Ciar, whose nimble fingers kindle life

Ciar ingen Daire
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney A.S. XLIII

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

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

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

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.

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