" --> <meta name="author" value="Yvonne Aburrow" /> <meta name="description" content="Gawain, by Yvonne Aburrow" /> <meta name="keywords" value="poetry, magic, legend, mythology, folklore, Gawain, Arthurian, pentagram, pentacle, Albion, Lilith, bee, Mabon, Herne, Cernunnos, Hern, Moon, goddess, Edric, Wild Hunt, Godiva, Godgifu, Samhain, Halloween, Hallowe'en, All Hallows' Eve, Wandlebury, Roman, Roman road, Yvonne Aburrow" /> <script src="/yewtree/css/styleswitch.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"> </script> <link title="yewtree" rel="stylesheet" href="/yewtree/css/style.css" type="text/css" media="all" /> <link title="green" rel="alternate stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/yewtree/css/ya.css" media="all" /><link title="black" rel="alternate stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/yewtree/css/alt-black.css" /> <link title="navy" rel="alternate stylesheet" href="/yewtree/css/alt-navy.css" type="text/css" media="all" /> <link title="cream" rel="alternate stylesheet" href="/yewtree/css/alt-cream.css" type="text/css" media="all" /> <link title="white" rel="alternate stylesheet" href="/yewtree/css/alt-white.css" type="text/css" media="all" /> <link title="monochrome" rel="alternate stylesheet" href="/yewtree/css/monochrome.css" type="text/css" media="all" /> <link title="Printer friendly" href="/yewtree/css/print.css" type="text/css" media="print" rel="stylesheet" /></head> <body> <div id="sitemast"> <img src="/yewtree/images/yew-tiny.jpg" width="72" height="80" border="0" alt="The Yew Tree" style="float: left; vertical-align: middle;" id="logo" /> <h1> The Yew Tree</h1> </div> <div id="menu"> <span style="float: right">colours: <select onchange="setActiveStyleSheet(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value)" name="scheme"> <option value="">Select colour scheme...</option> <option value="yewtree">Yew Tree</option> <option value="green">Purest green</option> <option value="monochrome">Monochrome</option> <option value="black">Cream text, black background</option> <option value="navy">Cream text, navy background</option> <option value="cream">Black text, cream background</option> <option value="white">Black text, white background</option> </select> </span> <a href="/yewtree/">home</a> | <a href="/yewtree/publications/">publications</a> | <a href="/yewtree/poetry/">poetry</a> | <a href="/yewtree/scifaiku/">scifaiku</a> | <a href="/yewtree/songs/">songs</a> | <a href="/yewtree/articles/">articles</a> | <a href="/yewtree/resources/">resources</a> </div> <div id="main"> <h2 id="header"><em>Gawain</em>, by Yvonne Aburrow </h2> <p>She came into my chamber, all green and gold.<br /> I remember the scent of her beside me and her warm kisses.<br /> It was snowing outside, but warm within the house.<br /> She disarmed me of my courtesy with her cunning.</p> <p>Each night as he returned from the chase,<br /> I rendered to her lord all that she had given me - <br /> All but this green girdle, woven with magic.<br /> Three kisses I gave him, and he brought me venison.</p> <p>I rode out under a pewter sky to the Green Chapel.<br /> A wren darted among leaves of green holly.<br /> The berries lay on the snow, shed blood on white linen.<br /> I heard an axe being sharpened on a whetstone.</p> <p>I am Gwalchmai, the Hawk of May<br /> Belled and jessed by a green girdle.<br /> He was the lord of winter, the Green Knight,<br /> Who awaited me in the chapel perilous.</p> <p>The axe was deflected by the girdle's magic,<br /> But my honour was defeated in that moment.<br /> I am Gawain, most courteous of knights,<br /> Disarmed by the love of a lady green and gold.</p> </div> <br clear="all" /> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="#top">top</a> | <a href="/yewtree/">home</a> | <a href="/yewtree/sitemap.htm">site map</a>