As Your Equals |
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Done in tribute of the Knighting of Brandt Sturrock In the Reign of King Sir Sven and Queen Signy
Knight, Bard, Poet & Scholar. Consider, Question and Conclude as you will. |
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warrior's heart (for Christopher)
"What keep am I to hold?" "What song am I to sing?" "What foe am I to fight?" A sword you do command. "Treat your lessers as your equals, your equals as your Betters
and the King and Queen with the respect due to Sovereigns". [Trad.]
"By example: Lead. By Encouragement: Strengthen. By Vigilance: Allow Only Honour."
"To always BE right, speak of why new ideas should fail. To always DO right, strive to bring about good things"
"Chivalry: A deliberate act that benefits other's more than oneself." to those who work to make things come to be: woken dreamers (for John W.) The walls of Caerleon* did long since fall.
to the bards (to Grif) Tell the stories, sing the songs Let the young ones know our lives.
a reminder (a toast to Knights)
Knights who are noble Who Take the trouble the touch of healing The caring of others is there in your hand "Creativity is the useful application of accident." "fight as you can for right, with mind and soul and might." "By deed and word of court'eous thought great work's begun and done and taught." a knight never stands alone (for Squire Robert) (a lyric or script) What is a Knight without their Land?
young knight (for Kees) I wear the clothing of a Knight-at-Arms
the fighter's war cry is poetry, for it comes from their soul The poet settles through the hall at night.
Come dawn, all thought of else will shattered be
The morrow sees him sing with what he draws. the scabbard (for Gunther) The Sky, it sheathes the broiling Sun, As sands do shore
the seas.
The Heart does bear our Pain and Care, The Mind, all Thought and Dreams.
The Eye holds beauty (and its kin) The Hand all trade and tool.
The World's within, the Sky's without A babe rests in the womb.
The World within, the Sky without, A womb surrounded babe.
"If you wish to leave behind great things that live on, do not expect to be thanked for it by many, except in eulogy."
"Never assume Talent guarantees Success." honour The Custom of a sword is it will cut when it does strike
The Nature of a rock is it will break before it bends.
(This is about watching the path we could have chosen disappear behind
us.
honour (The Sonnet form of the previous piece) A rock will break before it ever bends
The tides do sweep the shore in even turns
That Nature sets these things to be's assured
We have, in our cacophony, endured
"The Seven Deadly Sins, how can so few win siege against so man (unless there lies a traitor in the walls?)"
"To have a vision that succeeds does not mean that you have to
succeed."
in all the gardens In all the gardens where I have e'er roamed In all the forests
and at sea and lakes
lies: the plague of reason A Sword will cleave, an Ax will split in two A Mace will shatter, Arrows pierce right through. A Charger mounted knight will smash the foe A Lie can kill as eas'ly as a blow. A Trebuchet flings stones that crush a wall. A Ram will slam at doors until they fall. A Tunnel saps the walls from near below. A Lie collapses all that from it grows. The Weapons here enlisted do forfend To conquer life and bring about an end. The legacy of Lies is sad to know. Unless burned out with truth, their roots will grow. Unlike a poison, who once used is gone. A lie can spread contagion, on and on. bisa What wonders lie awaiting for my dreams?
"In dedication may we yet find light For discipline brings clarity
of sight" the circle Forever pours the rivers of our life And friends, like currents, flow into our quay Enriching with their travels and their strife The delta that we form here by our sea. "Together" raises "hope" and "family." "Together" brings new strength to heal old pains. "Together" answers questions kind and mean. "Together": When we give, 'tis we who gain. In Glory do we stand, in faith secure (Although the future's road cannot be guessed) For our dear friends commit to ride the tour Accompanying each other through the mist. And we, this troupe of players, do here claim That we are richer for your part and name. timeless vigils * Two warriors, who've seen the face of war
What waits is nailing at the hem of night,
* co-writ with Sir Richard FitzAlan "If it's good, time won't hurt. If it's bad, time will help.
Patience."
"Be worthy of Trust, and never know trouble."
"The price of kindness: little. The reward: Everlasting.
And Malevolence? The same." History cannot repeat itself... only people may." Inspiration is not to be "decreed", It is to be felt.
