Courtly Love

I wonder what it's like to be a Knight
And for thy Lord's and Lady's honour fight

To stand for Truth and Valor, Faith and Right
Protecting bravely those of lesser might

To take up sword and shield for worthy cause
To fight and die for Cyrene's rightful laws

And though these goals are worthy of pursuit
My life has taken quite another route

For lyric poetry is my obsession
The search for Beauty's essence and expression

But there is one fine bit of Chivalry
That fits my disposition perfectly

That transcendental art of Courtly Love
With all the pain and happiness thereof

It started when our eyes met in a glance
That slowed down time and put me in a trance

At first I just admired you from afar
Your grace and charm eclipsing any star

Emboldened then, I plied you with keen banter
And sought to play the role of the enchanter

I found your poise and wit a match for mine
Our nimble steps did subtly intertwine

Then gazing into your amazing eyes
I thought I glimpsed true love in humour's guise

My heart was filled with glorious emotion
I pledged to you my passionate devotion

And then, so that my ego not be bruised
With gentleness and sadness you refused

Another man had just received your troth
And virtuous, you could not break that oath

Dispair o'erwhelmed my heart for quite some time
My longing and my agony sublime

But tested in that crucible of pain
All doubt dissolved, and Love was to remain

So marry you this man, I do not care
To you my loving heart has been laid bare

Let's share with one another what we may
Enjoying the delights at Life's buffet

Our offspring will be wondrous works of art
Our comfort all the joy we can impart

And any other path would be a lie
For I shall love you till the day I die

Penned by my hand on the 6th of Mayan, in the year 507 AF.