Aethelthryth's Song

[Delta40]

The torn dust cover of history's success
is open at chapter five.
Alfred the Great defeats Guthrum
yet I would rather conjure up Aethelthryth
cloaked in her light blue tunic and beads.
Singing by a brook braiding her hair,
she catches her amethyst drop earring
on the lightly embroidered skull cap.
Her chateleine chains and thread box sit idly by
as she bathes her creamy face in the spring sun.
Accompanied by the birds, rushes and lowing cows,
Aethelthryth plays her sutton hoo lyre,
humming softly to the faerie king her loyal wish.
ãsiþþan þu gehyrde on hliþes oran
galan geomorne geac on bearwe,
ne læt þy þec siþþan siþes getwæfan,
lade gelettan lifgendne monn.ä
History might recycle itself battle by bloody battle,
but I, with other dreamers milk nearby cattle,
enchanted by the imaginery melody of Aethelthryth's song.

[kittypaws]

Delta ~ you did an incredible job of describing your conjured up Aethelthryth!
I could picture her sitting by the brook sunning herself.

What does her song sing? I googled it but got conflicting answers...

I like to learn....kittypaws

[MystyrMystyry]

Very interesting Delta

Not sure about the History-Battle line though, which seems a little contrived/cliche/out of place

(I'd forgo rhyme if necessary, and abbreviate it to the absolute leastest)

Otherwise, great!

[everyadventure]

No clue what her song is... are you referring to Saint Audrey? My ignorance aside, I liked the contrast of the men with their battles for power, compared to the soft wooing song of this pure maiden.

[Delta40]

Delta ~ you did an incredible job of describing your conjured up Aethelthryth!
I could picture her sitting by the brook sunning herself.

What does her song sing? I googled it but got conflicting answers...

I like to learn....kittypaws

translation: When thou hast heard on the cliff’s brow, the mournful cuckoo sing in the grove, do not thou then let living man sunder thee from the journey, hinder thee from going.

[Red-Headed]

Beautifully done, I am impressed with the potent & vivid imagery. I was just about to reach for my Anglo-Saxon dictionary when I spotted the translation! I know she was from Anglia (I bet she had a Broads accent LOL) but I'm pretty sure she had relatives in the kingdom of Mercia. Technically, that's where I live now.

You may find this dictionary (http://beowulf.engl.uky.edu/~kiernan/BT/Bosworth-Toller.htm) interesting.

[Delta40]

Thank you!

[Twota]

I like Aethelthryth lots. ;D

[PrinceMyshkin]

I revelled in the way the elevated, seemingly every-day English incorporated the old (or Middle?) English.

[qimissung]

This might be one of my favorites of yours. I love how you contrasted her maidenly ways and beauty with that of the warlike men.

[Bar22do]

So well achieved a contrast, as others said. I don't know all the references but even without them this poem is an experience to read.

[Delta40]

Thanks everyone. I had an interesting discussion with my brother about history where he said it can't be rewritten. I wondered about the hands who wrote it as opposed to the hands who didn't.