Harold
King of England.
The year, Ten sixty-six
Fyrdsmen gather on Senlac Ridge
William The Conqueror waits below.
Talipher boldly begs first blow
Dies at the English line,
William fights
Harold.
Harold
Fights William
All day men are dying
Leofwines foolish men break out
Horses surround those tough men of valour.
Fyrdsmen are cut down in their prime
Harold shouts to rally
Wessex Dragon!
Harold
Harold
Rallied Dragon
Housecarls around him now
Guard the most powerful King that
This most coveted Island had ever seen.
Williams men, arrows shot!
Harold plummets to earth.
One kills our poor
Harold.
Author notes
A story told as Rictameters.
Rictameters are playful practise pieces and this style was the first I used to meet the Poetic Bandits. I am a re-enactor and I teach KS2 children about Vikings, Saxons, Normans and Celt history in the UK.
In a list
A contest entry
- Goodwill for the Bandits... (group members only please) by Max Ritvo.
650 points, ended April 26, 2008, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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Beautifully done
Remember the sacrifices men and women have made to bring you the good life.
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I love history, and the battle of hastings is a really dramatic and unique topic for a poem. I like that this piece breaks the mould of sprawling and epic historical poetry- you manage to convey the information of the piece in an elegantly sparse word form. Some of your imagery is more informational than dramatic though- the "harold fights william" "william fights harold" is an image that could particularly be conveyed in a more active (perhaps more allegorical?) manner.
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This is awesome way to tell this story...I love this form one of my favorites ...great job on this
s
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WOWZERS
I am in awe of this!!!!!! Simply stunning and wonderful! Thank you for sharing this with me! I love the entire rictameters telling story of the Conqueror, foolish men and death of Harold! Awesome~blessings always to you for a beautiful day
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