Late '28 and early '29
The English stepped up the siege of Orléans
The Hundred Years' War was going just fine
Despite Henry V dying and being
Replaced by the boy Henry VI. Scenes
In Shakespeare's play of that name tell of Joan
Who conferred with the Dauphin and who seemed
Divinely gifted. Orléans' walls of stone
Guarded the Loire crossing. If they had gone
Into English hands, southern lands would find
What oppression was like, also. Her dreams
Of battle realised, directly thrown
Against the enemy, Joan's men consigned
To history France's old reticence
My friend wrote a poem about Gilles de Rais the companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc, best known as a prolific serial killer of children. She called it 'Don't Tell Joan'.
ReplyDeleteHi Jude - did she - wow, that's some fact. Mind you, did Gilles de Rais know Joan that well - and presumably Joan must have known many of her fellow soldiers were not the nicest of peeps!! But sometimes as a saint, you have to associate with sinners!!
ReplyDeleteYEs I've found that to be the case myself.
ReplyDeleteThat could be a new poem title
'Joan must have known'
I like it!