Alliterative Meter

Alliterative Meter

The poem celebrates the alliterative revival inspired by Lewis and Tolkien.

Few were the faithful     fearless enough
To tackle the task,    tales unfolding
With letters linked     in lays of glory
As Caedmon the simple     swineherd taught us,
And nameless minstrels,    making music.
Long the Loremasters     labored among them,
Teaching the arts      of ancient scops
Who sought the music      of serial sounds,
Letters linked.     Alliterative Meter
Revived, rang out,     in recitations:
Caedmon hymned     creation’s Master;
Beowulf boasted,     battle waging,
Made an end      of monsters’ mayhem;
Theoden Thengling     thirsted for glory,
Drank his fill     on the field of battle,
Oath fulfilled     defending Mundburg
As Tolkien told us,     truth declaring;
Lewis laid     the lore before us,
Declared of lift     and dip the nature,
Told the tale     of types truly,
Found them all,     five in number,
Made the planets     march in order,
Placing the pattern     plain before us.

Will we, faithful,     follow after?

Original Poetry