XII Poems for XIIth Night
In Praise & Reverence
being a collection of recent poems by Sir Brand McLiam for 12th Night, AS XXX (1996).
All works (c) copyright 1996 by GregRobin Smith, all
rights reserved.
Printed by Nopress Inparticular, Seattle, Washington.
A Privy Council Press Production.
Sir Brand, MPel, KSCA, writes by the inspiration of HL
Cymbric of the Isles, his Lady-Wife and the Editor of all his works
("~" = a poem writ for her). Brand is also Poet Laureate unto
Anastasia, ML, Baroness of An Tir. Done in the waning reign of Hwolf and
Luise and presented at the Coronation of His Grace Duke Thorin and
Sinei'din ban Thorin.
For further information, write to 5932 - 37th Ave SW,
Seattle, WA 98126-2836, email to: sirbrand@u.washington.edu for
a free subscription to the poetry email list Chivalry is yet a guide, or
browse the web page for poetry, educational and fund raising information
at
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~sirbrand/
"A Presence of Heart" a sonnet/couplet poem shown in its couplet form
"In Prayse of Bokes" finalized in tribute to Guildford of Redheugh
Within resides our artful craft and thought.
With careful hands,
these words are built to teach.
The boke maintains its pages, as it
ought,
And plays them for the reader in its speech.
Its
signatures* combine those efforts made
Into a grand community of
noise.
'tis Reason's key that ciphers back what's said
Unlocking
compasses the heart employs.
"The Traveler's Path" each manuscript
contains.
"The Heart That Yearns For Succor" speaks aloud.
"The
Vision Of A Prophet's Dream" remains.
"Instructions To The Student"
rests endowed.
Within these borders, where can we not stand?
One
holds a hope entire, in mind, in hand.
*A signature is a collection of (usually) 16 pages printed on one large sheet, then folded, sewn to a binding and edge-slit so it can be read.
Shakespearean Sonnet, 14 lines, abab, cdcd, efef, gg, Iambic Pentameter (u^u^u^u^u^).
Take ye this token, be it tho' small
Know it in
kindness, keep it, and all.
None of my dreams and none of my
hearth
Will kept from you be. To share is my oath.
"I love thee" said my Lady,
And was a song to
me.
Tho' 'twas not sung It is among
My favorite melody.
"The Faith of the Future" by commission of HRM Hwolf
The Custom of a sword is it will cut when it does strike
The
Practice of a horse will make it run at wall or pike.
The Manner of a
falcon is its will to hunt at call.
The Habit of the hounds lies in
their loyalty through all.
The Nature of a rock is it will break
before it bends.
The Disposition of the moon repeats its monthly
wend.
The Fashion of the sun does show its faithful face each
dawn.
But honor speaks to what was done, when "what is said" is
gone.
Our pledge, our oath, our promises are rudders 'gainst the
winds
They guide and keep our Ship of State, inspiring faithful
friends.
The future is an unknown sea upon which we must
sail.
Without our faith well built on trust, we could not hope but
fail.
We live, we grow, we loose, we die, these truths cannot be
'scaped.
But honor keeps our deeds in true, and keeps our futures
shaped.
A Toast: "To Remembered Friends" (revised
12/30/95-1/6/96)
"Friends all gentle .......... Gathered
Here
Friends whose Mantle ........ Gives us Cheer
You, whose fate
now ........ Joins with mine
Celebrate now, .............. Dance and
Dine.
Toast together ............. "Friends away"
Heartfelt ever
.............. There to stay.
Raise your chalice .......... And your
voice
Give good service ........... And rejoice.
With our toasting
........... Let's recall
Friends worth boasting....... One and
all."
"The Candle in the Window" Done for Cassia's Birthday, Dec. 1995
The candle in the window bears tidings for us all
It yet reflects
with great respect the tale of home and hall.
This light of thine will
always shine across the night-dark sea.
To welcome, guide, deliver us
and bring us home to thee.
The candle in the window, with all reflected
flame
Gives welcome to the wanderer, and those who know thy
name.
The light of hope burns brightest, yea, to those whose paths are
poor.
That darkness that surrounds us all is pierced by its bright
sword.
The candle in the window does cast its light without.
'twill
always send a glimmer to some lonely soul, ne'er doubt.
And tho' the
flame may seem quite small, its brilliance ever dim,
Forget ye not that
every heart needs but a spark within.
Thy candle in the window, a word,
a deed, a smile
Does give a saving beam of faith out to this lonely
isle.
Forget thee not thy radiance, thy light of giving grace.
And
know there is a candle here, to shine upon thy face.
The 1st line in each stanza is 13 syllables, and its rhythm is (u^u^u^u u^u^u^.) The rest of each stanza is done in Iambic (u^u^u^u^u^u^u^) 14 syllable lines.