What my tongue is slow to perfectly send Let this deed, this action
show My duty;
And by nothing less will You now be served. of knighthood (for Peter H.) Of all the fame of Knighthood's name, the swords & spears & shields The Banners flying from the walls Of castles and the fields... The horses charging at the lists The glint of armored steel The best and noblest of them all are hearts where Truth is real. the tourney prized (for Thorin) For Champion and Protector vie the swords Of many mighty warriors on the field. And each a noble fighter of good word. And each full ready to give victor yield. What grace of prowess was there seen that day! Good courtesy and chivalry full flower'd! What inspiration shared, what friendships made That audience, both royal and mean,* were proud. The evening cool did witness one alone Who all the rest did grant the victor's place. Well earned the mantle of the Champion's throne. Well honored by his lady, and her grace. Each fighter and their favored were well shone. This is the way that battle should be done. (* "mean" is used in the Elizabethan sense of just "not-noble". Not
an insult.) "As I have traveled this hard quest, as I have lived my time I've ne'er yet met a voice so quiet that could not join in rime.
"There is no greatness... only great gifts."
"To criticize too early and to praise too late, may all be spared." the forge Hammers the Hammer (the Smithy pounds on) Splinters of starfall descend all around Lighting the evening with embers and coals Creating new life and forging new souls Billows the water, the cherry red steel, The steaming, the cooling, the hurt and the heal. Born into living with blood and with pain Living through aging and growing again Raising impurities up from the ore The Hammer of life will pound us all pure. Some will be brittle and some will be poor. But some will be better than ever before. Bring out the temper, make spring and make hard Weld parts of yielding: the pommel and guard. Make the integrity flow through it all A wondrous beauty's there at the call. Make me a horse bit and rim me my wheel The Forges of Living can make us all free. Weave me my mail shirt and helmet my head Hinge me the gateway that guards well my land Spear point and arrow, the flail and the chain. But armor and weapons never stop pain. Cast me the bell that will warn me of raid Then spin me the ring that will wed me my maid
Now it is fragile, the metal is worn Cracked and with fracture, with rips it is torn Now there is rusting where once it did shine In death lives its flame in story and rime. Keep to the memory all it has done And let it then rest where the resting is done. We are the metal that glows from our strife. We are the welding, the embers of life. We are the forger and forged all in one. By heat we are tempered, by heat: undone Follow our sparks as they rise through the fray For they are the starlight that mark us our way. my champion(for Cymbric) The effort and the skill with which you show How well inspiring are your gifts of grace Displayed for all the truth of what I know: "There lies a noble heart, mind, soul and face." With skill and courtesy you took the field Prepared for challenge from the very best. With honor well contended, win or yield You shared chivalric glory with the rest. The real challenge lay not with the foe But in the hazards brought by thy own tests. "Surpass yourself" is guidance writ in gold. Its victory brings prize of answered quests. My Champion, how well you fought for me. Now must I strive for worth, to worthy be. squire watch (for Duke Rorik, by Margaret, Victoria and Sir Brand) His feet apart the Prince did steel his gaze Upon his man, embattled on the field. His figure firm as oak, his mind apace With thought of "Do"... of "Don't". Not "Win"... not "Yield". As Teacher, see his training on the field. As Mentor, hear his words give guide as well. As Lord, then let the tutored serve among The noble and the gracious of his hall. What ease of living does this charge annul? What comfort is denied to stand here now? No matter! 'tis investment towards the call That true knights give in answer to their vow. True victory is given, never stol'n. Long live the name of "Honour" o'er our own.
"For the good of the future, we must risk failure and be willing to risk obscurity."
"There is no discipline or pursuit exclusive to the professional"
"The most economical use of time is to learn from the mistakes
of others"
"Judgment is not prized if it is not wrapped well" - Guilliume
"Acceptance is never to be demanded. It is given by one's self
or lost." the doubting writer (or To Those Who "Wright") "Hast there ever been a word from thy hand That is or was worth
reading or speaking...
Know, oh Poet, no matter what your pen
will be `has never been'
rain So little are the pathways of the Rain (From sky to stone, from
stone to River's bed)
the apprentice Done as if at a swearing ceremony: (For Eduardo) (Apprentice:) My need is your Knowledge, my skill is Desire
(Peer:)Your deeds are remembered, your words are here witnessed.
(All:)I give you my promise, my faith and my service.
the dungeon: In prison, laid I watching years a-drain Awaiting my release from this
cold cell.
A experienced Tudor courtier speaks to a new member of Court at the court of kings (for Amanda) The Court
of Kings is a place of power And those who play must execute their moves
Well,
or be well executed themselves.
Dodging the swaying vines and ill flowers Of deceit through this garden-politic
Keeps one agile,
But though there are many who play this dread Game with spoiling hearts,
there are delicate Numbers whose skill and doing are both clean And
good.
