Lysbeth's Song

My first bardic commission - I wrote this in the early 1980's for Master Sir John the Plain, as a tribute to his lady-wife, Lysbeth Polsdottir. In exchange, Sir John offered to temper and sharpen a hand-and-half sword I had recently acquired. The sword found its way to a very tall knight from Bjornsborg (Sir Richard?), who was holding it in storage for Sir John. Then Sir John passed away, and I lost track of the sword. Ah, well. If anyone knows what happened to that slab of steel. please let me know. That aside, Mistress Lysbeth certainly deserves her word-fame. As an aside, I confess that I did not know her well, so I questioned those who did in order to draw this poetic portrait.
I lift not my voice	to the virtues of war
Nor tell I of travels	to terrors abroad.
This song is sung not	for the slayers of men
Whose fell fearsome voices	frighten the foe.

Many the deeds	well-deserving of praise
That pass unremembered	by poem or song.
Heroes and heroines	whose honor is proved
Not on the field,	but in the home.

Of one such I sing,	a woman whose worth
Is known by peasants	and nobles and knights.
Awesome her art	openly shown
To any with eyes	and eager to learn.

Wondrous her work	the warp and the weft.
Cunningly crafted	in cotton and wool.
A weaver who rivals	Arachnae herself!
She wanders the woods	for her mordants and dyes.

Hospitable home,	hearth and hall
For wanderers wearied	and worn by the road.
Smiling, she serves	a sumptuous feast
Happy her hostel	for hungry hosts!

Courteous compliment	is not conserved
From favored folk	fitting to give.
Ill-deed is ill-done,	under her eyes
Rarely reluctant	with rapid reproach!

Happy at hearth-stone	Long at the loom,
Smiling and courteous	to great and to small,
Teacher of laurels,	lover of life -
Lysbeth Polsdottir!	I need not say more.

Copyright (c) 1980-2001 Corrie J. Bergeron Jr.
This material is presented for non-commercial educational and entertainment purposes.