Mar Yaakov HaMizrachi

In Praise of the Queen's Spears

Queen’s Spears, you have fulfilled your oaths. Stout heart
You showed in war, thrice answering the call.
Then, shedding armor, rushed to do your part
Within the rapier lists. You did not fall
Or fail despite the heat and pain. At start
Of every battle you were a wild hart,
Swift charging with your horns of white and blue.
And showing all your mettle, brave and true.

Though each of you his own arms proudly bore,
Padraigin’s banner hung from every spear.
You stood united, brothers to the core,
A rushing tide that filled your foes with fear,
Three weary battles fought, then tired and sore,
You kept your vow and raced to one more fight
For glory of the Queen and honor bright.

You took good blows, and thus avoided shame.
You fought for love and glory of the crown.
Oh brave Queen’s Spears, when duty called you came
And won Padraigin honor and renown.
Atlantians attend! Hear now each name
And let vivats and joyous cheers resound:

Baron Alejandro Mateo Ramirez y Mendoza, Preboste, Captain
Jean Claude de Calais
Gerald of Tir-Y-Don
Baron Lloyd
Lord Gorm of Berra
Alexander Blood
Kynnyth Pyke
Fredrick Von Heinrich
Melchior Zum Gravem wolf
Nickolai Demitri Zhadanov Dolgurukova
Master Roland de Monteney
Alric the Mad
Stephen Bridewell

So let us ever praise and hold them dear
Who fought this day at Pennsic as Queen’s Spears.

Written by my hand, this 18th Day of August, A.S. XXXVIII
Mar Yaakov HaMirachi, Poeta Atlantiae.

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About the Poem

"In Praise of the Queen's Spears" was written on the occasion of the muster of the Atlantian Queen’s Spears at Pennsic XXXIII. The Queen’s Spears fought in the three armored bridge battles, then immediately shed their armor to fight in the rapier battle.

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Mar Yaakov HaMizrachi (AoA) is a Jewish resident of Cairo in 1305.  Married to Rivka Bat Shaul and father of Aharon ibn Yaakov, Yaakov became fascinated by Frankish poetry and so apprenticed to Mistress Dorigen of the Grey Gate.  As a consequence, he spends much time in the Laurel Kingdoms studying poetry, storytelling and other bardic arts.  When not in Cairo, they live in the Barony of Storvik.  Yaakov has been Poeta Atlantia twice, Storvik Bardic Champion twice, and occassional faculty of the University of Atlantia.

Harold Feld does media and telecommunications law for a non-profit public interest law firm in Washington D.C.  He lives in Silver Spring, MD with his wife Becky, their son Aaron, and their cat Quantum Birdbane.

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Last modified June 2, 2005. Content suggestions to Lord Olivier de Bayonne