Poem from my Elevation to the Order of the Pelican

For Maister Colyne Stewart, on the occasion of his elevation to the Order of the Pelican
By Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton

He bears arms of shining gules and argent,
with the fox counterchanged painted there in richest hues.
Recalls his lineage, from grace descended
A fox’s jamb, a pen sustaining for his sigil.
And why the fox applies to that laird noble,
I intend to tell, though I tarry more than I should.
The fox, fair cunning and full of wit,
Tenacious in token of truth, by the title that he has,
Seven virtues fire the feisty fox:
Franchise in proud bearing, Fortitude, slayer of sloth,
Humility, purgative of Pride, Temperance, the middle path;
Justice, giving each his worth; Honesty in word,
And Courage, great strength of heart
For so it accords with this laird and his bright arms,
Steadily sure in seven ways,
Colyne was for good known, and, as shining silver,
void of every villainy, with virtues adorned
all, so.
And so the fox changed thus
he bore on shield and coat,
as sigil of faith and trust
and gentlest laird of note.


The poetry, which was part of Maister Colyne's elevation ceremony, is based on a passage from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and is inspired by the poetry that Colyne has written for so many on the occasion of their elevations.

A Poem for Me!

For the Lupine Bard
For Master Colyne Stewart upon being named a Vigilant to The Order of the Pelican
By Duchess Kaylah the Cheerful, Feb AS 51 (2017)

Be Merry, Colyne
As midsummer oceans
Serve the pelican.
A noble bird of the sea
With solace and gladness
Much mirth and great aptness
So joyously
So good naturedly
So conscientiously
With humour
His demeanor
Pen flashing
Poetry surpassing
What I can indite
Or suffice to write
Of Colyne Stewart
Scooping up tasks to be
As a pelican
Snaffling fish from the sea.
Patient a tutor,
Magician at the computer,
Autocrat
Not wombat
Acrobat of thought
Well made, well wrought
Compositions always sought
Newsletter Editor,
Literary epicure.
Event expeditor,
Industrious labour
Sempiternal service
Scribe of puppet conical
Historians chronicle
Master Colyne Stewart.

This poem is based on the John Skelton (1460 –1529) poem “Merry Margaret”. I attempted to emulate this poet because writer and literary critic George Puttenham (1529– 1590) asserts John Skelton is a “rude railing rhymer”, which seems about the right level for a stick jock attempting to wield a pen. My best efforts turned out more like “Jabberwocky” than like prose. Sorry, Colyne. I just thought you ought to have a poem along with Marie and myself. (Kellen, you got a cover!)