As I read this I thought of one of my favorite characters and the way I’ve played him over many years. The words of a Master Bard to a student of the art can be honest and painful at the same time, no matter how heart felt the advice is.

This is the second “part” of three in the story. I hope you enjoy and remember it’s wisdom…

So You Wish to Be A Bard…
_{by: Rathflaed DuNoir
The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
mka Stephen R Melvin}

So you wish to be a Bard young one,

or perhaps not quite so young,

For you have traveled the tales you’ve told

and lived the songs you’ve sung,

You have the power to bring forth tears

with a tale of morning dew,

Or charm the smile from a lovely maid

with naught but a word or two,

Your harp calls forth the green to trees

that wake from winter’s blight,

And your voice calls men with knocking knees

to rise, go forth and fight,

You take the journeyman’s mark today

and filidh are you named,

You’ve earned the right to sing for bread

and the privilege is yours to claim,

A cup from the highest table

for the story or song you tell,

Or the right to a hold’s protection

from men who are foul or fell,

And you think, with all this “power” you hold,

that you’re ready to be on your own?

Well, I’ll tell you now that of all you’ll need,

only the least have you shown!

For it’s not the power to break a king

that will make you the greatest Bard,

Instead it’s the power to stay your tongue,

when you know the way will be hard.

And it’s not the power to write a tale

that will make a small man great,

Instead it’s the will to speak the truth

that might turn his love to hate.

And it’s not the power to call the winds

and shatter a castle gate,

It’s the power to soothe a frightened child

with your song, that will make you great.

Any fool can raise a mob

and send them forth to fight,

Can you sing the song that calls them back

to rebuild in the morning’s light?

But I grow old as all men do,

and perhaps I prattle on,

Yet remember well, what I have taught

when on the road you’ve gone,

Remember it is your place to teach,

not “play” as others do,

It is not enough to speak no lies,

you must also speak what is true. _{Copyright BlackBird Recording, all rights reserved.  Posted by Permission.  For more information please see:} www.chivalry.com/blackbard/

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