So, what's this thing you're asking me to sign?
I've never in my life been so appalled;
God gave me rights as King, I'll have you know,
now greedy barons want those rights recalled.
My heavy heart gives in to your demands,
and once it's done, perhaps we can move on;
no peace nor rest will I enjoy again
until this evil, baying throng is gone.
At Runnymede today, I sign my name;
let all of England hang its head in shame.
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Author Notes
Today's word: sign-manual (n.) a signature.
On 15th June 1215, in the face of increasing pressure from powerful barons and threats of civil war, King John signed the Magna Carta, thus officially limiting the power of kings.
This tells the story from King John's point of view, not the author's.
My much-treasured Christmas present for 2017 is a book by Paul Anthony Jones: "The cabinet of linguistic curiosities". Each page contains a descriptive story about some obscure or archaic word. It occurred to me it would be a fun exercise to try and write, each day, a poem featuring the "word of the day" from the book.
Thanks for reading.
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