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)