Epic. Took me a while to write. Days.


The Dance of An Earl (Epic)

Hither you come to pay heed and attention
To the story of love and a heartwarm intention
A bond that could stand to an Emperor's legion
A faraway culture that should clash with this region
A song that needs singing, and hearts that need pair
A desperate reach for one to love and care

Our tale begins at the Castle de Reim
Where everything's quiet, or so it would seem
Samantha is lonely so near castle gate
Pace oh so slow, but exceedingly straight
A servant of Lady Katrina the Fair
Her eyes are so dark, and so close to her hair

The shadows that stretch in the early dawn mist
They draw from her features so soft that enlist
Not one man but two, and now three men to-morn
Of which they obssess her, as they give and adorn
One man, a messenger, had not one wife but four
And another, a soldier, was away at the war

But the new one she thought at the roses she glanced
This blacksmith named Roger, he might have a chance
Dear say me! he might be the one I think dearly
But the other side of her mind said to think clearly
A few days, a week, and we'll see him once more
After all, I must be the lass he has to work for!

--

And lit' to the east, lay a Royal-crown feast
A table of king worthy snacks, in the least
And there sat his earlship, his grace, and his lord
The dutious and honorable Sir Nicholas Remsford
And nearby sat his nephew, the Captain Pendan
Who lightly was courteous to all who attend

The Earl of Condenton, Sir Remsford himself
Sat chatting so swiftly with fellows of wealth
When the smell of roast boar then sailed quite in the room
To make all it's peace in it's stomachy tomb
And after some hours, The Sir Nicholas felt prone
To let other folks chat, and he left them alone

At his table he pondered, what a ponderous thing
That he should have maidens and lads to come sing
But instead of a conjure, he fingered his beard
And stated the following after his throat cleared
"My Lordships and Ladies, if you'd be so kind
I must now adjourn, as I have work to find"

The noteworthy guests were now nice to protest
But the Earl of Cendenton had known what was best
He left quite so suddenly, his nephew asked what amiss
But the young Earl assured him that all was in bliss
So placing his bread and pouring a few porters
The Earl of Condenton retreated to his quarters

A parchment on ready, a quill in his hand
He braced himself worthy of naught reprimand
So laid down some words for his scholaring thoughts
And tried to express all the hardships he crossed
But sooner or later, the kind Earl lay down
And fell quite a-snooze, making hardly a sound

--

And far to the North, and so quite near the shore
A knocking came pounding so loud on the door
The halls which it echoed did naught but reply
And return the knocking, as it slowly die
Up in the towers, the knocking grew strong
But a moment or two, and the knocking was gone

For out in the garden, the flowers caress
A girl who cared less if dirt got on her dress
For she was so pretty, that it did not care
Nothing at all could impure some so fair
As her yellow eyes shot from tulips to sky
She felt mirrored image, the sun's bright reply

A sigh in her breast, and her mind was at ease
The kicking had finally quit, it has ceased!
And no one could scale this large stone brick wall
Not unless one could be eleven feet tall!
She rose to her feet, at the coming a gale
She head up the stairs with her hand on the rail

A note on the door asked for the lady's attendance
She read with a quickness, her hand on her pendants
Sir Nicholas Remsford, an Earl of great poise
Requested her talents, her singing, her voice!
He wished for a tune to be worthy a rune
With engraving of poetry hatched from cocoon

So many miles, and three borders to cross
So many horses to cling to and toss
But, my, what a price, had his Grace had her vowed
The funds she well needed, of this she didn't doubt
So quickly, with her things, she left her abode
And made her way anxiously to the South road

--

And at the ending of such a distasting-down trail
A housekeeper lifts the Earls sheets like a sail
And such as these linens to rest on the bed
Are such as the Earl's happiness settle in head
For now he has news, of this it is clear
The Madame Rheyona is on her way here!

The Madame has voice, states a Duke of esteem
Her lips and her song do make quite a good team
Although she is gifted, a one in a many
It's heard she has troubles of which includes money
It seems the poor girl has lost her purse and jewel
In this shiny-pine world full of evil and cruel

"So then! states the Sir, "I may make two lives fine!
Financial for her, and creative for mine!
Thank Lord that you told me, for if I may birth
I'd find someone lesser and not of more worth"
A nod and a grin sent his friend to the exit
The Sir Remsford made for the parchment to text it

--

"My lady, a letter, to you it's addressed!
And don't mind me saying you read for the best!"
Samantha lets go of the paper in question
Signed and too sealed in the mark of Condenton
Lady Katrina takes hold of the slip
And with a slight dip, as she bites up her lip
Ignoring the scent of Samantha's earthy fume
Katrina the Fair makes it back to her room

Sir Nicholas Remsford of Condenton land
Has wished you to guest at his Ball a de Grande
She laughs at this sight, he is English to boot
His attempt at his French is, in a way, cute
Handsome Sir Nick, and his nephew Pendan
A sight for sore eyes in this sorely-eyed land

Accept this she will, and Samantha shall join
Her bags filled with favors, and perfume, and coin
They march to the gate, where her carriage await
Approaching the horse with a higher class gait
Steps in the cabin with hands on her lap
Samantha sits too, and she waits for her trap

Inside her mind, the housemaid kept her own
For she did not want her fair mistress alone
Most of the ladies who cared for the dear
Had wanted her a man, but Samantha most here
And so she sat waiting for opporitunity
She knew in her heart that the two meant to be

--

Back at the lavish Condenton Estate
The Earl's young kin, Pendan, stared blank at his plate
"What be it boy?" asked the Earl with a gust
"I wish to find partnership, sir, oh I must!"
"Nephew," states the Sir, "You have still much to learn.
A body is hardly a thing you should yearn"

"But naught to I yearn, sir, I wish for a sweet,
To whom I may speak whilst I lay down to sleep.
The guests at the Ball, there must be fair a girl
It's there I must dance with, and step with, and curl"
Sir Nicholas Remsford did nothint but smile
And ponder himself to do such things a while...

