The Merry Minstrel of Mickleover

The Merry Minstrel of Mickleover

I strike this chord without a sword
For I am not so brave
Whence came a knight with armour bright
Who vowed princess to save

The wicked sire of the shire
Had seen well to kidnap
The daughter of the king and bring
Much wealth into his lap

Handsome he thought the ransom
The king was sure to pay
For fear his precious princess dear
The wicked sire would slay

From his abode the knight he rode
Through wind and rain and storm
O’er hill and dale and muddy trail
His quest to keep him warm

The castle wall it looked so tall
Impregnable in height
Banged on the door and yet once more
His iron fist with might

The surly sire quoths to enquire
“Who raps upon my door”
“Tis mystery, now set her free
Or death you’ll lay before”

With lunge and slash with swords they clash
Upon the open plain
Died his desire there in the mire
As evil sire is slain

The princess freed from needless greed
Sort knight to gift reward
“Place in my hand just thine hair band
If this please thy accord”

( The minstrels song lived large and long
Was sung all o’er the land
Where ‘ere he been could still be seen
Rebec ‘dorned with blue band )

Rebec; A medaeval violin type instrument

Mickleover; A village in Derbyshire, England
Though now a suburb of the City of Derby
The residents still refer to it as ‘The Village’

For Medaeval Idealism Contest
Sponsor, Isaiah Zerbst
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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Lamoureux Avatar
March 11, 2014 at 9:59 AM
So much fun to reread this one Rich.
Hendricks Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 11:42 PM
Bravo for having nailed the contest, bruv. Well done on this masterpiece, Richard. Licia :)
Posey Avatar
August 25, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Well done, my friend. Interesting from start to finish.... Congratulations..... Jake
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:47 PM
Thank you Jake, Like your comment :)
A  Avatar
August 24, 2013 at 7:54 PM
Richard, congratulations.... love the win...SKAT
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:46 PM
Are you sure you're not teasing lol, Thank you Skat
Dietrich Avatar
August 23, 2013 at 12:08 AM
Hey, Congratulations on your well deserved win, Richard. Nice seeing it here today!!
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:45 PM
Thank you Petal, I'll make the most of it coz it don't happen often lol
May Avatar
August 22, 2013 at 1:01 PM
congrats on a fine win Richard
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:44 PM
Cheers Joseph, I'll be round your way soon
Lamoureux Avatar
August 22, 2013 at 12:51 PM
This is one of my personal favorite for the contest Richard! Congratulations on your win.
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:41 PM
Thanks again Rick, much appreciated
Lamoureux Avatar
August 22, 2013 at 12:52 PM
In fact I have added it to my favorites.
Eastman Avatar
August 22, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Beautifully written! Congrats on your win!
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:43 PM
Hi Carol, Thank you for those kind words
Zerbst Avatar
August 21, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Wonderful tale! I get this image after reading the poem of the Merry Minstrel cavorting about with the blue band on his rebec. The humility of the knight accepting only a thing of little worth, yet the attachment of it to her person was an outstanding idea. Lots of tricky rhymes here too!
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:39 PM
Hello Isaiah, thank you for the feedback, enjoyed writing this one, great contest
Manassian Avatar
August 21, 2013 at 5:15 PM
Well, Mr Seal...Illusive thou art of late. I do pass by thy abode of Rhyme to bid thee sincere congratulations on thy excellent win!
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Thank you Mrs G I have been absent for a short while, just found this
Anglesey Avatar
August 20, 2013 at 7:44 PM
You have painted a perfect medaeval masterpiece with this phenomenal poem ... Excellent :)
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:35 PM
Hi Karen, thank you for the lovely comment
Carrillo Avatar
August 20, 2013 at 12:40 PM
This was good Richard. I enjoyed it very much. Have a great day...... Lucilla
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:34 PM
Hi Lucy, thanks and you have a nice day too
Jones Avatar
August 19, 2013 at 1:02 PM
Wow Richard....I feel like Cinderella and robin hood and all things magical.....nice........:-)
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:33 PM
Thank you Donna, you are all things magical :)
Lamoureux Avatar
August 18, 2013 at 8:14 AM
I congratulate you now, i have no doubt this will be on the winners list. 77777777777. Straight to my favorites.
Seal Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Thanks Rick, I'm way behind with my replys
Kendrick Avatar
August 17, 2013 at 7:37 AM
Reads like top of the list..Great detail entailed in this one..Thanks for the visit to my work..Sara
Seal Avatar
August 17, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Thank you for your comment Sara, hope all is well with you
Dietrich Avatar
August 16, 2013 at 9:55 AM
My goodness, you did one that really sounded classic. It has the inverted words that give us that feeling of the old style and I think your poem pretty much fits all the requirements asked by Isaiah for a submission to his contest . Thou hast done Awesomely, good sir!!
Seal Avatar
August 17, 2013 at 3:43 PM
By the time Ifinished reading your comment I thought it was from the serving wench at ye olde inn in Mickleover haha. Thou hast delivered a fine annotation of my scanty effort, thou art to kind lol. I will come back to this, I see room for improvement
Manassian Avatar
August 15, 2013 at 11:10 PM
Well...perhaps THIS is your best poem to date, Mr Seal...Such amazing rhyming and true Medaeval feel. I predict that you will WIN! Huff Puff....happy for you, but...I entered the contest too and you have sabotaged my chances, MR SEAL...On purpose, no doubt! Oh...I was coming to the last line thinking...No mention of blue...no mention of blue...and then. POW...that dang blue band! ;) Seriously...a very very beautiful write, Richard...Good luck! :)
Seal Avatar
August 16, 2013 at 6:27 AM
Oh no my little Desert Orchid, that prediction has definately put the mockers on it haha. I doubt I've sabotaged your chances, yours is a great write. You know I like these olde English ones lol
Gorelick Avatar
August 15, 2013 at 9:40 PM
wow, this has all the right stuff...you should do well in the contest. BG
Seal Avatar
August 16, 2013 at 6:21 AM
Thank you Babs, I'm not altogether happy with it, needed more time to work on it, am a slowcoach lol.
A   Avatar
August 15, 2013 at 9:08 PM
Okay, Richard, i could never pull off a poem or form like this. Glad evil did not ride into the night here.. a mighty poem... wishing you luck in the contest... xox~ Linda
Seal Avatar
August 16, 2013 at 6:17 AM
You have your own unique style and way with words my Sweet Dark Friend, I don't think much is really beyond your talents. I will come back to this write, I can already see where a few improvements can be made.
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