Chaucer Poems - Poems about Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer Canterbury Tales translation

These are modern English translations of poems written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer. 

The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue
by Geoffrey Chaucer
translation by Michael R. Burch

When April with her sweet showers
has pierced the drought of March to the root,
bathing the vines’ veins in such nectar
that even sweeter flowers are engendered;
and when the West Wind with his

Geoffrey Chaucer translations 2 by Michael R Burch

"Cantus Troili" from "Troilus and Criseyde"
by Petrarch
translation by Geoffrey Chaucer
modernization by Michael R. Burch

If there’s no love, O God, why then, so low?
And if love is, what thing, and which, is he?
If love is good, whence comes my dismal woe?
If wicked, love’s a wonder unto me,
When every torment and adversity
That comes from him, persuades me

Geoffrey Chaucer translations 1 by Michael R Burch

These are modern English translations of love poems by Geoffrey Chaucer. These are poems of love, longing, passion and desire.

To Rosemounde: A Ballade
by Geoffrey Chaucer
translation by Michael R. Burch

Madame, you’re a shrine to loveliness
And as world-encircling as trade’s duties.
For your eyes shine like glorious crystals
And your round cheeks like rubies.
Therefore you’re so merry and so

Chaucer Translation: Welcome Summer

Welcome, Summer
by Geoffrey Chaucer
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Now welcome, Summer, with your sun so soft,
since you’ve banished Winter with her icy weather
and driven away her long nights’ frosts.
Saint Valentine, in the heavens aloft,
the songbirds sing your praises together!

Now welcome, Summer, with your sun so soft,
since you’ve banished Winter with her icy weather.

We have good

Some Where In the Fog

Somewhere in the fog is Chaucer's prologue
to those Canterberry tales.
Ms. Layton I must thank for storing it
in my memory bank which of late seems
to have paled.
No offense to Mr. Chaucer but it's way past
time to toss her before this old brain is derailed.
For some day soon I may stutter with so much
extra brain clutter but

Clerihew Chaucer

Geoffry Chaucer served as a page
first poet of ye olde English age
His Canterbury tales quite a feat
a work  never did complete

Wonderland V: The Chef's Tale

Morning

The Innkeeper checked his watch once again 
Hoping the chef's feelings weren't hurt.
The last time they were, he arrived two hours late
And then left, serving just his dessert.

Sadly the chef, on this day of all days
Turned up filthy, flies open and drunk.
A black cat meowed as the chef stumbled in;
He was unkempt and cursing and

Wonderland IV: The Hairdresser's Tale

Morning In The Hair Salon

She would chat and then nod as she washed
And laugh as she dried and then curled
But behind all the smiles that were wide, fixed and false
She felt challenged and alone in the world.

She felt angry and always so tired
With debts adding up to her worry
She would rather stay home and dream

Wonderland III: The Watchmaker's Tale

Morning

Having sighed a great sigh
He perused all his tools
From the mainsprings and tweezers
To the wheels and the jewels.

He removed the large case latch
From the pocket watch cover
To survey all the insides
As he would any other.

He wasn't familiar
With a watch of that kind
And confused why the workings
Ran two days behind.

He adjusted his loupe lens
And then gasped

Chaucer Translation: Escape

Escape
rondel/roundel by Geoffrey Chaucer
translation by Michael R. Burch

Since I’m escaped from Love and yet still fat,
I never plan to be in his prison lean;
Since I am free, I count it not a bean.

He may question me and counter this and that;
I care not: I will answer just as I mean.
Since I’m escaped from Love and

Chaucer Translation: Rejection

Rejection
a roundel by Geoffrey Chaucer
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Your beauty from your heart has so erased
Pity, that it's useless to complain;
For Pride now holds your mercy by a chain.

I'm guiltless, yet my sentence has been passed.
I tell you truly, needless now to feign:
Your beauty from your heart has so erased
Pity, that it's useless to

Chaucer Translation: Merciless Beauty

Merciles Beaute ("Merciless Beauty")
by Geoffrey Chaucer
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Your eyes slay me suddenly;
their beauty I cannot sustain,
they wound me so, through my heart keen.

Unless your words heal me hastily,
my heart's wound will remain green;
for your eyes slay me suddenly;
their beauty I cannot sustain.

By all truth, I tell you faithfully
that you are of life

Wonderland II: The Hatter's Tale

Morning At Work

Impaired by his tremors
And a troublesome cough,
He turned fur into felt
Before cooling things off.

He drooled once or twice
And grew cold in his bones,
But he shaped all the felt
Into all of the cones.


Noon

His 'venomous vipers'
Grew restless again
And woke as the toxins
Played games with his brain.

He began to see strange things
And quickly grew scared
When the

Geoffrey Chaucer Translations

Three Roundels by Geoffrey Chaucer

I. Merciles Beaute ("Merciless Beauty")
by Geoffrey Chaucer
translation by Michael R. Burch

Your eyes slay me suddenly;
their beauty I cannot sustain,
they wound me so, through my heart keen.

Unless your words heal me hastily,
my heart's wound will remain green;
for your eyes slay me suddenly;
their beauty I cannot sustain.

By all truth, I tell you faithfully
that

Cat Named Chaucer

Have you met my cat named Chaucer?
His naughtiness will steal your heart,
He has milk in his own saucer,
And as you'll see, he's very smart;

He plays around the garden green 
With his favourite woolly ball,
He knows how to keep himself clean,
He purrs and runs around the hall;

He curls up near the warm fireplace,
When he wants to

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