The Artist Explains....

I set out to write a recounting of the recent Crown Tournament using
the style of the Poem of the Cid of 12th Century Castile. The language
is simple, using mostly the historical present tense, with little
ornamentation.  The versification relies mainly on rhythm and
assonance.

The Poem of the Cid is divided into three parts, cantares, which are
further divided into groups of lines, laises, all ending on the same
vowel sound. Individual laises can have anywhere from five to 150 lines
or more. In the interest of space and sanity my work has but one laise
of 36 lines.

Though enjoyable, it was difficult to force the rhythm of a 12th
century Castilian laise onto the lingua franca of our Current Middle
Ages, and to have each line end in something approaching the phonetic
short e sound.  My apprentice sister suggested I write the piece in
12th century Castilian, but I'm nowhere near that level of ability
now.  The day I can write a national epic poem in its original language
is the day my hair sprouts bay leaves, methinks.  :)  I hope this work
is to your liking.

Post Scriptus:  "Oriente" is Spanish for "East Land".  It is also the
old name for the easternmost province of Cuba.  The rhythm patterns
used for each line are the two which I found predominant in the Poema
del Cid:

's': soft, 'h': hard syllabic emphasis
s H s s s H s (pause) s H s s s H
and
s H s s s H s (pause) s-s H s s s H

Source:
Poem of the Cid. Menendez Pidal, Ramon and Merwin, W.S., translators.
Meridian Books, 1975.

Al servicio de la Provincia y el Colegio,

Dona Ana Ravaya de Guzman
Bard of the Province of Ostgardr


The Poem of the Dragon and the Falcon

The Crown of fair Oriente  is soon to need an Heir.
The call is made to baronies  and shires everywhere.
In haste all travel southward,  the nobles true and fair,
To Ostgardr the Crown Province  to test their mettles there.
The sun shines hot upon them  before the tierce is read.
Brave fighters, good and true  with  their consorts wise and fair
Bend knee and pay their homage  to the good Queen Gabrielle.
They kneel and show their fealty  to Timothy El Rey.
King Timothy bids all to  fight  with honor and with grace.
Oriente's finest battle,  bravely giving of their best.
Among the bold combatants  three would pass the final tests:
For Jolie de Valiere,  swift Sir Balin does contend,
A David toe-to-toe with  two Goliaths on the lists.
With two swords and his speed he  fells Duke Brion and seems blest--
No other man has done so  in all this day's contest.
But he falls to Sir Andreas, who fights for Isabel,
The Falcon of the Blood Guard,  whose strength does serve him well.
Then clouds so thick and dark roll  in and drive all to their tents,
Then just as quickly fly away,  a bully's empty threats.
The Falcon fights the Dragon  who hails from Atenveldt.
Their pole arms clash, Duke Brion lands  a blow to Eisfalke's helm.
Their great swords and their shields cross,  the Falcon starts to press.
His sword catches the elbow  of his worthy vier's plate.
With grace he takes no victory.  "There was no force," he says.
The Falcon's grace and chivalry  do please his Baroness.
Duke Brion Tarragon now  for Oriente's crown contends.
He fights for Duchess Anna,  beloved and flawless gem.
He presses ever forward,  all with a broken hand.
That hand which holds his great sword  her honor will defend.
The Dragon downs the Falcon  and then kneels down as well.
Upon their knees they battle,  their clash by all is heard.
A blow to Falcon's body  and Oriente has an Heir.
Prince Brion is the victor,  now nine will be his reigns.
May he and Princess Anna   and their sons all honor gain.
These deeds upon the new year,  our thirty-third, occurred.
May God have mercy on us,  and here my tale ends.

Written by my hand in the month of May, A.S. XXXIII in the Crown
Province of Ostgardr.

from the July 1998 Seahorse