The Fall of Pamplona

Aidun · December 25, 2003, 20:51

I couldn't mourn anymore. And so many friendly christmas wishes and joyful christmas carols inspired me to compose this: a poem of the Fall of Pamplona in the style of a traditional Dutch Sonnet. Ghengis, I hope you like it enough for your library

The Fall of Pamplona

Pamplona, an ancient city proud and great,
A stronghold, believed never to fall,
The Spanish capital and King’s seat,
Has suddenly faded the hopes of all.

In the church the defenders were praying,
On a Sunday morning, for which the Arabs do not care.
Neither do the Chinese, on a hilltop staying.
And thus it wasn’t noticed how they gathered there.

With drawn swords they came storming
And broke with great losses through the massive gate
It was a watchful merchant who gave the warning.

But for the unfortunate citizens it came too late:
Because though all defenders fought bravely that morning,
Without a sacred host and blessing, they missed faith.

Aidun

vmxa1 · December 26, 2003, 01:16

It is a sad, but true story, nice job. Long live GS.

Beta · December 26, 2003, 12:18

We empathize with the citizens of Spain. We have some idea of how you feel.

Theseus · December 26, 2003, 19:52

We mourn with you, Espana.

Aidun · December 31, 2003, 22:45

Hey come on! Am I the only poet here? UnO, MWIA, Ennet and many others, please post poems, I'm sure any of you can make a nice one about for instance the fall of Pamplona.

We have mourned long enough for the death, it's time to laugh again and have FUN.

Aidun

ZargonX · January 1, 2004, 13:10

Well, if you really want a poem about the event from the Lego point of view, here's a little haiku:

Far over the sea
Pamplona changes colors;
that must have been cool

DAVOUT · January 2, 2004, 05:27

It looks like a sonnet.

In our classical sonnet the first and second verses have the same rhymes.

Considering that the Torquemada family had, in the Roleplay team, a heavy French heritage, I take the liberty to post a sonnet in French.

La chute de Pampelune

Que fait un Grand d’Espagne à l’aube d’un assaut
Dont tout laisse à penser qu’il sera décisif ?
L’heure n’est plus alors aux exploits défensifs,
Il s’agit de mourir en tuant ces pourceaux.

L’ennemi innombrable et qui n’était point sot,
Ne pouvait par cela être rendu craintif,
Et il lança sa horde enfiévrée par le kif
Marquer sur la cité de la mort le grand sceau.

Matrice de héros, ce fut pendant un jour
La fonction suprême qu’assuma Pampelune ;
Elle était à cela prête depuis toujours:

De la gloire ou la mort, c’est de deux choses l’une.
Et lorsque vint la fin, le dernier qui céda,
Nul n’en sera surpris, ce fut Torquemada.

Aidun · January 2, 2004, 19:53

The rhyme is better than mine, Davout. Magnificent. I applaud for you. Beautiful. It is but some years ago since I last read French and though I still understand a bit of what you're writing, could you translate it for us, so that we also understand the full meaning of the poem? That would be great.

Aidun

DAVOUT · January 3, 2004, 09:38

Quote:

Originally posted by DAVOUT
It looks like a sonnet.

In our classical sonnet the first and second verses have the same rhymes.

Considering that the Torquemada family had, in the Roleplay team, a heavy French heritage, I take the liberty to post a sonnet in French.

La chute de Pampelune

Que fait un Grand d’Espagne à l’aube d’un assaut
Dont tout laisse à penser qu’il sera décisif ?
L’heure n’est plus alors aux exploits défensifs,
Il s’agit de mourir en tuant ces pourceaux.

L’ennemi innombrable et qui n’était point sot,
Ne pouvait par cela être rendu craintif,
Et il lança sa horde enfiévrée par le kif
Marquer sur la cité de la mort le grand sceau.

Matrice de héros, ce fut pendant un jour
La fonction suprême qu’assuma Pampelune ;
Elle était à cela prête depuis toujours:

De la gloire ou la mort, c’est de deux choses l’une.
Et lorsque vint la fin, le dernier qui céda,
Nul n’en sera surpris, ce fut Torquemada.

Edit : At the request of Aidun, I made an English translation (not an English poem) :

A High Noble of Spain, facing an assault
Which can only be decisive,
Will no longer pursue defensive achievements :
The time has come to die while killing those beasts.

The innumerable enemy, clever as he was,
Could not be impressed by that determination,
And he launched his horde drunken by the hashish,
For engraving the city with the seal of death.

Manufacturing heroes, it was for a whole day
The supreme role played by Pamplona.
She was prepared for that since she was founded:

Glory or death, a very simple choice.
When the end was closing, the last one who fell,
None will be surprised, was Torquemada.

redstar1 · January 3, 2004, 10:53

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
I'm gonna break your face!

rendelnep · January 5, 2004, 08:08

there one was a bloke called redstar
he like to play on the gui-tar
the spainiards thought it tis but a joke
Soon thing did a whispar
And rendel's poem writing was a public revoke....

Theseus · January 11, 2004, 03:21

Quote:

Originally posted by DAVOUT
Edit : At the request of Aidun, I made an English translation (not an English poem) :

A High Noble of Spain, facing an assault
Which can only be decisive,
Will no longer pursue defensive achievements :
The time has come to die while killing those beasts.

The innumerable enemy, clever as he was,
Could not be impressed by that determination,
And he launched his horde drunken by the hashish,
For engraving the city with the seal of death.

Manufacturing heroes, it was for a whole day
The supreme role played by Pamplona.
She was prepared for that since she was founded:

Glory or death, a very simple choice.
When the end was closing, the last one who fell,
None will be surprised, was Torquemada.

DAVOUT,

You can write with such skill in German, French, and English?

Impressive, and stirring. "Manufacturing heroes"... My regards.