Conde Francesc Miguel Joaquim Inacio

Conde Francesc Miguel Joaquim Inacio
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. XLV

The Running of the Bull
(a pantoum)

From Nordwache, the land of silver trees
A mighty bull embarks upon a quest.
To crown his lady with a wreath his geas;
To prove his right to rule by martial test.

A mighty bull enbarks upon a quest
The valley of the serephim the place
To prove his right to rule by martial test
He faces off a pack of wolves with grace.

The valley of the serephim the place
Where some have come to die and some to kill.
He faces off a pack of wolves with grace
And lands a blow that deals a deathly chill.

Where some have come to die and some to kill
--The nature of the game he’s come to play--
He lands a blow that deals a deathly chill;
Then leaves a demi-maid in disarray.

The nature of the game he’s come to play:
To face a friend across a tourney field,
Then leave a demi-maid in disarray
To sally forth again with sword and shield.

To face a friend across a tourney field:
A screaming eagle, talons dripping red.
To sally forth again with sword and shield
He's wounded sore, life hanging by a thread.

A screaming eagle, talons dripping red
Lays low the bull, his head-long charge assailed.
He's wounded sore, life hanging by a thread...
But this is not the end of the bull’s tale.

Laid low the bull, his head-long charge assailed.
Rise once more to gore a man a’horse.
But this is not the end of the bull’s tale
Though horseman puts an end to the bull’s course.

Rise once more to gore a man a’horse
--Flesh may fail, but ever spirit willing--
Though horseman puts an end to the bull’s course
Spring will bring Francesc more battles thrilling.

Flesh may fail, but ever spirit willing
To Crown his lady with a wreath his geas.
Spring will bring Francesc more battles thrilling
From Nordwache, the land of silver trees.

—Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

...weaver of words and wadmal.

Fall'10