[Bards] Poetic Exercise #6

[Gerald Norris]

Stand up ye of noble heart,
Heart all bound by spurs and chain,
Chain that 'minds you of your oath,
Oath, once given, will remain.
Remain in service, Warrior fair,
Fair be judgements from your hand,
Hand that fights for lord and Liege,
Liege who guides and loves the land.
Land that holds you to your word,
Word that binds you to your king,
King that gave you chain and belt,
Belt of white and chain of ring.

Gerald.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: bards-bounces at ansteorra.org [mailto:bards-bounces at ansteorra.org]On
> Behalf Of Ulf Gunnarsson
> Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 1:46 AM
> To: Ansteorran Bardic list
> Subject: [Bards] Poetic Exercise #6
> 
> 
> "Poetry is painting a picture with words."  I don't recall who first
> said that.  Maybe it was me.  But much of poetry is about tying pieces
> together to form a solid unit.  We use rhythm to define a shape and
> rhyme to join the lines.  We use alliteration to highlight and
> cross-brace.  Maybe I should have said "Poetry is like constructing a
> three dimensional building with words."  Ah, but then it wouldn't have
> been as poetic...
> 
> Chain verse is rather fun.  The Irish called it "conachlonn", and
> Amergin's Invocation of Ireland uses it:
> 
> Ailim iath n-erend       I invoke the land of Ireland.
> Ermac muir motach        Much-coursed be the sea so fertile
> Motach sliab sreatach    Fertile be the mountain fruit-strewn
> Sreatach coill ciotach   Fruit-strewn be the woods all showery
> Ciotach ab eascach       Showery be the river of waterfalls
> etc...
> 
> You notice that, except for the opening line, the last word of one line
> is the first word of the next.  This gives you a good connection between
> each line, as well as providing some rhythm and foreshadowing. It can
> get a little boring when spoken aloud, but the technique is a good one
> to use for emphasis in other forms.
> 
> For this exercise, write a poem about knights using chain verse.  Use
> any meter you feel like (if any).  Use at least 5 lines, but no more
> than 16 lines.  And, just for fun, make the last word of the last line
> the same as the first word of the first line, so that it goes full
> circle.
> 
> ---------
> Bold stood the warrior,
> Warrior with white belt,
> White belt and gold chain,
> Chain verse reciting,
> Reciting it boldly.
> ---------
> 
> Ulf Gunnarsson
> 
> 
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