Traitor's Fate

After reading his elegy ( Chideock Tichbourne 1563 - 1586)

i chanced upon a sombre elegy

for Babington a heavy price you paid

with eloquence your written words excel

though Elizabeth our Queen you did betray

at three and twenty birthdates you are done

your sun has set too early for your years

yet in your blood a wordsmith recognised

it was your poet soul that ushered tears

last thoughts conveyed with wisdom's tender touch

five centuries have fled your verse lives on

i do not know you for conspiracy

but love you for your dying sunset song

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

There is no point in freedom of speech if there is no honesty in that speech. Come what may, you must be true to yourself. To do otherwise is to sell your soul to the devil. The fact that we have a media complicit with politicians and the government to the point of suppression is the ultimate betrayal of the American people and our Constitution. I think that poets are the last of the truth seekers and truth speakers. It has always been that way. We do not write for praise nor money nor fame. We write from the soul.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank you’s Linda for stopping by to share your thoughts on this poem. Very much appreciated.

Chris

[Neville]

message to self .. only 409 & 3/4 years to go .. wot an eloquent tribute magnificently articulated to old wotsisname my lady :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Neville. The elegy appeared in a poetry book called 100 poems that make a grown man cry that I found in a charity shop. This young man of 23 haunted me for days until this poem was finished and then he left. True story. Yes, I loved him for his poet's heart, although a traitor to his Queen.

Chris

[knighngale]

aww very melancholy. You say you don't have feeling anymore for that individual but you really do. Plus, there is resentment, I love it. Great read, hon. :D

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you. He died a traitor's death, but I love him for his poetic voice :)) Have a good day.

Chris

[Ted Kniffen]

Such a fascinating period.
Goes to show not all poets were quiet retiring types ... even master Will may have had a dark side.

Seems to me that there is a holiday in Britain that celebrates a would be traitor ... coming up soon I think.

Well done Chris.
A Good Write or should I say ... this doth be a goodly write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Ted, was certainly a blood thirsty time in our history. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Wonderful to read and flowed effortlessly from word to word..from thought to thought..
Loved it,
Lisa

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, thanks Lisa. Appreciate you.

Chris

[Lisasview]

You are welcome..

[jennifer little]

nice write i liked it very much keep up the good work keep writing

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jennifer for the read and positive review. I appreciate your time.

Chris

[jennifer little]

your welcome no problem any time

[Kim S.]

Such a wonderful write here, Tudor history is quite unique and interesting
wonderful write Chris

[Chris Shaw]

For sure it was a bloody time in our history, albeit interesting. Thank you Beckies. Pleased you enjoyed what you read.

Chris

[AYVID N]

To be remembered for his words after five centuries...that sounds so great in itself. I loved the second verse, especially! I'm very interested in Tudor history and do read up and watch YouTube pieces on it. Thanks for this beautifully rendered and informative poem, dear Chris 💜

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear DIVYA. The Tudor period was fascinating, but so divisive and bloody. Religion does do that still. Some things never change. Have to say I wasn't a fan of Henry VIII. What a tyrant he was. So appreciate you stopping by.

Chris

[AYVID N]

Indeed, what he did to most of his queens was terrible but your history and culture is so truly beautiful inspite of the brutality of some of the monarchs. The stunning architecture and the countryside leaves me in such awe, always when I visit with my brother.
You're welcome always, dear Chris 💞

[.]

I had to google the inspiration behind this poem, Chris. A poet and a conspirator who plotted regicide? Sounds like a complicated man and one born to be a poet. Perhaps his standing as a traitor has reduced his presence in the modern poetic psyche, but from taking a brief glance at his poems he did have natural affinity with the quill. I enjoyed the poem and I appreciate the illumination you have supplied on a man otherwise many would know little about. ⚘

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Jamila, so pleased you googled. I also spent sometime reading about him and understanding the history of our land at that time and the great divide between Catholicism and the church of England, created by Henry VIII, found myself slightly more sympathetic towards the fate of this traitor. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This was a wonderful tribute piece. I'm a great fan of John Donne. He was just so brilliant and his double entendre and sly wit bely the fact that he was once the Dean of St. Paul's. There was certainly a bawdy side to his nature. At first I thought this piece was in reference to Thomas Babington Macaulay but I now note it goes back to the time of Donne. I'm not familiar with the writing of Tichbourne, however.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fabian for this wonderful review. I stumbled on Tichborne, found his elegy in a book of poems that make grown men cry. It nade me cry too and haunted me for days until I wrote this poem. Only then did I get some peace :)

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The only piece of writing I've ever read that brought me to tears was A Child's Dream of A Star by Charles Dickens. It still gets to me.

[Chris Shaw]

I will have to research that one. I don't know of it. Thank you.

[Ada]

Historical references are always so regal; although I didn't come to the table with a lot of background information on this piece.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ada. I wrote this piece after reading one of the poems in a book featuring poems that make a grown man cry. I had to do some research. The subject was so interesting and yes, I cried too.

Chris