trobaire.org

a collection of literature from poets, bards, songwriters, and skalds in the SCA

A une Princesse malade

Iselda
Short Description: 

For the June Poetry Challenge, I asked Atlantians to write "get well soon" poems for our Princess, Signy Heri, who was staring down the barrel of knee surgery.  This was my offering.

Poem (Canso): 

Princess brave,
Rest and save
Up your fight.
Though the night
May seem long,
May this song
In your head
Banish dread.
Soon enough
You will rough
Up some knights.
Have some fights
With your friends.
When this ends
You will wield
Sword and shield
In attack.
How they'll clack
'Gainst your foes'!
And the woes
Of today
Chased away
Into air.
Don't despair,
We'll be here
Full of cheer
When you wave,
Princess brave.

Documentation / Explanation (Razo): 

Greetings, fellow Atlantians, 

As Poeta Atlantiae, my duty is to do whatever I can to fill our kingdom with verse. I can think of no better way than to help awaken the poetry in each of us, and to encourage the sharing of that poetry. Therefore, I would like to continue the tradition set by Poetas before me of issuing monthly poetry challenges. During the month of June, I challenge you to pen gifts for our Princess. I hope you will post them in the comments for Her Highness, and all of us, to see! 

I would guess that most of you have heard the news that Princess Signy has suffered injuries to her knee that will in all likelihood require her to quit the field of battle for a period of time. My challenge to you is to write a "get well" poem for her, to cheer her and give her hope for a quick and full recovery. 

As it happens, one of my very favorite poems is a sweet, simple verse penned in 1537 by the French poet Clement Marot to a young woman who was sick in bed. In it, he urges her to be cheerful, and to get well soon. Here it is in the original French, but you can also find translations here: https://www.clementmarot.com/MaMignonne.htm. 

A une Damoyselle malade
Ma mignonne,
Je vous donne
Le bon jour;
Le séjour
C'est prison.
Guérison
Recouvrez,
Puis ouvrez
Votre porte
Et qu'on sorte
Vitement,
Car Clément
Le vous mande.
Va, friande
De ta bouche,
Qui se couche
En danger
Pour manger
Confitures;
Si tu dures
Trop malade,
Couleur fade
Tu prendras,
Et perdras
L'embonpoint.
Dieu te doint
Santé bonne,
Ma mignonne.

If you would like to imitate one or more qualities of this charming period poem, here are some key features to note:

  1. It is 28 lines long.
  2. The first and last lines are the same.
  3. Each line is 3 syllables long, with stress on the last syllable.
  4. It is written in rhyming couplets (AA BB CC etc).
  5. Sentences and phrases tend not to line up with the rhyming couplets (A, AB, BC, etc).

If you really want to go down the rabbit hole with this, you should read Le Ton Beau de Marot, by Douglas Hofstadter.