Not-Ballad of Commius, By Anubh de Mona 2022
I took a class about how to write ballads and then wrote this, which is not a ballad.
I sing
Of horses, oaths, of coins and kings
Allegiance and resistance, things
Like wits, diplomacy and blame
In warfare, wisdom and word fame
He fought for land that’s home to us
First British Celt upon a coin
A man we know as Commius
In song let Celtic voices join
He rode a horse, he used his wits
He made an oath, took Roman hits
He minted coins and sat upon
A throne in Gaul and Albion
A Gaul helped Caesar get away
From shores of Albion so grim
O damage done was great that day
From Celtic courage, weather’s whim
At first young Commius worked for Rome
He spoke two tongues and played a part
He brokered favors for his home
But then he had a change of heart!
He rode a horse, he used his wits
He made an oath, took Roman hits
He minted coins and sat upon
A throne in Gaul and Albion
When Wolusenus thought him false
And lured fine Commius to meet
They struck him, but he kept his pulse
Assassination incomplete!
He swore an oath through bloody haze
I’ll not be fooled by Rome again
On Romans I’ll not lay my gaze
A Roman seen’s a Roman slain!
He rode a horse, he used his wits
He made an oath, took Roman hits
He minted coins and sat upon
A throne in Gaul and Albion
For Vercingetorix he tried
And for the Bellovaci found
Five hundred steeds for them to ride
Alas the legions cut him down
But Commius was hard to kill
Rome couldn’t catch the cunning Gaul
Yes Commius resisted still
Kept up the fight, gave hope to all!
He rode a horse, he used his wits
He made an oath, took Roman hits
He minted coins and sat upon
A throne in Gaul and Albion
At last the Gallic wars were lost
The land was conquered, Rome had won
But Commius the Channel crossed
For Commius was still not done!
Atrebates raised him high
In coin of gold they struck his name
And coins of five more kings besides
Proclaim allegiance, mint word fame
He rode a horse, he used his wits
He made an oath, took Roman hits
He minted coins and sat upon
A throne in Gaul and Albion
So sing
Of horses, oaths, of coins and kings
Allegiance and resistance, things
Like wits, diplomacy and blame
In warfare, wisdom and word fame