Challenges Entered: Period Poetry
Project: Early Medieval English Poem
The poem I am submitting for this challenge is one that I wrote as a boast for Mistress Elysabeth Underhill's elevation to the Order of the Pelican. In the past I have written poems to herald individuals into their ceremonies and I use their persona as inspiration. Previously I have used both 14th and 16th century literary works when writing my boasts. In this case, Mistress Underhill's persona for the purposes of elevations and her art of bead making is Early Medieval English in the period of 800-1000 AD.
The poems I used as my source guide for my work were Beowulf and Judith, which were both written in approximately 1000 AD.
(The sections in parentheses were not read during the walk in due to the short walk, but they have been included here)
Hwaet!!
We Praise the Prowess of Burdened Birds
A woman elf-brilliant, wise in thought
Adorned with awards, bedecked with beads
The leader beloved who now ministers to all
(By lauded deeds, with liegemen loyal)
People protector, Truth-speaking teacher
(Be pleased to advise us!)
Chancellor and champion of Tygers' arts
Stouthearted, stalwart, and stately
(Not reckless of promise)
To kingdoms afar is she known
(And of the noble East, honored still)
Through width of the world by wise folks all
A good Pelican she!
[opening line to Beowulf]
[repeated consonants are a common technique in OE poetry, I used them frequently throughout this piece]
[both "elf brilliant" and "wise in thought" are descriptors of Judith in the original poem]
[many works in OE poetry, such as the Battle of Maldon, celebrate a character's relationship to those in service to them]
["Not reckless of promise" is a descriptor of Beowulf]
Sources:
The Cambridge Old English Reader. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Beowulf. Penguin Classics, 1973.