Aneleda Falconbridge

May 12, 2011May 12, 2011

The Cardinal Ordained

For Master Julien de LaPointe
Pars mea Dominus dixit
anima mea propterea
expectabo eum. Amen. Alleluia.
Lamentationes Jeremiæ Prophetæ 3:25

First they breached the western wall
Domine Deus
in the night without a sound
meus in te speravi
We awoke to skies of smoke
libera me, et salva me
and rang the bells to give the call
Amen, alleluia.

We gathered all at the abbey hall
Domine Deus
bidding all to flee the grounds
meus in te speravi
fearful faces neath their cloaks
libera me, et salva me
the cardinal urged that none forstall.
Amen, alleluia.

Pars mea Dominus dixit
anima mea propterea
expectabo eum. Amen, Alleluia.

All fled save he and you, my Lord
Domine Deus
The others through the darkness gone
meus in te speravi
The only sound to hear was fire
libera me, et salva me
Then the pounding of the horde
Amen, alleluia.

In your name he took up the sword
Domine Deus
praying he would greet the dawn.
meus in te speravi
To serve you was his best desire
libera me, et salva me
within these walls which he adored.
Amen, alleluia.

Pars mea Dominus…

He would not see them desecrate
Domine Deus
Relics, icons, sacred Host.
meus in te speravi
In his vestments sanguine red
libera me, et salva me
he protects our blessed estate.
Amen, alleluia.

Then they came fast past the gate
Domine Deus
soon to crush upon his fearless post.
meus in te speravi
Through night’s dark fear and dread
libera me, et salva me
your servant’s will did not abate.
Amen, alleluia.

Pars mea Dominus…

No armor was there to be donned
Domine Deus
as vigil candles brightly shined
meus in te speravi
before your altar on his knees
libera me, et salva me
to ask Your blessing of his brond.
Amen, alleluia.

We heard a music from beyond
Domine Deus
thus strengthened by the psalm divine,
meus in te speravi
pater nosters filled the trees
libera me, et salva me
our faith, unfolded as a frond.
Amen, alleluia.

Pars mea Dominus…

We sensed the breaching of the door
Domine Deus
the splintring of the carved facade
meus in te speravi
our master’s faith would soon be proved
libera me, et salva me
for vailent peace he would implore.
Amen, alleluia.

We heard his song across the moor
Domine Deus
He is my savior and my God
meus in te speravi
No more now shall I be moved!
libera me, et salva me
My victory He does assure!
Amen, alleluia.

Pars mea Dominus dixit
anima mea prop-terea
expect-abo eum. Amen, Alleluia.

Notes:

Master Julien took to the field of fencing garbed as a cardinal, in brilliant red. The idea of him, this warrior-abbot, caring for a tiny, besieged town

pars mea Dominus dixit
anima mea prop-terea
expect-abo eum. Alleluia.

The Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I wait for him.

Domine Deus meus in te speravi.
salva me ab omnibus persequentibus me et libera me

O Lord, my God,
in thee have I put my trust;
save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.

May 12, 2011August 31, 2011

Stalk Like the Tyger

Stalk like the tyger treads through the night
follow the purple and gold glitt’ring bright
Our king leads the field as we march to the war
The like that no other has seen yet before

Our queen holds our love in veils of gold thread
We shall follow her standard until we are dead
Lucan and Jana but give your command
And the crows shall dine well in this part of the land.

With honor, to glory, eyes burning aflame
Tighten your helm as you rush into fame
For the battles are many and the war it is long
But those without fear are remembered in song!

Take up the pike and the spear and the sword
Let the wheat lay as you swear on the word
fighting for kingdom, for hearth and for home
Bretheren all, we n’ere fight alone

Follow the banners and steel yourself here
Focus your mind and your arm against fear
We all wear the blue but treasure the red,
And take death on the field before death in our beds.

With honor, to glory, eyes burning aflame
Tighten your helm as you rush into fame
For the battles are many and the war it is long
But those without fear are remembered in song!

Forget all you know but remember your King
For as long as he stands we still have every thing
Honor your love but take arms for your Queen
Fight like the tyger whose cubs have been seen.

With honor, to glory, eyes burning aflame
Tighten your helm as you rush into fame
For the battles are many and the war it is long
But those without fear are remembered in song!