Here, the power of a pure heart And a conscientious mind may yet part
This company and do good work
Aid them well in this task. Think well on it. the test of inspiration (for Gunnarr and Gabrielle) When armor's new, and sweat is yet to run When Horses have no mud upon their length. When sword is newly edged with no harm done How easy is the rough made boast of strength. When on the chart, how little are the foe. When night is hung, how brave the deeds of dawn. When breakfasting, "The master of the blow." How quick the face of day will make these gone. In battle, let the truth alone be strong Inspired by skillful mastery of art. Let years of effort, trial and test belong To those that have the noblest of heart. Let me in boast be silent and unheard. My sword shall speak my inspiration's word.
"Those who remember the past can improve on the one they are
making." the welcoming (my speech for Master John McCleod, in iambic) We all are of a cloth, we're woven here. For life does beat its rhythm on this loom of days. The weft are the realities of life. The warp? The interactions and the accidents of each our lives. It is a strong
weave, usually. It is a complex weave, always.
Those who regard each opportunity as time to help the whole,
who pick up things of beauty and of possibility, improve them and then
give away their work.
Who charm and warm these "chances" with their goodness and then give
away those gifts so they may then help others grow.
There are those who learn simply so they then may teach,
who grow strong simply so they may lend strength,
who sing so they might give a better praise and who observe so they
may see what needs the doing,
There are yet those who build so others may build even more.
Such is this candidate, such is this person, such is this good friend
to Land and People,
we need give our recognition now.
They speak of truth, and do much good and are a worthy friend.
They are a champion. They are a welcomer. They are a person who holds honor dear. They are an individual to whom the goals of Chivalry are close unto their heart as their own blood. No thread is without flaw, no weave without mistake, but it is not "Achievement of Perfection" that defines this gentle's goals. It is their willingness to try again, improve, and learn. To teach, and by that teaching, strengthen other's lives, for that does mark a Peer. Let no one say that any individual defines a Peerage,
but know this good candidate does stand most excellent as proof and
facet of what Peers should be.
So, welcome them, as we do, too, into our Circle here.
Now, welcome this true servant of the Realm, this noble Peer. what we live, we build (for Sq. Robert) When love helps build - as architect - our home And we, within
its frame-work, lay its floors.
The Future looms. We know not what we weave.
victory's warrior (for Christopher) "For every cause that's given us there's Victory at hand" No thing that ever sees the sun can be without this brand. Tho' we may fail or fall too short in seeing fly our flag We make the ways and palisades that centuries see stand. Among the lost, the vanquished foe, the innocent and ill Our path and Fate winds through them all to bring us to our will. We joined this army when we stood and shouted out our brag: "Let me be called to serve with all my strength & heart & skill." When we so choose to join these troops of warriors and kin We then concede our right to plead for what we "should" then win. We serve ideals, we stay the quest, we climb the icy crag Then let the Victory be shared. Let Bards their stories spin. We serve the goal, we fight its loss, we keep it flowing on. And where it takes us we will go... for less would see it gone. the test Although no path can be erased once trod No deed be taken back by time nor will. Good sense, like yours, will grant thee better odds Than guesses taking chance against good skill. Your luck is yours to pull against the dice Your fate 'tis in your influence to mold. Your fortune waits with locks against the price That keys will pay that only you do hold. Fear never that the world awaits your fall. Doubt not that blessed things are waiting you. Know only that when all our ways meet walls That climbing o'er will grant a wond'rous view. You are, in strength and countenance, well graced. No test of life can best you, once 'tis faced.
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No
part of this may be sold for profit without written permission of the Author Copyright © 1998-1999 all rights reserved by GregRobin Smith 4742 - 42nd Ave SW, Suite 379, Seattle, WA 98116-4571 email: gregrobin@knightstour.org | |
Sir Brand's email poetry list is available for free subscription gregrobin@knightstour.org web address: http://weber.u.washington.edu/~sirbrand/ Printed by WordSmith/WordWright Heavy Type Industries ®, a bi-product by the folks at "A Knight's Tour" ® 4742 - 42nd Ave SW, Suite 379 Seattle, WA 98116-4571. All contents © copyright 1998-1999 by GregRobin Smith. "Permission to reproduce this
Boke, in whole or in part, in newsletters, email lists, in other
publication, etc. can be received by contacting the Poet at any of the
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(and the most current versions are obtained) the Poet requests a copy of
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