A Squire's Lessons

All rages of thy senses five empower and extendeth thee
of thy armour each piece interlock on rivets move most free.
Therely, noble squire, thou in great halls ladies and knights entertain,
Grown from thine wee frame to victory's scars, bards telleth of thine humble fame

Thou reacheth glory only in practice and inner demons who doth rob.
Faithless and ill at ease weapon strikes thy will scarely dodge.
Be sure clear headed to falleth not into primal fury extended,
shaketh mind's chaos; never faint a heart shalt thine household be defended.


Instinctual heightened will lusts and seeketh fights to crave:
Be none to quick to perk ears at war drums call least thy name nave.
Philstrom, have no fear to pick up forged iron sword trust utmost
thy leader's battle standard raised as thou dost thy leather bound shield.

Tighten thy knuckles flexed serve a sword's blow well struck!
in all thy fever envisioned each strike and parry but battle never smite
unjustly for thine wise arm taking all fiercest blows fight
thy words of honour and thy mind clear and guilt-free in thou dogged might.


First to armoury thou needeth prepare,
to engage for king and country thy art of warfare.
Shrug on padded arming robe and arise.
Slide into cuisses on strong upper thighs.

Articulation of poleyn sliding on lames on each knee.
Demi-greave clamped shut atop shin's Greeken greave
throw on thy polished hinged engraved breast-plate.
added weight comfortable in tightness to ward off fate.


Leather laced tight of spaulders on shoulders joint, each
smoothly sliding in on curved plates thy arm's reach.
Upper arm sworn loyalty embodied in each rerebrace
Brace stiff thy sword-arm's lower arm vambrace

The winged couter at thy elbow tightened true fast
Move like silk of respect the blacksmithy's worthy craft.
Truly wrought so done thy fierce helm's flowing mail of aventail,
to defend thy breath under helm never to fail.


Roar echoing in thy visor setting fire.
Herald the coming of fury's frustration.
Feel awareness heightened venting out of thy flaunt
to outer body experience in thy cuffed gauntlet.

Ignore thy inner fears of fate slain by a worthier opponent
Warrior instinct and God guideth sword more fearsome to cleave.
Do not fear death with engraving floweth on armour and leather hot,
under visor, doubled vision unworthy thyself find thy worries matter not.


For now, m'lad, thou shall find wooden sword weight to fight.
When earned thy spurs, fear no man thy forged armour tight.
Thou must attack on noble engagement before battle fatigue,
least thy opponent catch thou off guard body movement read.

Least thine opponent have to lock shields on horseback to find
weakened spot under thy armpit and thus slip his blade past thine,
own defences as thy taketh blooded cleansing know,
thy shalt buffet him who be worthy with many mighty blows.


Parry solid and tire thy opponent's sword begin the harm,
strike quick and viciously to helm's temple to weaken shield arm.
Blood thy opponent's limbs in armour's laced snapping faults,
but never thou shalt challenge honour's duel before diplomacy halts.

Strain and stress furrow may darken thy brow.
Pray none robbing thy smile, demons shalt never undermine thou
Into truth of love of thy sweet maiden's searching eyes
to glimpse something worth fighting exists where it lies


Far beyond loneliness of battle
Fatigue of the soul pray it alleviate,
by and by, thou dost become aware,
thy practiced balance stance to take care.

Remember, m'lad, to catch a ray of sunlight wish;
this of why thou fight for dawns peaceful promise.
Let not thy soul falter to protect weak they shan't endure,
death's final honour be thine taketh flight into sun pure.