Yesterday James learned about art and music in medieval times. His SLP keeps coming up with great creative writing assignments and this one really blew us away.  See below for the song that James composed as a troubador for a king!

Creative writing:  Imagine that you are an artist or musician in the Middle Ages.  You have been tasked to create a song or a piece of art for someone.  Create a story around this scenario.  Who would your patron be?  What would you create? Make sure that your story reflects your newly acquired knowledge of the Middle Ages.  

IN THE HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE AGES, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A GREATER SINGER THAN ME, JAMES THE LYRICAL.  I AM THE MOST HIGHLY SOUGHT TROUBADOR IN THE LAND.  MY SONGS ARE HILARIOUS.  TIMES ARE HARD IN THE MIDDLE AGES.  KINGS HIRE ME TO ENTERTAIN THEIR COURTS.  THEY ENJOY MY STORY SONGS ABOUT GREAT BATTLES UNDER THEIR COMMAND.  I ALSO SING ABOUT THE PEASANTS AND THEIR LIVES IN THE FEUDAL SYSTEM.  LIFE FOR PEASANTS IS NOT EASY.  HISTORICALLY, THEY ARE THE SLAVES OF THE MIDDLE AGES.

TIMES WERE ALSO HARD FOR THE YOUNG MEN. THEY HAD TO COMPETE IN TOURNAMENTS TO PROVE THEIR BRAVERY AND SHOW THEIR UNUSUAL TALENTS.  SO I SANG SONGS TO CHEER THEIR COURAGE.  MY SONGS WERE SO POPULAR THAT EVERYONE WANTED ME TO SING FOR THEM. Do you think you can compose a song?  (James smiled at this, so I knew something good was coming!!)  HERE IS ONE OF MY SONGS.

THE TIMES LINGER

THE KINGS DO NOT LIFT A FINGER

PASSIONS ARE MIGHTY

NOBLES ARE FLIGHTY

WISHES FOR HEALTH ARE MADE

PLAGUE PUTS MANY IN GRAVES TO BE LAID

LEGENDS ARE TOLD

BRAVERY FROM YOUNG AND OLD

WICKED PLOTS ARE HATCHED

FOR NEW LANDS TO BE SNATCHED

KINGS PLUNDER THE LANDS

WITH NO THOUGHT OF WORK FROM PEASANT HANDS

MANY WILL SUFFER

WHILE KINGS HEAR ME SING AT SUPPER

MY SONGS PLEASE AND DELIGHT

IN THE TIMES OF SUPERSTITION AND FRIGHT

He wrote this on the spot, no time lapse other than the time it takes to spell out each word!