Famous Last Words

A bit o historie for ye..............N

Famous Last Words

 

Kyng Vortiger sayeth only once

We shall this day hold them back to a man

Wyth our bowes and shafte

…

With self bowes of yew he sayed

We shall guard this isle of ours and let

same bowes follow the string

…

While cuivre’s overflow with fletchings

culled from grey lag

Each shot upon the wing

 

…

 

 

Author's Note

A change of tack is as good as a rest

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

"How Engist and xj Ml men come into þis lande, to whom Vortiger ȝaf a place þat is callede Thongecastell. Capitulo lvj" i didn't know such a thing person land existed sir! ... so cool to read your poem! and i did understand it all .. just did not know who Vortiger was/is ;) i like it! the language rolls off the tongue .. it puts me there .. another time and place ..
E.

[Neville]

Hello my dear friend, please excuse the delay in my responding to your most encouraging review note... I have been away for a short while... Bless ya verily and have a great weekend now.... Neville

[Chris Shaw]

I studied Chaucer and found him to be really difficult to understand. Anyone who defends our island against attack is tops in my book. Kyng Vortiger, I salute you. Neville, you have taught me some history today and I thank you for it.

Chris

[Neville]

Thank you Chris.

Neville

[kentuck14]

Wow . .. dig that old English!!! Did you compose this poem while under the influence of . . . Chaucer?

[Neville]

I think under the influence of Olde Englysh cyder and red wyne....thanks for popping in and sayin hi Tom.... Neville

[kentuck14]

I was going to say . . . but I was trying to be polite

[Neville]

Y didn't U say so....

[Ana Papaya]

I do not know my history very well but always appreciate googling things to discover/learn something new.
:)

[Neville]

Pon my word, you went to all that trouble...you probably know far more than me by now.. thank you Ana and true... N :)

[Ana Papaya]

:) I don't know if I know more than you. I have trouble with retaining information sometimes. :)

[Neville]

We all do, maybe.. I think:)

[Debbie Barry]

This is a wonderful work of bard-craft. It feels as though it could be a fragment of a much longer ballad, describing a noble battle from Britain's deep history. I truly appreciate your use, not only of period-appropriate words, but of the archaic spellings, which add greater depth and flavor to the writing. Well done!

[Neville]

Not everyone's cup of tea, so I am delighted that you checked this one out and found it not too unpalatable... Cheers, Neville

[Lydia Shutter]

Kyng Vortiger...isn't it because of him the Kingdom of Kent was formed? I vaguely remember learning about him in English history. "Superbus tyrannus" he fancied himself to be and yet he needed help in his fight...as we all do. Have to say, it was not easy reading this one....reminded me of the Olde English Chaucer wrote. Still, unique...and that is a good thing. Lydi**

[Neville]

My word Lydi** you know your history for sure, pretty much spot on, I am not only grateful to you, I am also mightily impressed. My own interest stems from my study & appreciation of the English, some say Welsh Longbow (maybe the first W of MD)........Go merrily on thy waye, N x

[Lydia Shutter]

I ran out of courses to take in college so English History was fun for me. Of course, that was a LONG time ago, but I do remember bits and pieces.