Of Ane Blak-Moir facts for kids
"Of Ane Blak-Moir" is a short poem written in the old Scots by a poet named William Dunbar. He was born around 1459 or 1460.
This poem seems like a song praising a beautiful lady, but it's actually a funny, playful version of that kind of poem. The lady in the poem appears to be an African woman taking part in a knightly tournament or a special show. This poem is one of the first times someone from Sub-Saharan Africa is mentioned as living in Scotland. It's important to know that the poem describes the woman's looks in ways that might seem unkind or disrespectful today. This shows how ideas about people and beauty have changed over time.
The only copy of this poem that still exists is found in a collection of old writings called the Maitland Folio Manuscript.
About the Poem
"Of Ane Blak-Moir" is made up of five short and simple parts, called stanzas. The poem has a humorous tone, but some of its jokes might seem a bit rude or impolite by today's standards.
What is the Poem About?
In the first two stanzas, the poet describes the woman's skin color and features. He uses words that were common in his time but are not polite today. He talks about her lips and nose in a way that makes fun of her appearance.
The poem continues by describing the woman when she is dressed in fancy clothes. It says she shines brightly, almost like a barrel of tar. It also mentions that when she was born, the sun seemed to have an eclipse. This is a way of saying she was very unusual or different. The poem then talks about a knight who wants to fight for her.
The fourth stanza explains that "My ladye with the mekle lippis" (which means "My lady with the big lips") is getting attention from other knights. The poem says that the knight who fights the bravest and strongest for her in the tournament will win her love.
The last stanza talks about what happens to knights who do not do well in the tournament. It says that if a knight is shamed in the field and loses his knightly honor, he will have to do something embarrassing instead of winning the lady's affection.
Why is This Poem Important?
This poem is important because it gives us a rare glimpse into the past. It shows that people of African origin were present in Scotland even in the 15th century. It also helps us understand how people thought and wrote about others during that time. While some of the language in the poem might be uncomfortable for us today, it teaches us about history and how ideas about race and beauty have changed a lot over hundreds of years.