Written winter/spring 2011

May 12, 2011September 26, 2014

Women of the Northern Army

“While coyness, shyness and flirtation are good for getting a man, sometimes after all that, you still have to hit him with a stick and drag him home.”

This song is featured on the CD “I Am of the North” available for purchase online at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/aneledafalconbridge

Once there was a northern lass
with hair as red as fire
Her heart set on a fencing man
who filled her with desire.
She vowed that she would have him
and someday be his bride –
Even if the fencing lad
rather would have died….

So go the women of the Northern Army
marching into love!
No cupid’s bows – their siege engines
rain passion from above.
You’d best be heavy shielded
and in sturdy armor bright
if a woman of the Northern Army
has eyes for you tonight!

This lady was in love with him –
she made up her mind.
She might just have to jump on him,
or hit him from behind!
After all her plotting,
that northern lassie fair,
thought he might best be taken
while sleeping in his chair.

*chorus*

She stelthily attacked him
with motions strong and bold
but he slept with his schlauger on –
twas quite a fight all told –
though the maid did surprise him
he was ready with his steel;
they fought until exhausted
and then had their first meal…

*chorus*

Now the two of them quite merrily
and regularly fight,
they argue in the morning
and brawl all through the night.
Blessed are they with true love
so it is seen and said…
though when her eyes alight with fire –
his often fill with dread!

*chorus*

May 12, 2011September 12, 2013

Where the Bard Sings

“This song has taken forever to finish with me! It started as an ode to those golden-voiced minstrels whose songs and tales warm us as easily as any ale or fire…however this song really started to mean something at one War when a lady, upon hearing our merriment, came to our camp and spent her whole evening at our fire, commenting on our open-hearth/warm-heart policy that Endewearde is famous for. Since then, this song has become one that also speaks to the hospitality of our shirefolk, of which I am always so very, very proud.”

http://mbouchard.com/misc/Where-the-Bard-Sings.mp3

Chorus: Oh come to the wooing of the cracking flame
Where pauper and king may share in fame
Where a rais-ed voice
Heralds the teller’s choice;
For immortality springs where the bard sings.

See our firelight, friend,
Come in from the dusty road.
We welcome you, friendship is our code
Let us fill your glass with ale,
Sit in comfort for a tale…

You may hear of the beauty
Of a damsel quite far
Or a singing fencer who took
On a hostile bar
Did he die or does he live?
Mayhap this tale, the bard will give.

chorus

When the final embers fade
and there is no longer light,
’tis the only time when
the bard calls it a night.
But still it burns, the blazing fire,
Come – and let our tales inspire!

chorus

Share a laugh, tell a tale or
Sing for us a song
Be it sweet, be it sad,
We will listen all eve long…
Of the histories that we now share
And to fellowship laid bare.

So sit close, friend –
be you new or be you old,
Here you shall find
treasures more than gold!
From the throne or off the ground,
Good people gather round!

Oh come to the wooing of the cracking flame
Where pauper and king may share in fame
Where a rais-ed voice
Heralds the teller’s choice;
For immortality springs where the bard sings.

Yes, immortality springs where the bard sings.

May 12, 2011May 12, 2011

The Tale of Jaden’s Shield

“This song is completely true.”

I happened to be watching
from upon a bale of hay
a battle for the bridges
on a sweltring summer’s day.
The soldiers were a stamping
and the shieldsmen lead the charge
with Jaden at the foremost
for his shield is very large!

For none shall pass
for none shall pass
no matter what they wield
they’ll never get beyond the reach
of Jaden’s mighty shield!
Oh none shall pass
oh none shall pass
for he will never yield
the mighty brute who stands behind
the girth of Jaden’s shield!

The runes he scratched upon it
have protected him from harm
and if they hadn’t been there
we wouldn’t have this yarn
for o’re the bridge came all the East –
the men in front with pikes! –
he was sure to have a beating
but this is what he likes.

Chorus

Off the bridge left and right
the men fell far and near.
It seemed that clunks and groaning
were all that I could hear.
I lost him in the shuffle,
but soon he was revealed,
as with his shield held proudly
he march-ed off the field…

Chorus

His helmet he then removed
with a gracious doff
I looked up at the golden shield
that he’d kept well aloft.
He looked and spoke these words to me
which I’ll never like forget
“I think I pushed so hard I soiled my self
but I can’t tell quite yet.”

Chorus (very enthuiastically)