True Love’s Kiss

This poem/song was started shortly after Crown Tourney, and finally finished in September, near the end of the reign of Kenric and Avelina.

Sir Kenric walked out to the list
with Avelina at his side
He would fight to see her Queen,
To crown his own beloved bride
Upon the field of battle.

Before the Eastern Queen and King
Upon their knees each softly bent
Pledged should the battles favor them
To goodly rule was their intent
Upon the field of battle.

Merrily the day began
with laughter in the autumn sun
As fighters sang the roundelay
so dancing ‘till the rounds were won
Upon the field of battle.

Through the lists like steeple bells
Rang out the shots that did delight
Every breath was held in check
when the final two last met to fight
Upon the field of battle.

Noble Edweard, Kenric bold
Bowed to the East assembled there
And with good will began to war.
The silent crowd could but stare
Upon the field of battle.

Step to step they were well matched,
When circling hawk called Kenric’s name
Reminded him the ground was his
If he but chose to end the game
Upon the field of battle.

A final blow, with honor dealt
Then Kenric stepped across the list
To take his lady in his arms
for all to witness true love’s kiss
Upon the field of battle.

Sir Kenric walked out to the list
With Avelina at his side
He would fight to see her Queen,
To crown his own beloved bride
Upon the field of battle.

 

Farewell My Bonney

At the EK Bardic Competition, His Majesty King Gryffith II made his request of me for the final round, which was to sing a song I had written myself.  “What kind, Your Majesty?” I asked him.  And he chose, “Sad.”

So I sang this song, which I don’t sing often.  I wrote it for my grandmother when she died, for she loved music and my singing. At the end of her life I would sit by her bed and sing through the hymnal page by page…  So this is her song, but also the song we all can sing to those who have sailed before us.

Here is the song in mp3 format.

Farewell my bonny
Farewell my love
Where you have gone I canna go
For soon you will stand
On the good Caanan land
Where we’ll meet
After my last tomorrow

Oh the sea has enthralled you
For all of your days
I ne’re dared to call you my own
Watching your sleep
I would almost weep
Knowing someday you’d be summoned home.

For thirty long years
I ha’ loved you so well
Though your flower is faded and pale
I know my mere hand
Can’t keep you on the sand
When the captain says its time to sail

I knew awaiting
on that bonny shore
Are many who’ve said their goodbyes
You’ve been called to the sea
By one greater than me
So I wave as the salt fills my eyes

May the ocean’s wide waters
Fall calm before you
May a fair wind blow at your command
And bless’d that ship be
That takes you far from me
With the cargo bound for Canaan land