"Lies: the Plague of Reason" by commission of HRM Hwolf
A Sword will cleave, an Ax will split in two
A Mace will shatter,
Arrows pierce right through.
A Charger mounted knight will smash the
foe
A Lie can kill as eas'ly as a blow.
A Trebuchet flings
stones that crush a wall.
A Ram will slam at doors until they
fall.
A Tunnel saps the walls from near below.
A Lie collapses all
that from it grows.
The Weapons here enlisted do forfend
To
conquer life and bring about an end.
The legacy of Lies is sad to
know.
Unless burned out with truth, their roots will
grow.
Unlike a poison, who once used is gone.
A lie can spread
contagion, on and on.
Sonnet, rime abab, cdcd, efef, gg, rhythm Iambic Pentameter (IP) (u^u^u^u^u^ ) 14 lines, 3 stanzas of 4 and a couplet.
"Gloria est Magnificus" for Gloria M.
Forever pours the rivers of our life
And friends, like currents,
flow into our quay (pronounced 'Key')
Enriching with their travels and
their strife
The delta that we form here by our sea.
"Together"
raises "hope" and "family."
"Together" brings new strength to heal old
pains.
"Together" answers questions kind and mean.
"Together": When
we give, 'tis we who gain.
In Glory do we stand, in faith
secure
(Although the future's road cannot be guessed)
For our dear
friends commit to ride the tour
Accompanying each other through the
mist.
And we, this troupe of players, do here claim
That we are
richer for your part and name.
Sonnet, rime abab, cdcd, efef, gg, rhythm Iambic Pentameter (IP)
(u^u^u^u^u^ )
14 lines, 3 stanzas of 4 and a couplet.
"Saddest, still, is the pursuit of unhappiness... The slowest of prey."
"Of Wood and Air" to Colin, Meg and Emily.
The wood and air within my hand
Does grant a key to ope' the
lid
And fly the treasures through the land
That too long have in
darkness hid.
This wood and air, with balanced tone
Gives dance to
sound and song to hearth.
It spins the wisps of happy homes
Into
this ever weaving cloth.
This wood and air that I enfold
Gifts back
full sweet my loan of breath
Its magic will yet ease the cold
And
give my soul a life past death.
"Heart's Champion" for Baron
Trahaearn of Madrone
(spacing requirements delivers this in a less than
ideal font on some servers, my apologies, B)
Many came to battle then ..................... Fought they all for
Champion.
Knights and Warriors by the score ....... Known each by the
gods of war.
Clashed they savage they in turn ........... For the
Champion's blade to earn.
Lust of blood and greed for gain ...........
Made the warrior's gift be pain.
Little heeded (they that fought)
............. "Vict'ry for the bravest heart."
Not the strongest arm
or steel ................ But the kindest, gentlest will.
One at last
survived the rest. .................. All remaining knew him
best.
Brave of soul and kind in deed. .............. Good of spirit,
all did cede.
Armor without stain or flaw. ...................
Blade the brightest any saw.
Honor in his breast did burn.
.................. Hail the Baron called Trahaearn.
Late that night
all toasted well. ............... "Long live he this tale does
tell."
For Madrone Arts and Sciences Championship, December 9, as
30.
The face of my beloved has moved me oft to sigh.
Her hair and form
have 'minded me of angels from on high.
Her touch so soft when playing
and with spirit strong and free,
That I do muse that I must dream, then
wake and she's with me.
Of all her gifts both rare and good from
singing, to the fire,
I'll take the most desired one, that she does
fair inspire.
For as we build our keep and hold, unyielding wills both
bold
Will fire the torch that warms the hall, and melt the hearts grown
cold.
Her absence 'pon this walk of life would scorch my mind and
soul.
So thank I luck and all that guides for weaving loves and lives
now whole.
Sonnet, 14 lines, rime abab, cdcd, efef, gg Iambic
Pentameter (IP) u^u^u^u^u^. The poem is also a couplet poem, and is shown
above in that form.
Below is the poem in its sonnet form (exactly the same wording, but in its alternative form):
The face of my beloved has moved me oft
To sigh. Her
hair and form have 'minded me
Of angels from on high. Her touch so
soft
When playing and with spirit strong and free,
That I do muse
that I must dream, then wake
And she's with me. Of all her gifts both
rare
And good from singing, to the fire,
I'll take the most
desired one, that she does fair
Inspire. For as we build our keep and
hold,
Unyielding wills both bold will fire the torch
That warms
the hall, and melt the hearts grown cold.
Her absence 'pon this walk of
life would scorch
My mind and soul. So thank I luck and all
That
guides for weaving loves and lives now whole
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