Crossings

Also for Mahault

By THLaird Colyne Stewart

The pillars of the grandest house are built,

By deeds both great and small the bricks are laid,

And with hard work the walls and floors are gilt,

With blood and sweat the mighty mansion’s made.

The mason is Abundantia on earth,

Her toils in both hall and field are great,

Long laboured maiden held in deepest worth,

Who does not fear the fight with fickle fate.

Clementia forgive her forthright voice,

Which rises in defense of those struck mute,

To honest live, herself to be, her choice,

Who can then dare to bold denounce her route?

So do I grace her gifting words I penned,

To sister, mentor, and my closest friend.

A Shakespearean sonnet.

Illumination

For Baroness Mahault of Swynford

By THLaird Colyne Stewart

From fingers flow a scene,

Of gold leaf, red and green,

Ink and paint they dance,

The quill her quiet lance,

Lines arch crisp and lines arch clean,

To convey gift from her queen.

Mahault, while not having a full persona, did take her name from the Flemish version of Matilda. Therefore, I wanted to write something for her in the Flemish style. Flanders (which is now part of modern Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands) shared its literary styles with both the Germans and the Dutch. Therefore I decided to write a minnelied (which literally was a poem or song written by a minnesinger). I found an example of a minnelied that was six lines long with a rhyme scheme of AABBAA. The first two lines had 6-syllables, the following two had 5-syllables, and the last two lines had 7-syllables. This is the manner in which I wrote my poem.

Moving “House”

Colyne Stewart, July AS XXXVII (2003)

For Berend, Brandt, Eirik, Galiana and Mahault

Eighteen months ago we had never met

And yesterday I saw you all

In the dining room of our new house

In the kitchen, on the porch

Glasses in hands, smiling and laughing

After many hours of hard work

Sweating, lugging, under burning sun

Now mingling with our parents and brothers

And I came to a realization

Though we do not have a name, nor device, nor charter of ideals

We are a House: a House of Spirit, a House of Friends

And what is more

A House of Family.

Mahault at Hadrian’s Wall (Pennsic XXXI)

Colyne Stewart, Aug. AS XXXVII (2003)

At Hadrian’s Wall forces met

With great shields locked and long swords set

Columns marched quickly tot heir death

With beaded sweat and hitching breath.

Iron Companions all in red

Were by Thegn Cynred boldly led

Into the breaches thick with flies

Feasting upon those that had died.

As War Doors smashed into the foe

A wave of armoured fighters flowed

And then Mahault, Isen-sister,

Was lifted, turned, foot all twisted,

Surrounded by Atlantians

Who yelled to her above the din

“Are you injured? Show us no fear,”

All bending close so she could hear

And lifting her upon her shield

Like a Queen carried from the field.

Caught now by the Dragon enemy

She found they held no enmity

As they watered her and fed her

Gave her hugs instead of murder.

A Midlands Duke then came to stare

To see what caused such ruckus there.

He introduced himself and claimed

He was more known than Finnvarr’s fame

To which Mahault did bold retort,

“I know Finnvarr, but of you naught.”

A chastised Duke then slunk away

And though his side would win the day

Mahault returned to Eald’mere earth

With this tale to cause us much mirth,

For the van der Eychs, Upon the Occasion of their Authorizations

Colyne Stewart, July AS XXXVII (2003)

On sunny day of blasting heat

Two fighters came to prove their worth

In armour made by their own hand

Their faces shining bright with mirth

For long her training for this day

Hard hitting pell-poles for their crimes

He, whom Aaron thought a Duke

Had been in armour but three times

Both raised their swords in a salute

Both bravely fought and whirled and spun

Both brought their weapons crashing down

Upon the head of laughing Gun

Two new fighters for the Isen

Both born in Glory, shaped that day

To Berend and Mahault the fierce!

Great praises do I herein say.