For Asa Gormsdottir upon being elevated to the Order of the Laurel

THlaird Colyne Stewart, December AS 49 (2014)

For some are masters of an art,

They practiced each and every day,

To hone their skill, find their way,

And in the kingdom play their part,

For some are masters of an art.

One of these was blessed by her Queen,

For skill with needle, thread and cloth,

Who people in fine garb were swath,

Whose art was ‘mongst the greatest seen,

One of these was blessed by her Queen.

Now Asa, Dame of Ordered Laurel,

Sworn by faith, worthy scholar,

Wearing leaves about her collar,

In our kingdom of the boreal,

Now Asa, Dame of Ordered Laurel.

Since Asa does both Old Norse and Venetian I had a choice to make about what kind of poetry to use. I decided to go with an Italian form and settled on a ballata. Ballate were often accompanied by music and dancing, but not always. And since I can’t write music or choreograph a dance, simple words it is!