The Pen is Mightier

Three acts of courtesy a good man should strive for: Holding a hearth seat for the cold and weary stranger,  Word fame given wildly for another man’s deeds, Bountiful bread broken with all who come to his table. This is the courtesy of Valerian of Somerset. He offers the gift of abundance. Cordials of cordiality,  provisions of partnership; the communion of community.    He serves the whole Society with his hospitality.  Three animal senses are soothed in Valerian’s mead hall: Our tongues know the sweetness of milk and honey, Our noses breathe the perfume of fire and wood smoke Our ears hear the sizzle-song of meat dripping onto coals. While I with my voice, make a feast with my words, Valerian, with his flame, has made a feast for us all.  Your majesties, one more triad to end this poem: He is my peer, he is my peer, he is my peer. ------- This poem was spoken by me for Baron Valerian of Somerset as a part of his peerage ceremony during his elevation to th...

Since I have been made a Laurel I have been looking for a period Indian depiction of a laurel wreath.  Almost everything depicted in SCA regalia looks more Greek or Roman to my eyes.  I didn’t know if there was a depiction of anything more Mughal I could find. Spoiler: I did not find such an image.  The Persian and Mughal artists were very enchanted with flora of their regions, depicting them on the borders of miniatures and in their garden scenes. But their images were naturalistic, and I could not find a depiction of either bay leaves, laurel leaves, or any leaves twisted into the shape of a chaplet. I was getting ready to chuck the idea out the window when I stumbled upon an interesting note while I was doing research for another project.  The Purananuru, an anthology of 400 poems written between the 1st and 3rd century CE, describes the wars, cattle raids, Kings, bards and battles of the Tamil people during the Sangam era . (1)  Rather like the Victorian lan...

For the TLDR focused among you: I was elevated to the Order of the Laurel on Saturday at Rapier Champs.  Thank you to the people who worked behind the scenes to schedule, organize, plot against me, and provide some truly beautiful regalia.  During Royal court on Saturday after the Rapier Champs tournament had ended, I was startled to hear my Mughal persona name called back into court.  The Order of the Rose had given courtesy tokens at the start of court, so I had already been up once, and I had settled in to wait until the end of court when I was supposed to speak at both of the Pelican elevations.  I was so startled that I said "Oh shit" out loud. So I scurried up to the dais, totally forgetting to let my husband Robert Earlson escort me, as is right and proper.   I bowed to the crowns, full kneeling obeisance, cause I'm Mughal and that's what you do before your emperor. The King spoke about the wonderful fights he'd had with me at Birka, and th...

Occasionally I write stuff for the SCA that is left turn from my usual.  This one was one of those.  I have known Maika for an appallingly long time.  She has always had a thing about dinosaurs. When I officiated at her wedding, plastic dinosaur toys were scattered all over the centerpieces. During the reception guests redistributed the toys, and they ended up in my hair, in my purse and slipped into my pockets, like a case of reverse pickpocketing. When she was given a writ for the Pelican I figured I owed her at least this much.   Her regalia included dinosaurs embroidered on the sides of her Pelican cloak, and there were dinosaur toothpicks included as part of the vigil food.  ++++++++++++++ I am Countess Chatrikam Meghanta and I will speak for the Order of the Rose for this candidate:   For the Roses speak when they’re inspired,  Or when a candidate’s admired By an Order, and is required, To answer questions, kneel before us.  Maika is th...

 Lorenzo,  Shall I compare thee to a chatelaine?  Thou art more stalwart and more clement.  Rough demos used to teach and entertain Stirs the soul with sword and flying pennant.  Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines, Sometimes too wet, too dark, with sun bedimmed, But every faire thy gen’rous teaching signs new Eastern fencers who can kill… or limb. Despite thy fearsome skill with pen and blade, Thy secret heart protects a gentle spirit  As all the Roses in this court arrayed Attest thy courtesy that each may hear it.  For what is clear for any eye to see This man’s a more than worthy peer to me. ------------- I could not attend my friend's elevation this past weekend.  Lorenzo was awarded his Pelican for his service in running SCA demos and recruiting new people. He had asked his Pelican, Alys Mackyntoich if I could speak for him for the Rose. As I was reviewing his body of work, and while thinking of the fact he had a 16th Century persona,...

Harun's glass gaze reflects the beloved East, Shows the Rose the beauty of her face, Folding and unfolding, without surcease. Such a jewel of service deserves Our Royal grace, Crown awards in court; a Silver Wheel, released.  Such a jewel of service deserves Our Royal grace, folding and unfolding, without surcease. Show the Rose the beauty of her face; Harun's glass gaze reflects the beloved East.   Ryouko'jin, Demon King of the Three Heavens,  and Rani Indrakshi, award a Silver Wheel to Harun al-Najm al-Shirazi at Pennsic War in the year of the Blue Tyger, AS 57   - - - - - - - - - - Harun al-Najm al-Shirazi for a Silver Wheel  https://wiki.eastkingdom.org/wiki/Harun_al-Najm_al-Shirazi  Harun is a photographer.  He is receiving his Silver wheel for service to the East in documenting our events, and in particular taking stunning portrait photography, especially of our current king and queen. Writing a period style poem for a photographer is tricky, as ...

Without running on in poetical fashion,  without using hyperbolic figures of speech, which are too clearly courtier’s flattery, we should turn our attention to praising Fortune Sancte Keyne, the one and only wonder and miracle of nature, the high ruler of the sea, lofty courtesan, favorable & strong,  without equivalent or peer in the world.  In her the Crowns of the East take pleasure in elevating her into the secure, eternal nest of the Pelican, an Order which had been incomplete. Done this day anno societatis LVI, at the Aisles of March by the great good wisdom of Ioannes II & Honig II -------------------- The words for this are based on the writing of courtesan and poet Veronica Franco.  The recipient of this Pelican is Countess Fortune Sancte Keyne, whose persona is an Italian Courtesan.  She is a member of the Knowne World Courtesan's Guild and hosts a regular book club called “sex book club” where the participants read period texts and discuss ...