But rudely cut off were his dreams of companions
For out of the door came ladsmen like cannons
Some of them held slips of paper on grip
And some spoke for masters with a smile and a dip
All but this one had accepted to come stay
But the one who did not, "didn't like him anyway"

--

The morrow that followed, the morrow then that
Had crammed all the manor with decoratives fat
The cooks and the cleaners were on hight alert
To tidy the bedrooms and make the desert
For day after next came the highest of cash
To come summer's day to party up a bash

Sure enough, sooner than later, I say
The large group of friends came from dawn of that day
The Lord Deeramany, the Lady Respect
All except one whom he'd come to expect
The Madame, her voice, and her beauty absent
And so quite suddenly a ladsboy was sent

--

Cold as a chillsbox and as black as the plague
The outline Madame came quite through, though quite vague
Her hair was in shambles, her dress was all torn
As she had been stuck on the highway all morn
She waited two days as the blizzard would pass
While she wrote up song, and she wrote them up fast

Finally, the last blade of snowflake had fell
And a man of distinction had saved her from hell
A new wooden axel that the man had made
She sang him her song for his charitable aid
And quickened with haste, for now she was late
Already behind a while day on her date!

--

And in boomed the doorman with Madame at his side
He had guided her thus since she stepped from her ride
The sun had still slumbered, but woke very soon
She had to get ready! She started at noon!
What a suprise would have reached the Earl's eyes
Madame so happy, she started to cry

--

And when they awoke from their sleep, all them spent
At a table for breakfeast, a wealth of food spent
Sir Nicholas Remsford, a ghastly visage!
As if "Worry" and he were bonded in marriage
Where was the Madame, where was the song!
Why have I been waiting oh so...

Then high on the balcony, the Madame she stood
A red scarlet dress and a coifish-like hood
Before Earl could think, he must gaze at her face
The most beautiful face that could ever him grace!
Her bright yellow eyes took in all of the room
And without a word, Madame burst into tune

What a noise came from her! What a noise could that be?
Only angels in heaven could have matched what they see!
What a beauty, what a talent, what a posture and poise!
What a catchy, most alluring, most wonderful noise!

She made down the stairwell, her hands on the rail
As the Earl listened hard with all thought he could entail
And his nephew, Captain Pendan, stared also at her
With an infactuation to make a cow pur
She will be mine! Yes... she will be mine...
I'll conquer her heart when with us the girl dine

For Katrina the Fair and her maiden, Samantha
Inevitable envy panced forth like a panther
She saw the look in Sir Nicholas' eye
Samantha was worried, Katrina could die
For now, now she felt such a pain in her chest
She loved Nicholas too, she had to protest!

--

Later that evening, Sir pulled Madame alone
His quivering palms shook her right to the bone
She knew he was nervous, of that she was sure
Something about him was gentle and pure
So, lightly, she liked him, his charm and his wit
It was not a problem to flirt for a bit

Katrina the Fair hid behind her long hair
Watching the horror that Sir Nick would dare
She was quite lonely, Samantha had gone
To find Captain Pendan, the Condenton's son
So cold was her skin, though the room was quite warm
She sat at the table and crossed both her arms

In the high bedroom, Samantha would sneak
to find Captain Pendan, to catch a quick peek
For the son of a Lord had retreated to think
But the sight of Samantha, he gave a slight wink
Which the maid returned full, not a doubt in her mind
To take entrance into and lock the door behind

--

The High English Earl took the singer from France
To the center or stone, for a warm summer's dance
And the guests stopped their chatting and conversation
They took the big hint, and they all joined right in
Even Katrina the Fair had quite danced
With a Lichtenstein lord of whom she was entranced

But suddenly, quickly, and with out a pause
The Lady Katrina had not one good cause
But she quickly withdrew and found Sich Nicholas
Still with the Madame and her scarlet dress
She bid him good morrow, and took up alone
The only thing upstairs was Samantha's moan

--

And early the next day, all the Earl's guests depart
Katrina as well, with a stone in her heart
The Captain Pendan and his little maiden
Samantha then bowed and thanked him for the night in
The two had embraced in the night until tired
Not thinking of love, for that's all they desired

The Earl and his lover had taken their chance
But never did the Earl ever touch of her once
All in good time, and the parts will play out
The Madame was willing, of this there's no doubt
While the people were leaving and off on their way
The Madame, she stayed, for as long as she may

--

So now they spend life as a husband and wife
Living in peace and avoiding the strife
Now the Earl can hear song again and again
The roses sway justly back in the garden
The sun set at dusk as it does every night
A kiss and a hold, and they blew out the light

--
weirdzarun (Michael) 1/5/07
--








Poetry by weirdzarun
Read 525 times
Written on 2007-01-06 at 04:57

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There are a few glitches, but the concept, and the ryhme are very intrigueing, along with the story, i like. A little internal ryhme hidden in beaufifully and still fits with the rhythm, very well written. I absolutely love the 10th stanza.

~Kiva
2007-01-10


Teala
Fasinating, intense piece. Very well written, epic poems are always tough--this is very vivid, I love the imagery.
2007-01-07


Kathy Lockhart
oh my my my Michael. What a read! It took me on an epic journey of fantasy. You kept me glued and reading out loud to the end. Poor Katrina she left with nothing but a stone in her heart. Well that's the way it goes. This is a wonderful story and rhythm and rhyme. What more could one ask for. This dear one is amazing! Well done and applause and applause. bookmarked.
2007-01-06