shore along the Biscay Bay in olde Aquitaine,
came first of many troubadours, Guillaume
was his name, a roving love philanderer
crusader, duke and count but his true call,
his legacy, the poems and songs he penned
~kat
For Jane Dougherty’s August Stanza Challenge.
Here’s a poem penned by my 27th Great Grandfather, Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine (1071 – 1127)
For the Sweetness of Springtime
For the sweetness of springtime,
the woods leaf and the birds
sing, each in its own language,
according to the swing of the new song:
it is therefore right that one tends towards
what he desires most.
From the place I like and love
comes neither messenger nor missive;
because of this, I neither sleep nor laugh;
and I don’t dare come forward
until I know with certitude
whether things stand as I want them to.
Our love works
just as the hawthorn twig
which stands shaking on the tree
in the night, in the rain and in the frost
until the morning after, when the sun stretches
on the green leaf and on the branches.
I still remember a morning
when we ended a fight
and when she gave such an important gift,
her love and her ring:
god let me live long enough
to put my hands under her cape.
I don’t worry that a strange language
would part me from my Good Neighbour,
because I know the wandering ways of words:
they begin as idle chat:
some people brag about love matters,
we have the matter in hand.
And in case you think I’m pulling your leg…here’s the begats:
Relationship between Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine & Kathleen Myrman.
Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine (1071 – 1127) – 27th great-grandfather
William Duke of Aquitaine En Normandy, 8th Count of Poitou X (1099 – 1137) Son of Guillaume IX deTroubador DeAquitaine
Eleanor Duchess Of Aquataine (1122 – 1204) Daughter of William Duke of Aquitaine En Normandy, 8th Count of Poitou X
Joan Plantagenet (1165 – 1199) Daughter of Eleanor Duchess Of Aquataine
Joan De Kinewarton (1189 – 1215) Daughter of Joan Plantagenet
Richard DeBruley (1211 – 1250) Son of Joan De Kinewarton
Henry De Bruley (1243 – 1305) Son of Richard DeBruley
William DeBruley (1270 – 1359) Son of Henry De Bruley
Alice Bruley (1326 – 1390) Daughter of William DeBruley
(Sir) Guy de La Spine Baron of Coughton (1350 – 1427) Son of Alice Bruley
Agnes Andrew ( – 1466) Daughter of (Sir) Guy de La Spine Baron of Coughton
Lady Cecilia Agnes Tansley (1460 – 1515) Daughter of Agnes Andrew
William Winslow (1490 – 1543) Son of Lady Cecilia Agnes Tansley
Kenelm Winslow (1534 – 1607) Son of William Winslow
Edward Winslow (1560 – 1631) Son of Kenelm Winslow
JOHN Winslow (1597 – 1674) Son of Edward Winslow
Susanna Winslow (1630 – 1685) Daughter of JOHN Winslow
Mercy Latham (1650 – 1707) Daughter of Susanna Winslow
Mary Harris (1690 – 1727) Daughter of Mercy Latham
Sarah Packard (1714 – 1792) Daughter of Mary Harris
Judith Shaw (1749 – 1776) Daughter of Sarah Packard
Isaac Edson (1770 – 1844) Son of Judith Shaw
Hannah Edson (1798 – 1873) Daughter of Isaac Edson
Ambrose Tower (1825 – 1907) Son of Hannah Edson
Mary H. Tower (1836 – 1883) Daughter of Ambrose Tower
John Henry Collins (1868 – ) Son of Mary H. Tower
Sylvia Collins (1892 – 1972) Daughter of John Henry Collins
William Collins Cunningham (1909 – 1967) Son of Sylvia Collins
Dorothy Ellen Cunningham (1933 – 2006) Daughter of William Collins Cunningham
Kathleen Myrman (that’s me! 😊) You are the daughter of Dorothy Ellen Cunningham
like mercury colliding... 