Here you will find a few poetic works by Tamarkand's resident bards, Rowan mac Clan and Penjepit mac Fal. Only one is here now, the "Lay of Kaffa", written back when Kaffa was threatened by a potential invasion by the KIL Alliance. More poems will be added as time allows.

The Lay of Kaffa

There is a city, Kaffa by name,

Threats its enemies did proclaim,

‘cross verdant and fecund grassland,

A malignant stench none could withstand

Crept on horse and foot athwart the plain

Conquest they thought for sure preordain’d

Weep for Kaffa that stalwart town,

On Vardian Plain and quite renown.

A place where gather’d great knights

Who would defend her people’s rights

To freedom from mask’d aggression,

Evil became the object lesson.

Oh woe the noble town that sought

To stand against a juggernaut.

Lament the fate of that sad place

Her valiant defense no disgrace

To those who claim her lands as home

Whose valiant deeds I relate in poem.

Celebrate now its grand salvation,

From base warlords’ deprivation.

And sing a joyous song of praise

To those who would protect freedom’s ways.

They are the horselords of the Tamarkand

Whose hooves thunder across the land.

Prester John is first among those Lords

Famous for his strength of arm and sword.

The Celtiberian are likewise there

Their enemies ranks their swords to pare

At their front is Lord Sertorix

I need not detail his heroics

Strength and Bravery are his first criterion.

As Lord of all the Celtiberian.

Let’s not forget Robert BadBird

Against great odds he’s undeterred.

As he who leads the Ravensrealm

Never shall they be overwhelmed

And Xia Xia Mah, Divine Chrysanthemum

His arm, the strength of Orichalum

With ease he’ll lead to great success

And his foes of their goods dispossess.

These are the Lords of Vardian Plain

Great deeds I say shall they attain

Their great resolve shall save that town

Their names recorded with great renown.

In Praise of Beer

This is Graydon’s “In Praise of Beer,” which won first place in the Song of Praise Competition at the 2001 Lorasia Games in the U.K. version of the game:

In Praise of Beer

Graydon set up a table upon which the various beers he had acquired were be arrayed. There were fifteen mugs with the various beers in them, grouped generally by category: lager, porter, pale ale, ale, and stout. Smoovie, Odo, Fwalin, and Kameran all joined him. Beers were be set out for each of them, with half-size mugs for Smoovie.

The song of praise opened with a rousing chorus:

Chorus: Beer Beer Beer Beer! Hail Beer! All Praise to Beer!

Verses:

Now you’ve nothing to fear, ‘cept too much fun,

And don’t hold back, we’ve only just begun,

Many more we’ll drink, before this song is done,

Unless you’re a nun, you’ll drink more than one!

Chorus: Beer Beer Beer Beer! Hail Beer! All Praise to Beer!

We sing praise to beer, that noble brew,

We seek each to taste, and we must be true,

In fact ‘tis our duty, to give beer its due,

So we’ll make a toast, and then we’ll drink two,

Chorus: Beer Beer Beer Beer! Hail Beer! All Praise to Beer!

Let’s praise that which tastes great, I’m sure you’ll agree,

How much can you drink? ‘tis a matter of degree!

Beer does one a favor, sets your spirit free,

So I say now to thee, let’s savor these three.

Chorus: Beer Beer Beer Beer! Hail Beer! All Praise to Beer!

Shout from the mountains, for I’ve several mugs more

Let’s drink some good lager, become part ‘o the lore,

Break all the dishes, and get shown the door,

If you’re up for some fun, then drink an extra four!

Chorus: Beer Beer Beer Beer! Hail Beer! All Praise to Beer!

‘tis no time for thrift, on this stuff I thrive!

We praise this fine spirit, and thus we strive,

Without this ambrosia, we’re just not alive!

So let’s drink like a fish, and down these next five!

Chorus: Beer Beer Beer Beer! Hail Beer! All Praise to Beer! BURP!!

After each refrain, the contestants downed a mug of beer. The ceremony concluded with the participants joyously wobbling or being carried from the field.

Wildflowers

The following is Aethelu and Taliensin’s entry in the Performance category for the 2002 Lorasia Games (delayed until 2003) in the U.K. version of the game:

Aethelu and Taliensin jointly entered and sing a love duet to each other. This was a sonnet entitled “Wildflowers (A Pair of Intertwined Sonnets)”. They alternated the stanzas except for the final one, which they sang together in counterpoint.

[Taliensin – looking at Aethelu as he performs]

She is the wild dandelion of the plain,

Free riding sweet breezes ‘cross verdant vale,

Her will, so strong, so clear, and yet so frail,

Her innocence, my heart and soul, sustain.

[Aethelu – smiling hesitantly and responding]

He is Goldenrod, his love my heart stings,

I long to be near him, my path wanders far,

Ever closer, ever distant, my guide star,

I seek his strength, his tenderness, to cling.

[Taliensin – he too, smiles, and responds]

She is a bold sunflower, with auburn mane,

Her spirit blooms bright, always to prevail,

‘Oer any hardship; her spirit does not fail,

Nor does the sunflower in its beauty wane.

[Aethelu - bravely]

He is the sage of my heart, his wisdom sings

A song deep and rich, like the ancient shofar

That captures my soul, and heals many a scar

His voice, my vigor, to my ear clearly rings.

[Taliensin – bringing his part to a close simultaneously with Aethelu]

She is the Wintersong. Listen to her voice.

It is as pure and free as any wildflower

That grows upon the eternal endless plain.

It is crisp like fresh flowery fruit, rejoice,

It speaks, a thundering avalanche, daughter

Of the plain, a gentle breeze, my counterpart.

[Aethelu – bringing her part to a close simultaneously with Taliensin, her voice almost, but not quite, breaking]

He is now my wildflower, my new song;

I am no more the forgotten child of fate.

Like the wildflower he seeks the plain,

Without reservation, to dwell lifelong.

No more will I fill my heart with hate

And no more will I find my heart in pain. [smiling]

[Further note: At the games, Aethelu, after Taliensin thought they had finished, added a line, choking back tears of joy, …]

“Taliensin is my destiny, and I embrace him with all my heart.”

[ … and threw herself into a surprised Taliensin’s arms].

Ten Thousand Goblin Feet

One of the Matron Mother’s stranger verses in the U.K. version of the Game:

Ten thousand goblin feet!

They really are quite neat!

They a romp and they stomp,

And they clomp and they tromp,

Ten thousand goblin feet!

Ten thousand Goblin feet!

A smell they do secrete!

But we ain’t got B.O.

‘cause we gotta big toe,

Ten thousand goblin feet!

Ten thousand goblin feet!

Our enemies to beat!

We’ll gas ‘em to death,

Though we ain’t got bad breath,

Ten thousand goblin feet!

Ten thousand goblin feet!

May be a tad petite!

But never you mind

‘cause we’ll kick your behind!

Ten thousand goblin feet!

And that’s about it for now.