In the remaining days of #PoetryMonth, I retell an ancient saga:

"Your favor marks a certain lord,
a sergeant squire who twice before,
has honored you upon the field,
and twice had earned rare accolade..."

#poetry #saga #medievaltwitter

"You see the dreams within his grasp -
belt, spurs and chain and High King's crown.
The future holds great things for him..."

#PoetryMonth #saga #medievaltwitter

"But he doesn't know, and needs be told.
He does not see all that he is.
A dark road needs illumination -
Inspire him, and be his beacon..."
(to be continued)

#PoetryMonth #poetry #saga #medievaltwitter

"...This noble Cambuskan, of whom I told.
Sat on his dais in a royal robe.
High on his throne with diadem and globe..."
---so Chaucer wrote in "The Squire's Tale"

#poetry #Saga #PoetryMonth #medieval

Now let me gift you with the same
acknowledgement and knightly fame,
nobility by sword and crown
and Khakhan's robes in splendor reign.

#poetry #Saga #PoetryMonth #medieval

A pair of boots in leather fine,
embroidered 'round with silvered vine
and gilded leaf. Both bird and beast
in silk thread chased
shall lay entwined...

#poetry #Saga #PoetryMonth #MedievalTwitter

Linen pants and sable hat,
and collar worked both front and back,
(will e'en impress the Emperess!)
No stitches missed, nor detail lack...

#PoetryMonth #embroidery #saga #medievaltwitter

The softest shirt of loomed sea-mist:
luminous pale, no color fixed
but none denied. Moonbeams will hide
on cuff and hem in Peking stitch...

#PoetryMonth #embroidery #saga #medievaltwitter

On fur-lined coat of silk brocade
auspicious signs are overlaid
and intertwined. Round it will bind
nine plaques of rare white girdle jade...

#poetry #embroidery #saga #medievaltwitter

As mortal cloth surrounds the man
so virtue must enrobe his sole.
The richest robe that can be worn
is virtue's cloak---noblest of all.

#PoetryMonth #saga #medievaltwitter

Moderation in food and drink,
sleep and waking, and speech and thought,
---equal forces in balance all---
bring victor's strength in battle's fought.

#PoetryMonth #saga #medievaltwitter

To bend your head towards lesser men,
to show your strength on bended knee,
respecting as your equals, all,
enobles your humility...

#PoetryMonth #saga #medievaltwitter

Though he be different from your friend,
allow the stranger proper place
and lear from him his native tongue;
by tolerance is knowledge gained.

#poetry #Saga #PoetryMonth

Refinement and propriety
imbues with grace your every deed.
Compassion towards less-fortuned men
will more empower than impede.

#poetry #Saga #PoetryMonth

With diligence, pursue your goal
with vigor that is unrelenting;
with inner strength of titan scale---
formidable and never ending...

#poetry #Saga #PoetryMonth

Such sagas spring from courtly love:
all words are writ to contemplate,
all motions made to stir and wake,
all favors held in innocence.
Emotions stayed by obeisance
to those who hold eachother's hearts...

#poetry #saga #medievaltwitter

The time has come for swords to sing,
for shields to clash, and steel helms ring
with valiant deed. In battle's din
all foes vanquished---one left standing
to lay claim to the Throne and Crown---
the next Crown Prince, heir soon to reign...

#PoetryMonth #medievaltwitter #Saga

As others were, so shall we be
magnificent in epic deed,
nobility in high esteem,
the gardeners of chivalry,
the keepers of the Crown and Dream
when you are king, and I am queen...

(fin) #PoetryMonth #Saga #medievaltwitter

---This thread contains excerpts from my original work: "Letters to a Squire," patterned after the style of "The Knight's Tale" and "Book of the Duchess" from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. With thanks to those who read it for #PoetryMonth and #medievaltwitter