It had to be an Italian Sonnet, “little song”, for this Italian fighter! The first sonnets were written by 13th century Italian poets and this one was modeled after those in the style of Francesco Petrarch. What a fun poetry form!
The sonnets were 14 lines of iambic pentameter; specifically, the first part, an octave, with the rhyming pattern abbaabba, “setting the scene” of the poem. Second then, a sestet, with the rhyming pattern cdecde, which offers the conclusion to the situation described in the octave.
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Lord Niccolo d’Angelo
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. XLVI
(Petrarchan Sonnet)
As a sol invictus, on the field he strode
And brought all eyes, this day, to one so bold
Without concern to what the stars foretold
This Florence Sun rose up to meet his foe.
The field, now dark from flight of hooded crow
On two who lingered long in battle’s hold
Last kiss, then, from this glowing florin gold
Yet argent axe would give the final blow.
If confidence, alone, could victory bring
And beauty to the eye, a battle won
All glory, then, to Niccolo this day.
But, first to fight would, once again, be king
And rule, with Winged Bear, over His son
Who, on this day of memory, came to play.
– THL Beathog nic Dhonnchaidh
. . . a 14th century bard who can often be seen traveling far from her home in the Highlands with her lord husband and muse. If a good tale crosses her path, she will sing a song about it, pull out its hair and spin it, or throw it in a pot and cook it up.