And so she navigated to our shore,  Fair winds had brought her safely to the East, She’d carried brushes, paints and clever lore, With Winston, truest friend and feline beast. Then once she’d found a land with opened doors, She made, for friends and Kings, her art into a feast. This is the land for which she’d ever longed; The sweetness of a home where she belonged. Thus, at the Sixth Ethereal Court of the Eastern Consuls of the East, Tindal and Alberic, do induct Cezilia Raposa into our Order of the Silver Brooch.   ---------- This is a scroll text for one of my dearest friends, Cezillia Raposa.  The scroll was illuminated by Mistress Nataliia and the caligraphy was by Baroness Faeillin, who has since become the Signet of all the Eastern Scribes (a kingdom level job).  This was a fun scroll for us to collaborate on, because Cezillia, Nataliia and I have worked together for other ...er...  victims.. in the past, and Nataliia also used to be the Signet, so t...

AOAs for Ibraham and Nesrin Ibrahim A jewel of great worth is Alman Ibrahim He succeeds as if good luck were part of him; Sitting curia for Ravensdale Stronghold, His words are wise, his judgement is manifold. The Shah’s court speak well of him in poem and prose, His good name has pleased our regal Eastern Rose. Thus, on this (number) day of (month), Anno Societatis (year), We, Wilhelm & Vienna, Köenig and Könegin of the East Kingdom, are moved to Award unto him Arms to be borne by him alone: (arms if any). Done by Our hand at (event name) in Our (name of host group). Nesrin Like a rose whose petals opened overnight, Like a diamond which transforms the dark to light Our Nesrin Bint Suleyman opens her heart And welcomes newcomers to practice their art. Far her fame has spread, a welcome desert pool. The Shah holds her as a  precious national jewel. Thus, on this (number) day of (month), Anno Societatis (year), We, Wilhelm & Vienna, Köenig and Könegin of...

This was a scroll text I did long enough ago that I forgot about it, and because of circumstances it turned into a backlog scroll;  Sir Osgkar received the final scroll just this weekend. The art was done by Mistress Eva .  Lucky me, I kept the notes from writing it, so I have something to publish about it. It's a Chaucerian Roundel. TEXT OF THE SCROLL: A white stag bells beneath a crescent moon. He looks not back to see if others chase but leads the hunt with courtesy and grace. At Pennsic War Our Queen was begged a boon To honor He whose kindness set the pace: a white stag bells beneath a crescent moon. He looks not back to see if others chase. A knight, in war, who leaves his foes a-strewn in parlay righteous rage has been erased, fair Kiena gifted glove and joyful face. A white stag bells beneath a crescent moon. He looks not back to see if others chase but leads the hunt with courtesy and grace. Kiena, the second of her name, Queen of Love and Beauty, ...

Gazal for Suba I had intended to be at Bardic Champs (03/05/16) to speak words for  Suba  in person, but because of my duties to a different SCA project I had to write something and pass it off to someone else to read.  I lucked out and Her Majesty  Caoilfhionn  agreed to read my words as the Rose during Suba's elevation to the Pelican. .     My words took the form of a Ghazal, which is a Persian form of poetry, so it is appropriate for her persona.  Rumi, Hafez and various other sufi poets wrote Ghazals. Ghazals are also present in late period India as well, so it is appropriate for my SCA Indian Poetess persona as well. First: a totally skip able explanation on Ghazals, but reading it may increase your pleasure in the poem.  A ghazal in English can be hard, because the particular Persian Rhyme scheme which gives ghazals their beauty in Farsi or Urdu can sound sing-songy in English.  The rules for a ghazal are: Each ...

Poem for Rowan on the day of his Elevation As a Lady of the Rose I speak at at a lot of elevations.  Many more elevations than I can make it to.  If I have to send words, especially for someone I adore, I will sometimes put it into poem format.  Baron Rowan is amazing and I was sorry I could not be there.  So I researched and wrote a poem for him, which was delivered on the day of his elevation to the Pelican.. Some heroes find their courage on the field, and hone their strength on troops who will not yield. Some heroes make fidelity their art and craft a truthful off’ring of their heart. Still others, by their prowess and their will                                         can elevate a task into a skill. Yet, I can speak to none of these. Instead I’ll spe...

There was much delight when the King's Bard's scroll was read into court for Juliana Bird at K&Q Bardic yesterday. I gather the King was delighted that I wrote about his "gleaming beard". I will try to dig up an image of the final scroll Rowan made. It is astonishing. Context:  Winner scrolls are weird. You don't know what the persona of the winner will be so you can't custom tailor the look & feel of it to them. Therefore it either needs to be medieval non specific... or about the crown who is giving it out.  In the East, for the King's Bard scroll sometimes it is also about the lineage of the Bards who came before you. Rowan really wanted the chance to do something non western in her scroll, had her eye on Mughal mineatures. So I, as outgoing King's Bard, obliged her with the words I crafted. Text: Scroll text below: I gave Rowan options for some words. Those options are in parentheses. I am not sure which ones she picked: Poet Me...

Vasia, Duke Edward's Squire, was given a Silver Tyger; the AOA level fighting award for the East Kingdom. I have a great fondness for Vasia.  She is an amazing woman.  I was excited to be able to collaborate with Mistress Nataliia on the words for the scroll. Text: Perkūnas ’ thunder shakes the trees of oak   as An Dubhaigeainn’s warrior takes the field. Her armor shines, the phoenix on her shield Speaks of rebirth, arising through the smoke.                                                                                       ...