BARD’S SONG

                            By Shelby Lee Chandler II

Dream of Bards

 

The dream of bards, for bards do dream,

In their travels far and long,

And these dreams are heard in stories told,

To maidens fair, and soldiers bold,

As they bind them in their songs.

 

To be a king, within his thoughts,

To rule a kingdom far and grand,

To hold his court of faithful knights,

To wield their swords in just and right,

With hearts of gold, defend his land.

 

A man of wealth, a thought to pass,

To own anything he holds in sight,

To throw gold coins wherever be,

To wear the richest robes to see,

And about him jewelry shining bright.

 

Or to be a duelist, sword in hand,

Woman swooning to his call,

The speed and flashing of his blade,

To be the thing of stories made,

With a reputation known to all.

 

But crown him not, for as a king,

Unto his people he’s a slave,

To freely travel towns and homes,

To be a king where’er he roams,

And his realm, the road he paves.

 

Or to be too rich, the hidden curse,

From wealth springs greed and sorrow,

If words and knowledge be all he owns,

Then for his voice, let coins be thrown,

And he is happy through the morrow.

 

And the swordsman’s life, the danger there,

The life you live may not be long,

Let him bring joy through tales he tells,

And let the people know him well,

Wooing maidens with a song.

 

For as a bard knows many things,

He is free to speak his rhymes,

Since like a spell, his music seizes,

He is hailed and liked by prince and thieves,

And his lyrics endure through time.

 

Know this well, for I recall,

After thinking long and hard,

From songs and stories that I have told,

To maidens fair, and soldiers bold,

I have dreamt the dream of bards.