View source for Selected Written Works by Alisandre Oliphant

==Lest We Forget==
I don’t think this was published anywhere, but it was one of my first pieces of calligraphy. I gave it to Jan at a Lion’s tourney, years before we were married.<BR>
<BR>
As Grail was shown to Galahad, the Dream is offered thee.<BR>
The disillusions of thy “game” have naught to do with me.<BR>
I am the pure, untarnished fire of all the Dream can mean;<BR>
My gift, the true nobility so rare and seldom seen.<BR>
I do not lead thee to acclaim – clear honor is my goal,<BR>
So few and proud, those who drink deep to feel me in their soul.<BR>
My voice too often goes unheard ‘midst details of thy play,<BR>
But some will heed, and for the rest illuminate the way.<BR>
So let the worth within thy heart rise up to meet my light,<BR>
And let thy taste for honor make thee worthy in my sight;<BR>
Hold thee this Dream so cherished, close – yield not to false desire –<BR>
And all who seek the higher goals in thee shall find my fire.<BR>
<BR>
2-24-1986<BR>

==The Bond of the Apprentice==
I wrote this in honor of my laurel, [[Aureliane Rioghail]]. It was published in Tournaments Illuminated #87, Spring 1988. <BR>
In Issue #90, Spring 1989, Mistress Rosanore of Redthorn (from another kingdom; I never met her) wrote a matching piece called “The Bond of the Master” in response.  <BR>
<BR>
May my work always win your approval.<BR>
May my actions reflect honor upon you.<BR>
May I never do you the injustice of expecting perfection.<BR>
May I always pay you the honor due a teacher.<BR>
May my homage be rooted in friendship.<BR>
May our friendship never lessen my respect and admiration.<BR>
May I never spark the anger in your eyes.<BR>
May I sometimes bring a smile or lift the mood.<BR>
May my pride in you stand me straighter.<BR>
May I justify your pride in me.<BR>
May I never shame your faith in me.<BR>
And may someday your hand place my wreath.<BR>
<BR>
6-30-1987<BR>
<BR>

==Reverie Upon My Love while Studying==
I’m pretty sure that this was published in Tournaments Illuminated, too – Issue #109, Winter 1993. It starts with a quote from Marlowe, so I gave the citation as a footnote.<BR>
<BR>
Oh, thou art fairer than the evening air,<BR>
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars! <BR>
<BR>
:Not all jewels are set in gold;<BR>
This one, print doth frame and hold.<BR>
Marlowe wrought these words, not I,<BR>
Yet gems, picked up from where they lie,<BR>
Impartially alike adorn<BR>
Whoe’er may choose to put them on – <BR>
So beauty thus may not be bound<BR>
By authorship. This jewel I found,<BR>
A prize to bear, my love, to you.<BR>
:Granted, this to casual view,<BR>
Like other blooms of rhetoric,<BR>
Seems over-scented, sweet and thick<BR>
And redolent upon the page,<BR>
These roses of another age.<BR>
The spheres are lightly thus assigned<BR>
The meaner grasp of humankind,<BR>
Celestial grace ‘neath human state;<BR>
Another bloom, grotesque of weight.<BR>
:Still, these words transfixed my heart,<BR>
Stopped me short, and yet impart<BR>
An awe that this, my mother tongue,<BR>
Through ages has such beauty sung.<BR>
Why? I searched, and came to see<BR>
Its truth unfolds a truth in me.<BR>
Aye, truth, I say, for all its claim:<BR>
Within my heart, love speaks the same.<BR>
:Air was vapid, grey of taint;<BR>
Stars there were, but dim and faint;<BR>
Life was just an exercise<BR>
Before I looked into your eyes,<BR>
And now each breath is pure and sweet<BR>
While diamonds stud the heavens’ sweep.<BR>
Whence came this beauty, save from you?<BR>
And so I know the words are true;<BR>
For if you had enough of grace<BR>
To grant such beauty to this place<BR>
And yet so still enchant the eye,<BR>
Then yes, the fairer are thereby.<BR>
:Even unto death, believe<BR>
That rather would I to you cleave,<BR>
Abjure another taste of air,<BR>
Than breathe a breath you do not share,<BR>
For you would take that which you lent: <BR>
The splendor of the firmament.<BR>
None of life could ever be<BR>
So fair as when you lived with me,<BR>
For all life’s beauty was your loan,<BR>
Never seen, else by you shown.<BR>
:Still, if I must live apart,<BR>
Reft from beauty, from my heart,<BR>
One cause only can I find<BR>
Not to leave this dearth behind:<BR>
Ne’er to let the world forget<BR>
Stars went begging in your debt.<BR>
<BR>
10-15-1991<BR>
<BR>
''The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, Act 5, Scene 1, lines 111-112. Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593).<BR>''


==Passage==
This was written in memory of [[Ragnar Ulfgarsson]], legend of [[Bjornsborg]] and Ansteorra.<BR>
{|"
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| 
Shadows fall.<BR>
Walking first<BR>
Bright the gold<BR>
Safe: his brothers<BR>
A loved place,<BR>
He passes.<BR>
|
A scop wanders.<BR>
to find his wealth,<BR>
in shining braids.<BR>
brave protect her.<BR>
but not his place.<BR>
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|Companions here,<BR>	
These are warriors,<BR>	
These are leaders<BR>	
The watcher smiles,<BR>	
The sweet mead	<BR>
A strong place,	<BR>
He passes.<BR>
|
a council meet.<BR>
weapon friends;<BR>
followed long.<BR>
salutes their strengths.<BR>
grows sweeter.<BR>
but not his place.<BR>
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|
Fire bloom<BR>	
Tales long crafted<BR>	
Word-fame won<BR>	
Speakers bold<BR>	
Shapers all,<BR>	
The listener smiles,<BR>	
A struggling voice<BR>	
A good place,<BR>	
He passes.<BR>
|
and stories flow.<BR>
told anew,<BR>
by war and wit.<BR>
or speakers shy,<BR>
they share his craft.<BR>
lends his lore;<BR>
grows stronger.<BR>
but not his place.<BR>
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|
The hall is tall,<BR>	
Bright the laughter,<BR>	
A bench waits, 	<BR>
A hall is hushed<BR>	
Raised to speak <BR>	
Sable stars	<BR>
The wanderer smiles,<BR>	
Horns are raised<BR>	
A blessed place,<BR>	
He enters.<BR>
|
the heroes many,<BR>
bright the mead.<BR>
a horn brims,<BR>
to hear his voice<BR>
of spirits bold,<BR>
and snowy bears.<BR>
welcomed in.<BR>
to hail him.<BR>
and now his place.<BR>
|}
1-2-1997<BR>


[[Category:Bardic]]
[[Category:Songbook]]