[MR] Announcement: Jocs Floral Winners

[Cindy Watkins]

 The Jocs Floral Poetry Competition was sponsored and judged by Lady Talia
de Morales, Mistress Iselda de Narbonne, and Master Olivier de Bayonne. All
of the entries were a genuine pleasure to experience and the judges were
impressed by the skill evidenced by all poets, particularly for those
working in brand new forms. There were winners in two prize categories.
The Silver Wild Rose is the prize for the finest poem written by a poet who
had never won a previous SCA poetry competition, and is awarded to Lord Paganus
Akritas for “A Lover Searches History.”, a 16th century English poem. This
was his first poetry submission ever in the SCA, and it is to be hoped,
certainly not his last, for this was an astounding first entry that really
captures the flavor of its period of origin, with an ending as sweet as its
beginning was grand.
The Golden Violet is the prize awarded to the poet demonstrating the most
surpassing excellence in a troubadour form, and is awarded to Lord Ishmael
Stedfast Reed (Michael Arden) for “Alone Came I”, written in the 12th
century trobar clus style of troubadour poetry. This entry was a model for
documentation that also serves a dual function as a mini research essay.
But beyond that, it should be emphasized that the trobar clus is an
astoundingly difficult verse form, and the poet executed it with an
eloquence that captured the music and sense of the troubadour lyric.
Further, this poem evoked a quality of deep emotional resonance that period
texts of the time lauded as the central quality of the best of all
troubadour poetry.
Vivat to Lord Paganus Akritas and Lord Ishmael Reed, and a resounding vivat
to all the poets who entered, whose work is a true joy and privilege to
read. All poems entered can be viewed at
http://www.12thnight.atlantia.sca.org/poetry-competition/ Yours in service,
Lady Talia de Morales, Poeta Atlantiae
**Note: There were no qualifying entries in the category of the Silver
Marigold, so this prize was not awarded.