Russell of An Dubhaigeainn, said it to
Mohammad! Corotica! Rulers East
Heard who’s said such, and works behind the feast
Kitchen service is not as plain as that
Peeling, Prepping, and plating a salat
Following all measures to keep food safe
Meticulous details that he’ll ne’er chafe
Walking, with balance and serving said greens
Presenting the meals to all folk, and queens
Then stays and cleans until the utter end
We’ve heard this and can only recommend
Award of Arms! For all’s done as we saw
In Rusted Woodlands, today at Mudthaw
We’ve seen the efforts that Russel goes through
It’s clearly more than just, “something to do”
Anno Societatis LVII
Word count 120
RAINBOW - Rhymed Couplets
A phrase has been heard, “it's something to do”
Russell of An Dubhaigeainn, said it to
Mohammad! Corotica! Rulers East
Heard who’s said such, and works behind the feast
Kitchen service is not as plain as that
Peeling, Prepping, and plating a salat
Following all measures to keep food safe
Meticulous details that he’ll ne’er chafe
Walking, with balance and serving said greens
Presenting the meals to all folk, and queens
Then stays and cleans until the utter end
We’ve heard this and can only recommend
Award of Arms! For all’s done as we saw
In Rusted Woodlands, today at Mudthaw
We’ve seen the efforts that Russel goes through
It’s clearly more than just, “something to do”
Anno Societatis LVII
I'd say the first thing you need is ... a pumpkin.”
~the Fairy Godmother
In particular, Fiona asked me to include the phrase, "It's something to do." A reference, I believe, to something they are wont to say about the SCA.
There were several versions of the phrase, before setting on it as the start and end cap of the scroll.
I wanted to make it special. Chaucer's poetry, with its 10 syllable rhyming couplets, is always a good choice to make a scroll memorable. I can compose in this form fairly easily, without much extra research. There are certainly times when I will revisit my research and go looking for new nuances. But occasionally it's nice to have the practice and confidence to just have at it. After all, it's something to do. 😉
For the body of the piece, I wanted to emphasize all the myriad steps of work that goes into preparing and serving food at an event.
While I don't know the recipient well, I do know the multitude of steps they have literally climbed, and procedures they have done.
A phrase has been heard, “it's something to do”
Russell of An Dubhaigeainn, said it to
The introduction couplet with the bookend phrase and the recipient's name. Do and To are strong full hit rhymes. Simple rhymes end up sounding the strongest and go a long way to building the structure of the scroll.
Mohammad! Corotica! Rulers East
Heard who’s said such, and works behind the feast
Since I ended up with a detailed description of the recipient's service I chose not to use flowery language. If anything I end up waxing vegetative.
Kitchen service is not as plain as that
Peeling, Prepping, and plating a salat
This couplet ended up being particularly alliterative. Alliteration was certainly known, but by middle English* it was no longer the requirement that it had been in the earlier forms of English poetry.
As a tool for poetry it certainly makes this couplet stand out in what could have been a boring listed description of the many repetitive actions one must do in the kitchen.
Following all measures to keep food safe
Meticulous details that he’ll ne’er chafe
It was particularly mentioned in the write up that the recipient's efforts in regards to food safety during COVID were commendable. They are listed as being aware of COVID measures, standard food safe precautions and being able to ensure that those measures are followed is deservedly commendable.
Walking, with balance and serving said greens
Presenting the meals to all folk, and queens
Back to the salad! One of the more visible sides of feast work is to serve the feast goers.
Then stays and cleans until the utter end
We’ve heard this and can only recommend
The final act of every aspect of an event is to stay and clean. To clean is practically the embodiment of service. Which led nicely into the second part of the couplet which introduces the listener to which award is being presented.
Award of Arms! For all’s done as we saw
In Rusted Woodlands, today at Mudthaw
Being able to rhyme with names pleases this wordsmith enormously. Saw/Mudthaw seems so simple a rhyme. But as stated before in this blog, the simple rhymes make the best ones.
We’ve seen the efforts that Russel goes through
It’s clearly more than just, “something to do”
And, finally, the scroll is finished with the bookend phrase being used.. The technique of the repeated sentence can be found in many time periods across the wealth of different countries. Before this scroll I had used the technique of the repeated phrase with Bethea MacChann and I was emulating a contemporary of Chaucer's. The technique is even period to the time period of the poetry used in this scroll!
Anno Societatis LVII
The Society year gets tacked on to the end. The inclusion of this is left to the discretion of the voice herald the day of presentation.
Yet another example of the multiple people and types of art that are a part of the presentation of a scroll.
I adore writing for friends and family. And I have been lucky enough to get to do so as often as I have.
East Kingdom Gazette - Court Report: Mudthaw
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