THLord Lorccán hua Conchobair

THLord Lorccán hua Conchobair
fallen in summer* crown, A.S. XXIV
(Pantoum)

Swirl of green and flash of gold:
Lorccan takes the tourney field.
Wind the warp with colors bold,
Thread the cards with strands unreeled.

Lorccan takes the tourney field,
Honor for Svetlana sought.
Thread the cards with strands unreeled,
Dress the loom and keep it taut.

Honor for Svetlana sought:
Rosemary to crown her head.
Dress the loom and keep it taut,
Turn the cards and clear the shed.

Rosemary to crown her head
If he makes it through the lists.
Turn the cards and clear the shed,
See the pattern in the twists.

If he makes it through the lists...
First he has to face Francisc.
See the pattern in the twists,
Pass the shuttle and release.

First he has to face Francisc:
Lorccan hands the Count defeat.
Pass the shuttle and release;
Tug and turn and clear and beat.

Lorccan hands the Count defeat;
Dante proves a stouter foe.
Tug and turn and clear and beat:
The shuttle flies fast to and fro.

Dante proves a stouter foe.
Andrew falls to Lorccan's blade.
The shuttle flies fast to and fro;
This is how a band is made.

Andrew falls to Lorccan's blade,
Gareth now brings Lorccan's doom.
For this is how a band is made
By nimble fingers on the loom.

Gareth now brings Lorccan's doom;
Svetlana sees her champion die.
Nimble fingers on the loom
Weave a binding by and by.

Svetlana sees her champion die;
Battles rage 'til setting sun.
Weave a binding by and by;
Lorccan ends his shuttle run.

Battles rage 'til setting sun.
Another's victory is sealed.
Lorccan ends his shuttle run:
A thing of wonder is revealed.

Another's victory is sealed.
Wind the warp with colors bold.
A thing of wonder is revealed:
A swirl of green, a flash of gold.

--Mistresss Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler
...an empty vessel for the Muse