Sir Parmenio Bassarion
Fighter poem ~ Pantoum
From the dire coast of Thermopylae
To the fair shores of Calafia
Parmenio came for the sword play
That might lay a wreath on Mattea.
From the fair shores of Calafia
They journeyed forth on Crown
Tourney day
That might lay a wreath on Mattea
Should Parmenio win through the
fray.
They journeyed forth on Crown Tourney day
Along with many a fighter stout
Parmenio must face in the fray
And best
opponents in every bout.
Along with many a fighter stout
Came Baron
Rudolph to test his sword
And best opponents in every bout.
Parmenio
laid him on the sward.
First came Rudolph to test his sword
Next came
Lord Reinholdt, a man at arms.
Parmenio laid him
on the sward
Now buoyed by fate and his lady’s
charms.
After Lord Reinholdt, the man at arms
Strode
THL Pansa (who would be king).
Buoyed by his fate and his lady’s charms;
Dumbstruck
when Pansa made his helm ring.
Away strode Lord Pansa (who would be king)
Parmenio
sought his lady’s arts.
Dumbstruck when Pansa made his helm ring
Mattea soothed
his wounds and his heart.
Parmenio sought his lady’s arts
And sprang afresh
to the tourney field
Mattea soothed his wounds and his heart
Parmenio
made Sir Nicolo yield.
He sprang afresh to the tourney field
Ready to
take them, come one and all
Parmenio made Sir Nicolo yield
Then turned
to face the Crown Tourney brawl.
Ready to take them, come one and all
Parmenio
faced Count Makandro.
He turned to face in Crown Tourney brawl
Then fell
at last to a mighty blow.
Parmenio faced Count Makandro
His wound
too grave for any to mend.
He fell at last to a mighty blow
His Crown
Tourney journey at an end.
His wounds were grave, but one day they’ll mend
And once
again to battle he’ll roam.
Crown Tourney journey is at an end,
Knight and
Lady return to their home.
And once again to battle he’ll roam
And once again to battle he’ll roam
And might
lay a wreath on Mattea.
Knight and Lady return to their home
To the fair
shores of Calafia.
--Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler
