Thursday, November 3, 2016

Dobby Is Free!


I am now officially not the editor of the fighter poems anymore.  Twenty-five years (50 books) is enough I think.  Paul fitz Denis will do a fine job I'm sure.  Best of luck to him.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Ambrose Wyld ~ Pantoum


Ambrose Wyld

(Pantoum)

Immortal Scotsman, Ambrose hight,
A challenge to the ground did fling
Upon the tourney field to fight
Agrippa, once and future king.

A challenge to the ground did fling,
His swordsman’s skill to put to test
Agrippa, once and future king;
Alas, Agrippa proved the best.

His swordsman’s skill he put to test
For Lady Apollonia.
Alas, Agrippa proved the best;
For Ambrose, catatonia.

The Lady Apollonia
Foresaw this outcome from Delphi:
First Ambrose, catatonia;
Then rise he would, fates to defy.

She saw this outcome from Delphi.
Ancient skills she wove by design:
Rise he does, his fate to defy.
Ambrose next will face Byzantine.

Ancient skills woven by design
Can only glimpse what fates portend.
Ambrose faces the Byzantine.
His tourney day comes to an end.

She only glimpsed what fates portend
Upon the tourney field of fight.
His tourney day came to an end;
Immortal Scotsman, Ambrose hight.


Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler


…is a 15th century Burgundian wool merchant who thinks she’s a 10th century Viking weaver.

Fall Crown Tourney '16

Monday, October 31, 2016

Duncan MacBryce ~ englyn penfyr



Duncan MacBryce

(Englyn penfyr)

Day dawns bright on Caid’s Crown Tourney day
     Pennants gay o’er verdant ground
     Catch the breezes eric ‘round.

Silvery sea-horses leap to the fore
     Lion’s roar makes Sabine weep
     Leaves bold Duncan in a heap.

Undaunted, the sea-horseman shakes it off
     Duncan scoffs and takes a stand:
     His lady will rule this land!

A boar-hunting canine rushes the field
     Duncan wheels in battle flush
     ‘Round the eric falls a hush.

Gentle Sabine won’t let herself worry
     Her furious spirit stirs,
     The bard privateer to spur.

Contenders clash, dog and sea-horse engage.
     Battle rages on the lea
     Duncan is brought to his knees.

Duncan’s tourney rounds alas ran their course.
     Tho sea-horseman’s day is past
      His courage is unsurpassed.

Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler



…is a weaver of words and wadmal.

Fall Crown Tourney '16

Monday, July 11, 2016

The Tourney Dance ~ Pantoum


The Tourney Dance
(Pantoum)

The steps are plain:
In garb or gown,
In plate or chain
The eric ‘round

In garb or gown
They promenade
The eric ‘round
On Tourney Day

They promenade
As fighters dash
On Tourney Day
And titans clash

As fighters dash
Across the field
These titans clash—
Advance or yield

Across the field
List shields display:
Advance or yield
To all who play

List shields display
And heralds cry
To all who play
Some live, some die

The herald’s cry
Moves ‘round the field
Some live, some die
And fates are sealed

Move ‘round the field
And count the ones
Whose fates are sealed
Whose day is done

Now count the ones
Who still remain
Their day’s not done;
Just one will reign

Few still remain,
The call to heed
Just one will reign
O’er all Caid

The call they heed
To try their hand
O’er all Caid
To rule this land

They try their hand
In plate or chain
To rule this land:
The steps are plain.

--Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

...weaver of words and wadmal

Spring Crown Tourney A.S. L (2016)

Monday, January 4, 2016

Baron Rudolf Fekter ~ awdl gywyth

Baron Rudolf Fekter
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. L.


(awld gywydd)

Dancing on an errant breeze--
Flit and freeze and dart and play--
Butterfly with iron heart
Come and start your tourney day.

Alejandro hopes to flick
Pesky insect from the field--
Bat and swat and shoo away--
Rudolf stays; Castillo yields.

Amicia has taken hope--
Eric's rope confines her fears
As Sir Mons strides to the fray.
Rudolf sways; Amicia tears.

Sweetest nectar from the flower,
In her bower, Amicia tends
Rudolf's wounds.  His soul takes wing!
A tender thing, his heart mends.

Once more to the eric fly,
Butterfly, and take your stand.
Killian, a trenchant knight,
Wins the fight in battle grand.

Poor, bedraggled butterfly
Made a try for Caid's crown.
Amicia will soothe your brow,
Rest for now; you've gained renown.


— Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler


... weaver of words and wadmal.

Fall Crown'15



Saturday, January 2, 2016

Lord Duncan Rose ~ englyn penfyr


Lord Duncan Rose
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. L

A Fox Tale
(englyn penfyr)

Come, sit by the fire’s glow.  Hear a tale
            Of each baleful strike and blow:
            Duncan’s crown tourney tableau.

Pennants gay and flags a drift on the breeze.
            Heralds’ geas on fighers swift:
            Advancing or given shrift.

Isolde in vert and purpure be-garbed,           
            Lady bard with quill a-stir
Is pleased Duncan’s heart to spur.

Sir Artus, Romano-Brit, takes the field.
            Sword and shield help not a whit;
            Duncan’s head is mighty split.

Isolde soothes his brow, knits his sore wounds.
            Ne’er to swoon, she urges grit
            Duncan finds he’s once more fit.

 Duncan stides upon the field.  Eric ‘round
            Hopes abound; fighters' fates sealed.
            Ketill struck and Duncan reeled.

Duncan Rose fell in the fray.  His lady bard
            Heart en garde, lauds him this day.
            Pray tell, what does the fox say?
           
 -- Pippin Skylark

-- always tart and crisp

Fall Crown Tourey '15