Tag: ode

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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.

 

 

Words and Music ©2008 by Monique M Bouchard

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The Tale of Spring Crown Tourney, AS46

The tale of the Spring Crown Tournament, AS46, as told by Aneleda Falconbridge,
recorded at the request of King Lucan VIII.

Asked Jana, Queen, on morning bright
Enter you with good intent
To serve the East with fullest heart
should you to this throne ascend?
Over five score answered, Yes.

Bright the day
Fierce the sun,
Fiercer the combat.
Tygers’ pelts grew soaked with work.

Consorts sweet called down the bees,
Eastern flowers fair and soft,
swayed beneath the tourney trees in bloom,
where creatures of all kinds did rest.

Poles clash, swords swing
Some fall to rise again,
Some fall and remain.

Gentle music fills the air
to the tattoo of brutal drums.
Hawks circle in the sun,
keeping carrion birds at bay.

Come the clouds
as wains the day.

The earth trembles as falling, tumbling
comes the bear
crescents whirl their brightest points,
but are at last torn from the sky.

Golden lyon meets a dragon azure,
of double head. Thunderous roars
and jets of flame blaze,
but the lyon’s golden paw stomps the flame,
and it is done.

Now the massive bear approaches,
shaking fur, arctic strong.

Now the lyon paces in,
circling with softest growl,
stretching singed paws.

The sound of their meeting
shakes the hills,
waves crash on stillest lakes,
stormclouds gather to watch.

Now ursus, now lyon,
now argent, now or.

Noble beasts,
strong as forged ore,
bravery blinds with brightness.

Stamping, pawing
steaming in the flashing sun
axes glinting, lightning quick.

The bear takes a blow,
with his last he fights on as though unharmed,
but then a pause,
a word spoken in honor,
your blow has killed me.

He bows, then falls,
his silver head pants and hits the earth.

The lyon honors such a foe,
a fight worth having, battle bold.
The fallen bear he does salute.

He now walks to his lioness,
in the tall grasses pacing and prowling,
prowling and pacing.

With steady eye he watches her.
Your love, he growls in gentle tones,
rekindles a fire I thought was lost.

He takes her gently in his paw,
presents his pride and prize
to pride and cubs with joy.

Enter you with good intent
To serve the East with fullest heart
should you to this throne ascend?
Yes, the lyon and his lady say.

Lyon gold and tyger blue
we honor fully on this day.
I boast, for I was there to see,
Gregor strong, and Kiena keen,
take the crown and Eastern hearts
as prince and princess of the realm.

 

Now Master Toki has given me a little challenge with this now, and so it will likely appear again in a new incarnation of verse-style later.