by Will Douglas
He stood up straight, his eyes screwed shut and swayed from side to side
He never dreamed he'd be up there he'd thought he would have died
But he swallowed down his nervousness choked back his fears and then
He turned his face unto the crowd and sang them out again
For a new bard is singing
Oh look, come gather round
Will he perform most wonderfully
Or fall flat on the ground
Yes a new bard is singing
He hasn't fainted yet
If he completes the second verse
He'll make it through, I'll bet.
He stumbled once or twice for words but found his place again
His pitch was not quite always true voice weaker than his pen
But steadier, and steadier his song kept ringing out
Not his the whisper of a mouse nor strident clanging shout
For a new bard is singing
Oh look, come gather round
Will he perform most wonderfully
Or fall flat on the ground
Yes a new bard is singing
He hasn't fainted yet
If he can make it to the end
To sit back down, he'll get
And as his song washed over them the crowd turned thoughts inside
Remembering their own first times the terror, and the pride
The kinship of the bards was his to hold forever more
For having had the guts to take his turn out on the floor
For a new bard is singing
Oh look, come gather round
Will he perform most wonderfully
Or fall flat on the ground
Yes a new bard is singing
He hasn't fainted yet
As he awaits your kind applause
All covered here in sweat
13 January A.S. XXXVII
(copyright (c) 2003 by Douglas Cox)
Background: I went to the bardic post revel for Nordskogen's Twelfth Night, A.S. XXXVII (2003) held at Lord Colin and Lady Charissa's house. I had nothing. I joined in on all the songs that everyone sang together, but people would get up and give a solo performance of their own pieces or of others' work. I wanted to do that, but couldn't, so two days later I wrote this. It has been well received.
Debut: Bardic Buddies