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Chaucer Poems - Poems about Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer Canterbury Tales translation
These are modern English translations of poems written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer. The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue by Geoffrey Chaucer translation by Michael R. Burch When April with her sweet showers has pierced the drought of March to the root, bathing the vines’ veins in such nectar that even sweeter flowers are engendered; and when the West Wind with his...

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Categories: chaucer, april, bird, flower, life,
Form: Rhyme
Geoffrey Chaucer translations 2 by Michael R Burch
"Cantus Troili" from "Troilus and Criseyde" by Petrarch translation by Geoffrey Chaucer modernization by Michael R. Burch If there’s no love, O God, why then, so low? And if love is, what thing, and which, is he? If love is good, whence comes my dismal woe? If wicked, love’s a wonder unto me, When every torment and adversity That comes from him, persuades me...

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Categories: chaucer, death, drink, earth, god,
Form: Rhyme



Geoffrey Chaucer translations 1 by Michael R Burch
These are modern English translations of love poems by Geoffrey Chaucer. These are poems of love, longing, passion and desire. To Rosemounde: A Ballade by Geoffrey Chaucer translation by Michael R. Burch Madame, you’re a shrine to loveliness And as world-encircling as trade’s duties. For your eyes shine like glorious crystals And your round cheeks like rubies. Therefore you’re so merry and so...

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Categories: chaucer, beauty, dance, desire, heart,
Form: Rhyme
Chaucer Translation: Welcome Summer
Welcome, Summer by Geoffrey Chaucer loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Now welcome, Summer, with your sun so soft, since you’ve banished Winter with her icy weather and driven away her long nights’ frosts. Saint Valentine, in the heavens aloft, the songbirds sing your praises together! Now welcome, Summer, with your sun so soft, since you’ve banished Winter with her icy weather. We have good...

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Categories: chaucer, heaven, sky, song, summer,
Form: Roundel
Premium Member Some Where In the Fog
Somewhere in the fog is Chaucer's prologue to those Canterberry tales. Ms. Layton I must thank for storing it in my memory bank which of late seems to have paled. No offense to Mr. Chaucer but it's way past time to toss her before this old brain is derailed. For some day soon I may stutter with so much extra brain clutter but...

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Categories: chaucer, 9th grade, education,
Form: Light Verse



Premium Member Clerihew Chaucer
Geoffry Chaucer served as a page first poet of ye olde English age His Canterbury tales quite a feat a work never did complete...

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Categories: chaucer, people, poetry,
Form: Clerihew
Premium Member Wonderland V: The Chef's Tale
Morning The Innkeeper checked his watch once again Hoping the chef's feelings weren't hurt. The last time they were, he arrived two hours late And then left, serving just his dessert. Sadly the chef, on this day of all days Turned up filthy, flies open and drunk. A black cat meowed as the chef stumbled in; He was unkempt and cursing and...

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Categories: chaucer, betrayal, conflict, drink, food,
Form: Narrative
Premium Member Wonderland IV: The Hairdresser's Tale
Morning In The Hair Salon She would chat and then nod as she washed And laugh as she dried and then curled But behind all the smiles that were wide, fixed and false She felt challenged and alone in the world. She felt angry and always so tired With debts adding up to her worry She would rather stay home and dream...

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Categories: chaucer, abuse, dark, dream, fantasy,
Form: Narrative
Premium Member Wonderland III: The Watchmaker's Tale
Morning Having sighed a great sigh He perused all his tools From the mainsprings and tweezers To the wheels and the jewels. He removed the large case latch From the pocket watch cover To survey all the insides As he would any other. He wasn't familiar With a watch of that kind And confused why the workings Ran two days behind. He adjusted his loupe lens And then gasped...

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Categories: chaucer, betrayal, business, fantasy, literature,
Form: Narrative
Chaucer Translation: Escape
Escape rondel/roundel by Geoffrey Chaucer translation by Michael R. Burch Since I’m escaped from Love and yet still fat, I never plan to be in his prison lean; Since I am free, I count it not a bean. He may question me and counter this and that; I care not: I will answer just as I mean. Since I’m escaped from Love and...

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Categories: chaucer, books, freedom, love, prison,
Form: Roundel
Chaucer Translation: Rejection
Rejection a roundel by Geoffrey Chaucer loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Your beauty from your heart has so erased Pity, that it's useless to complain; For Pride now holds your mercy by a chain. I'm guiltless, yet my sentence has been passed. I tell you truly, needless now to feign: Your beauty from your heart has so erased Pity, that it's useless to...

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Categories: chaucer, beauty, french, heart, innocence,
Form: Roundel
Chaucer Translation: Merciless Beauty
Merciles Beaute ("Merciless Beauty") by Geoffrey Chaucer loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Your eyes slay me suddenly; their beauty I cannot sustain, they wound me so, through my heart keen. Unless your words heal me hastily, my heart's wound will remain green; for your eyes slay me suddenly; their beauty I cannot sustain. By all truth, I tell you faithfully that you are of life...

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Categories: chaucer, beauty, heart, relationship, romance,
Form: Roundel
Premium Member Wonderland II: The Hatter's Tale
Morning At Work Impaired by his tremors And a troublesome cough, He turned fur into felt Before cooling things off. He drooled once or twice And grew cold in his bones, But he shaped all the felt Into all of the cones. Noon His 'venomous vipers' Grew restless again And woke as the toxins Played games with his brain. He began to see strange things And quickly grew scared When the...

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Categories: chaucer, drink, fantasy, imagery, literature,
Form: Narrative
Geoffrey Chaucer Translations
Three Roundels by Geoffrey Chaucer I. Merciles Beaute ("Merciless Beauty") by Geoffrey Chaucer translation by Michael R. Burch Your eyes slay me suddenly; their beauty I cannot sustain, they wound me so, through my heart keen. Unless your words heal me hastily, my heart's wound will remain green; for your eyes slay me suddenly; their beauty I cannot sustain. By all truth, I tell you faithfully that...

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Categories: chaucer, beauty, death, england, heart,
Form: Roundel
Cat Named Chaucer
Have you met my cat named Chaucer? His naughtiness will steal your heart, He has milk in his own saucer, And as you'll see, he's very smart; He plays around the garden green With his favourite woolly ball, He knows how to keep himself clean, He purrs and runs around the hall; He curls up near the warm fireplace, When he wants to...

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Categories: chaucer, cat, smart,
Form: Rhyme

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Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry