rowen Hen Enaid
By Lord Dai Gerdwr
I
Steel for shield and helmet, armor and the sword,
Steel is in the arm that justly serves his lord.
II
Warrior touches willpower, wraps the foe;
Angel touches heart, blocks blameless from the blow.
III
Pearl tears softly slip unseen 'cross cheek to fall -
Silent grace in he who sees the face of All.
IV
Sapphires, silver, strength, support for the distressed,
Devoted to all who quail to face the test
V
The spirit that stands to bid injustice cease?
That same spirit weaves the silken strand of peace.
VI
When hardship hits any, plans must stand aside,
Need demands and right responds - the rest abide.
VII
One pilgrimage perfected settles one soul,
Set sight on the summit of serving the whole.
VIII
What price priceless honor if peers be not just?
Sacred oaths affirm one worthy of their trust.
IX
Hand takes cherished hand, hard pressed pursue a crown,
Share a single vision, virtue, and renown
X
Dreaded in battle, bearing bravely his blade,
Heaven treasures Ustad for friendship displayed.
XI
Destiny may chip its shape from marbled stone;
Caster casts his fate from bronze to golden throne.
Mesnevi: Persian rhyming couplets of 11 syllables
Count William of Fairhaven
Honoring Countess Isolde de la Ramée
By Baroness Odile de Brienne
Lineage knightly from Oaken
A warrior does betoken
Brave William, stalwart and keen,
Would make Isolde twice a Queen!
See, they come now, both hand in hand,
Before the Dragon Crown they stand,
Resplendent in their fine raiments.
From helm to toe he looks a prince,
Merry and courteous his words.
Pearl-white the belt that ‘bout him girds:
So might he vie with sword and shield
Til his opponent fall or yield.
Generous heart and courage true
Shall bring him through this rendezvous.
Octosyllabic couplets in the style of the Lais of Marie de France c. 1170 C.E.
Master Zygmunt Nadratowski
Honoring Baroness Maddie McRae
By Lady Brigitta Rosa von Metten
Caring, kind, honest Zygmunt Nadratowski
Offers service and scholarship with a smile.
Good to the core, fair, compassionate teacher
Shares knowledge with all.
Brave and speedy in tournament is Zygmunt
Sharp wit and eye on field or archery range.
Puts good and need of Kingdom above his own;
Brotherhood his creed.
Loving, deserving of sweet Maddie’s heart –
Goofy together or apart – working hard.
Ruling with “the most fun for the most people” –
Their rallying cry!
16th Century Polish Sapphic Stanza
