A Bard's Blog

The presentation examined a medieval way of protecting manuscripts and books from thieves: the anathema, or the book curse. It discussed how these curses came about and included examples from a wide range of times and cultures as well as learn the anathema formula. Presented in 2020 during Lockdowns for the East Kingdom A& S series.

  Large numbers of Jewish people were forced to convert to Christianity starting in Seville in 1391. Jews were officially expelled from Spain in 1492. Any who lived in Portugal were forced to convert in 1497. All Jews who didn’t leave converted to Christianity. Some were genuine converts but many took their religion underground. This class will give a history, brief survey of customs and the vocabulary of the Crypto-Jews of Portugal and Spain. The session was for the Known World Colegio de Iberia 2021.

Triolet to Spring New sprung movement, measure so sweet Woven language banish my grief Away from melancholy's deceit New-sprung movement, measure so sweet Office sacred, chorus complete Sacred moment, a fresh motif New sprung movement, measure so sweet Woven language banish my grief Published as Mariessa Dobrick in PoemCity Anthology 2023 https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/rootstock-books/poemcity-anthology-2023 For rules and how to write your own see https://poets.org/glossary/triolet