Conde Cristian del Leon Rampante - Fighter Poem - sestina

Conde Cristian del Leon Rampante
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. XXXVII

What is the Worth of a Knight...?

(sestina)

What is the worth of a knight in battle
If it is not to favor his lady
In honorable combat on the field?
She trusts to his skill to advance their claim
To the Crescent Crowns on this august day.
He can hope to do no more in her eyes.

So it was Cristian gazed in Crystal's eyes
And cast his lot to the lists of battle,
Hoping to grace her brow at the end of day
With rosemary fit for a king's lady.
To accomplish this task and press his claim
Sir Cristian strode forth to face the field.

Reyni-Harekr chose him from the field
Of knights and others fresh with shining eyes
Upon the royal prize that each would claim
If the fates were kind. And so the battle
Was engaged for honor of his lady,
The first of many battle of the day.

In victory Chistian began his day
Advancing toward his second battle field
With a smile and wave for his lady
Fair. But who should taunt him with such twinkling eyes
Of mischief but his squire, come to battle
With the leontine sire and win acclaim.

James the merry trickster did press his claim
Home. Cristian had his first loss this day,
Next Rudolph Fekter went down in battle
And Cristian recovered on the field,
And Snorri Snarfari Bjornson's eyes
Went white, laid low before his fair lady.

But Sven Orfhendur honored his lady
And Cristian retired his regal claim.
Although he was a champion in her eyes
The Rampant Lion did not win the day
For Crystal, and the two must quit the field.
But there is always another battle.

To do battle for a favored lady
On the field: 'tis the hope to win acclaim
In all eyes, but especially hers, this day.

-- Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

...is an empty vessel for the muse.