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a collection of literature from poets, bards, songwriters, and skalds in the SCA

When I think on all with which I am blest

olivier's picture
olivier
Poem (Canso): 

When I think on all with which I am blest,
I weigh the treasures that have been my pride,
Until I come to choose that one gift best
Which I would take with me to cold graveside.
All other accolades I cast away,
But to see the queen’s face for one more day.

Fairest of ladies, fairest of all wight
That ever touched the world’s green downy bedde;
From her alone have we blessing of light
To illumine a land otherwise deadde.
My queen, my queen, thy virtue all admire,
And ever will, for to thee we aspire.

Documentation / Explanation (Razo): 

This song is based upon Thomas Campion’s “Thou art not faire” (Song XII from his Songs and Poems). I had originally planned to try and work in as many names of previous Atlantian queens as I possibly could, to celebrate them all explicitly. However, I decided against this because the reader can more easily and vividly think of a queen, if not many (I hope!), for which these lines hold true.