Chaucer First English Poet Poem by Robert Founder

Geoffrey Chaucer invented the English language,
Though he was trained in French, Italian and Latin.
He died in fourteen hundred, at fifty five
With his great work “Canterbury Tales” unfinished.

Educated by the Church, he started life as a Page
And advanced to be Minister, in service to the King.
Fought in France, was captured and ransomed,
Traveled, knew Dante, and wrote his whole life through.

'Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour; '

When that April with her sweet showers
Has pierced the drought of March down to the root,
And stimulated all the plants with sap,
Which produce the flowers we love to see and smell.
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