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

[lightsong]

breathtaking... your heart was entirely touched, and so You did to our hearts. a masterpiece for sure.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you lightsong for your very encouraging review. You are greatly appreciated.

Chris

[Earl Schumacker]

Hi Chris,
Very nice use of the English language. Beautiful poem. I sometimes wish that I were English. I wonder if I would have a British accent? Keep up the brilliant work. You are the best. Have a wonderful day. Earl

[Chris Shaw]

So nice to get a visit from you Earl. I have a, London accent. That's where my roots are even though I haven't lived there for years. I wouldn't want to go back these days. All the best to you.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

For your years?


We don't read enough of each other.


As far as writing yes, it's important to see each other naked.

If you can... doll face, you should let me show shame incarnate....

(it'll be innocent)
such is life... the things we do,

(mrs beautiful)

[Chris Shaw]

What is shame incarnate?

Thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[Dylan Macadham]

Hi Chris, a few minutes ago I posted this in the wrong spot, so here it is in the right spot :)
...I so enjoyed this somber, history-based elegy, and I googled Chideock. A man of many aspects, and you found one to admire, and this I like best :) In people we like and don't like, we can see both good & bad.
I wonder what ole Chideock would think of being Googled? :D haha

[Chris Shaw]

I think Chideock would be pleased to know his poetry is still being read all these years later. I think he would be pleased that I recognised his poetic soul and furthermore understood his passion for his religion. The whole of England had been Catholic until that tyrant Henry VIII broke with Rome and formed his own church and then burned down all the monasteries and forced his own brand of religion on everyone. So many had to practice their Catholic faith underground..I understood that young man whose passion put him in grave danger. He paid a heavy price for it. I think he has stopped haunting me now I have written about him :)). Thank you Dylan.

Chris

[Fran Marie]

as the others I'm learning something
new within this well versed poem
I will have to research this poetic traitor
like the way you wrote this one
with poetic expression well done!!

[Chris Shaw]

A fascinating period in our bloody history Fran. This young man paid a very heavy price for his conspiracy. All religion focused, there's a surprise. Thank you for your thoughts my friend.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

You are much more versed in history than I
This is especially well done and will give me a reason for some research (that is, after all my chores are done!!)

[Chris Shaw]

When your chores are done, it is well worth researching this bloody period in England's history. That tyrant Henry VIII has alot to answer for with his break from Rome and forming his own version of Christianity. Chideock paid the price for his Catholic beliefs. Conspiring against Elizabeth, who was Henry's daughter was certain death.

Chris

[barleygirl]

I love it when a poet writes about something I know nothing about & there's enuf info in the poem to understand what he/she is talking about! Also, I love when poets use Elizabethan style that's readily understandable! (((HUGS)))

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Margie. Pleased you enjoyed. All the best.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

i didn't know any of his history .. so thank you for that! and we have Benedict Arnold ..perhaps we would have reason to love him as well, had he the poetic talent your Chideock had ... if history were taught with poems such as this one .. i may have found a place for it in me nog. ;} well done .. as always .. tight, smooth flow and rhymes that feel like every day speech ..
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, thank you and for Beneduct Arnold. I will have to look him up. I came across Tichbourne's elegy in a book called Poems That Make Men Cry. I read it to my husband who is not at all poetic in nature, yet it became a talking point. I was moved and he haunted me for two days (the poet not my husband) until I wrote this poem about him. (I wrote it six weeks ago and found it a couple of days ago). Decided to post it and so pleased you checked in with your thoughts.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha ..glad it was not your hubby ma'am! :))))))) what a great back drop story ... he haunted you for 6 weeks until you spoke up for him ... what kinds of talking points .. if i may be so bold to ask?

[.]

This beautiful poem of yours made me search through internet about him as I was unaware of him.Yes, you portrayed it so beautifully that there can be many facets of a human being but we should appreciate the good things in him/ her as we don't know the person properly or personally.So one black side of him could not be enough to define him.I love your tender approach to this whole fact.....loved this poem dear poet

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Sima, yes I loved his poetic soul. His elegy moved me for days. A difficult part of history in olde England. A barbaric and bloody time. He lives on in his poetry. That might have provided a shred of comfort, if he had known that would happen. So appreciate you Sima.

Chris

[.]

Waiting for your new poem.....plzzzzz :)

[Gee]

Hmmm, what a way to go, but I guess you reap what you sow.
Do you think there was any self pity in his words ?
Enjoyed this and learning about the fella.
Hi Christine, hope you are well and recovered

[Chris Shaw]

I think he was reflecting on the enormity of what he was going to.miss out on and the shame he brought to his family. Such an interesting period of history. Read his elegy if you have time Gee. Good morning. I am well on the way to recovering, though still have a cough. Have a happy weekend. Hope you and the family are well.

Chris

[Gee]

Have inherited your hacking cough, cold and feel like I've been treated like poor old Tichbourne😎

[Chris Shaw]

Then I sympathise because I have really felt unwell. This is the Halloween of coughs and colds. A bloody nightmare and lasts far longer than one day. Wrap up warm and dose yourself up. Plenty of Vick vapour rub and steam bath with olbas oil. Get inhaling. Poor you :(

[Gee]

Be it a man my suffering is without doubt tenfold anything you experienced Christine:)
Off out with the pooch in the near future, wind, rain, might not make it back😩

[Gee]

Being.....