Boar's Head

By Alasdair Montgomery

A winter of peace, a time of prosperity
A long beautiful day full of gayety
Early morning workers make final preparations
While merchants set up their elegant stations
Awaiting the royalty's appearance
Begins inspections, both fighters of combat and fence
With approval to play, authorizations come before the fray
Both rapier and ribbon tourneys begin our day
All of the royalty arrive and settle in
Preparations for morning court can begin
This day three laurels on vigil will be placed
But first, two princess's champions must be graced
Court closes and tourneys return to activity
Classes now join the day's festivity
The making of boots, beads, and pottery
Accompany the lessons of baskets, bards, and history
Discussions of youth's place in our society
Are followed by designs for new communication propriety
Throughout the day, arts and sciences are on display
While activities give the children a place to play
Armed with bean bag chessmen to help her champion
A game for consorts, this year is run again
The generosity of all gentles is at its finest
When our auctions are held before the feast
Luncheons are hawked for the good of the principality
B & V, herbal, and donated goods are sold for charity
Ring; ring goes the bell, time to feast
A delicious dinner is served of both vegetable and beast
The meal so good it stands on its own
But now, presentations and entertainment are shown
Dancers, singers, and musicians ring out
Presentations of herbs, cordials, and taxes come out
Gifts of arrows go to the prince and princess
Northshield Knights calendars come from the hands of two viscountesses
A command performance is requested by the king
To his, and our, delight Wyndreth will sing
With songs that move us to emotion
The gathering joins in with much devotion
With feast complete and dishes being done
The time for a special moment has come
House MayHawk and Caer Anterth gather
The squiring of Genevieve can wait no further
All gentles now rested and well fed
Look forward to the court ahead
This day our baron will be quite proud
For many of our own will be honored before this crowd
Awards of Arms, five receive their titles
Frets of Purple go to four more gentles
Silver Oaks, two of our own are blessed
And a Dragon's Barb to another is passed
Vigils for laurels are done
Members of the order, now three become
Begged by three, a new boon is granted
A vigil for a pelican is long warranted
Roars the crowd with joy and applause
Margaret Malise for a pelican is a just cause
To Caer Anterth, the king places a gracious thank you
There being no further business, court is through
The time is late and post revels are due
Clean up is handled by quite a crew
The end of a long beautiful day has come
Boar's Head for another year is done
Take a moment to remember those who could not come from a far
Keep in our thoughts and our prayers his Highness Jafar
And one final thought for the one who got us this far
A special VIVAT and thank you to Lady Shandar.