It is always fun to have the opportunity to write a Scottish stanza! This form came to mind as I was noticing the amount of music being played that day around the tourney field, and I had the impression that the sounds of sword against shield provided an even, rhythmic accompaniment.
This is a rather easy stanza to write, providing you have an adequate number of rhyming words in the text. The form uses any number of six-line stanzas, rhyming AAABAB, with tetrameter A lines and dimeter B lines.
The first notable poem of this style is attributed to Robert Sempill of Beltrees (c.1595-c.1659), lamenting the death of the town piper in the Scottish village of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, in 1620.
“Now who shall play, The day it daws?
Or Hunt up when the cock he craws?
Or who can for our Kirk-town-cause,
Stand us in stead?
On Bagpipes (now) nobody blaws
Sen Habbie’s dead.”
I couldn’t help myself! I had to borrow the sentiment, “Habbie’s dead”, and make it my own.
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THLord Adam Makandro
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. XLIX
(Scottish Stanza)
Contenders met in Lammastide
To win that which the others eyed
Upon the tourney field inside
A shady glen.
Carls o’pairts from far and wide
Would vie again.
With chanter pipe to ca the field
Makandro made Rudolf to yield
Before Amicia’s dogs were heeled
Their master fell.
The tane Sir Ilia revealed
Was Death’s own knell.
Once more the drumming would prevail
As Scots on Edward did assail
And Mons fell to his Mistress’ wail
Of woe instead.
But soon the Persian would unveil
Makandro’s dead.
Back to the trees the mourners turned
To wait the victor wha be learned
A Royal Heir can be affirmed
Mansur alone.
This makar’s tale can be adjourned
To piper’s drone.
— Bannthegn Beathog nic Dhonnchaidh
. . . is 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.