What poets know, where others rarely guess,
is that the weight of writing can bestow
an armour on the soul, a gentillesse,
a power, such as layerings of snow
that match an ocean’s growth from stream’s slight flow:
and so, with outer fanfare, or unheard,
they roam in glory, knights of honest word
Author notes
Format: Rime royale
Prompt: "He that respects himself is safe from others. He wears a coat of
mail that none can pierce." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)
Note: gentillesse (Fr. pronounced jon ti yes): many translations – kindliness, amiability, good-naturedness, lovableness, etc – depending on which dictionary used. I was taught, when reading 'The Franklin's Tale' - Chaucer, that it has no exact single word translation but, rather, it concerns the inner respect and care that one of noble birth understands intrinsically, and exhibits in all his actions.)
A contest entry
- Torn by Pamela A Lamppa.
1750 points, ended August 20, 2008, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
-
The flow is like a natural spring - it pulls you along so easily. I enjoyed it.
-
Superb. Just put a period/full stop at the end and YOU HAVE IT! (i know, I know, punctuation freak)
You have written beautifully to this prompt and I will say, I loved the word "gentillesse" What a unique and clever word to use.
.... you have done this before ....
Impressive work that needs nothing more to make the message complete. Bravo poet! I bow my head to your astute use of language in a perfectly executed Rhyme Royal. Well done. Best of luck in the judging. ~Pamela
-
Beautiful!
-
I am smiling at the use of gentillesse. An exquisite word. Your Rime Royal is perfect to the offered quote. Very nice. ~Bramble
-
Excellent poem! One of the best I've seen here!
-
Well, it's really cool to run into another Chaucer fan on here. The Canturbury tales were really spectacular, but anyway, enough about him, this is about you and your poem. It's truly amazing. Flawless pentameter, very mature, complex, and unpredictable rhymes, excelent use of simile, clear and understandable message, and a wonderful flow. Very nice my friend, I am adding you to my favorites!
-
A very mature and cleverly crafted piece with excellent and vivid imagery as ever. Well structured - interesting to come across gentillesse again - though we don't do the Franklin's - we have to suffer the Nun's Priest- zzzz- anyway.. this flows beautifully and is so mellow in tone it relaxed me straight away. Good luck in your contest, thanks for sharing.
-
This is wonderful! I love the message in this, as well as the imagery. Great job with the form and rhyme too; this flows very well. I think this is certainly what all poets hope their writing creates in themselves. Beautifully written!
-
very well done. I like the sentiment and it flows well. Point made...we poets are great...LOL
Pen on...~Poo~
-
true
ther u bring out the hard truth in soft words.
rightly said so...
What poets know, where others rarely guess,
is that the weight of writing can bestow
a secret can surely be never kept. -
Wonderful~
I truly love this- quite beautiful, actually. Reminiscent of the true artists of poetry. Well done.
-
Bravo!
"knights of honest word"
I was just saying that to another poet the other day.
Seriously, you nailed it.
Thanks by this and good luck in the contest.
Adding your comment:
1 - 12 of 12
