Oak and Rowan, Holly, Ivy
I'm just a new bardlet from Mare Am
and I know that in standing here, lucky I am
to be singing for you here the eve of your feast
I'm hoping you'll like my tale, or listen at least.
The story I'll tell is a tale of the past
with honour and magic and love that would last
to the end of a tree's life, to the end of the earth,
and how the birth of a forest came out of a curse.
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da...
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da.
A maiden there once was full fair and renowned
for her beauty was matchless 'twas said all around.
She lived in a forest, she lived there alone.
chaste, silent, and graceful, lovers she had none.
There was too a knight both gentle and good
who loved that maiden who lived in the wood
He thought to woo her and thus win her hand
To bring her back home to rule in his land.
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da...
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da.
The knight rode to woo the maiden in green
and 'twas true she was fairer than the fairest he'd seen.
She wore a green dress; her hair was dark brown,
in her eyes were the colours of the forest surround.
The knight and the maiden they went for a walk.
The lady was silent while the good knight did talk
of his wondrous city, of his love for her
for if she could but see these, he'd crown her, he was sure.
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da...
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da.
The knight said, "Good maiden, I've heard of your fame.
To dwell all alone here to me seems a shame.
Come hither with me to my city of gold,
these hands they will crown you, these arms you enfold."
Our hero was hopeful, he fell to his knees
said, "Lady, I swear 'tis my true wish to please
you will all of my being, with all of my heart.
Vouchsafe me some guideword so I know where to start."
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da...
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da.
The knight spread his arms wife in gentle entreat,
looked up at the maiden from down at her feet,
"Fair lovely green woman, speak you unto me,
as you command me, so mote it be!"
"Your beauty surrounds me, roots me to the spot.
My limbs reaching upward by the dark green earth taught
to shelter your fair skin from the heat of the sun
and the bite of the wind, forever anon."
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da...
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, la da da da da.
At the end of our tale lives the maiden in green
alone in her forest in her house between
two great old oak trees, majestic and tall,
with deep dark green ivy all climbing the wall.
Holly and rowan they grow there as well
some younger, some older, their stories to tell
only to that young maiden who wears the green fress,
and you'd better not court her or visit unless
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, she said this to me,
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, is what you'd rather be.
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, I share this with thee,
Oak and rowan, holly, ivy, is what you'd rather be.
Ysolt Pais de cuer
July 1999
mka Laura Knappenberger, all rights reserved.