View source for Ciar, whose nimble fingers kindle life

[[Ciar ingen Daire]]<br>
fallen in [[A Chronicle of Fall Crown Tourney A.S. XLIII|Fall Crown Tourney A.S. XLIII]]
 
Ciar, whose nimble fingers kindle life<br>
For Eire’s mythic beasts from colored thread <br>
On cloth, forsook the safer course to strive<br>
As Daire’s heir to find and then to tread<br>
The road on which so many others bled.<br>
She trained in arms, and oft too tired to lift<br>
Her sword or shield, she sighed then pushed ahead<br>
For progress on this path is never swift – <br>
As Lughaidh did, she seeks the sovereign spirit’s gift. <br>

With skills matured and honed by years as squire<br>
To Ulfhand Sven, Ciar began a quest <br>
Across green Eire; now she dared aspire<br>
To errantry, to seek the greater test.<br>
At river’s ford, Sir Mons with golden crest<br>
Took up her gage and watched her quickly close –<br>
Sword sang on shield, Sir Mons’ defense was pressed,<br>
The fighters circled, trading fierce-thrown blows<br>
Until Sir Mons’ swift blade found fault it could expose.<br>

Undaunted, Daire’s heir rode forth again<br>
With dark locks bound by banded iron; around<br>
Road’s bend she faced a knightly challenge when <br>
Francisc agreed to combat, then the pound<br>
Of sword on sword made clear the knight’s renown.<br>
Twice yielding fields to tenants left unmarred<br>
Ciar’s resolve – prowess builds slow but sound.<br>
Expecting from her venture slim regard,<br>
Her knight’s reply instead - the Captain of Our Guard. <br>

A couple of notes from the poet:
*For those of us who find pronunciation of Irish names ‘unusual’, the following fit within this poem: Ciar (kee AHR), Eire (AIR eh), Daire (DAH reh), Lughaid (LOO ee)
*In Irish stories, prophecy said a son of Daire Doimthech named Lugaidh would become king, so Daire named all five sons Lugaidh. On a hunt, only Lugaidh Laidhe would accept hospitality from the “loathly lady”, who then revealed herself as “sovereignty”.

:— Duchess [[Felinah Memo Hazara Khan-ad-Din]]
::... of Persian and Khwarazm descent but red-headed temperment; she tends her estates with Duke Guillaume, a simple Norman vavassor dragged forward into the 14th century by the lure of nicer armor.

{{Crown Poems}}