THE BARD

1. With springy steps the tall man walked

    Through a land amply decked with trees

    And a scattering of Farms.

    Not as empty as it seemed, the abodes are many.

    Some in Mounds, some Underground and

    Some among the Trees.

    For 'here', the way to live is within.

2. Where the Road split, between 'here' and 'there'.

    An Inn lay nestled in the fork, surrounded by trees

    And by the Hills cupped.

3. Bend his head the tall man did to enter the door.

    For this is the land of people between five and four feet

    Of sturdy stature. A low ceiling, comfortable chairs

    And a crackling Hearth his eyes met, and a gesture

    Of welcome from an Innkeeper fair.

    "Innkeeper, do you always welcome strangers," he said.

    The Innkeeper replayed; "A stranger thee are not,

    By yours Lyre and heart, I see a Bard, and

    A Bard is always welcome in these parts.

4. But, first a meal, a rest and some Mead to refresh."

    "Ay, Ay," the other guest echoed after the mead. "Bard,

    Weave us a song of Dragons, A fair Maiden and

    A Hero strong." The Bard strung is Lyre with a Dom-De-Dom,

    Stopped and said "no," put down the Lyre beside him. Again,

    Said "no," -he paused slightly and said:

5. "Tell I will, a tale of a people

    Who forgot whence they came and who they were.

    They listened to The Dark Whisperer

    And down the Road to Nowhere they went.

6. Down the road they marched with

    Their eyes closed, and their minds full of empty dreams.

    Their bodies and souls totally owned by Power and Gold.

7. By days and nights they marched, and

    As time goes by the further away from Reality they are.

    Until the faithful Day they truly

    Believed, they are the only Ones 'there'.

8. They had become a people, who could

    Not consider that we may with others share

    The same Soil, Water and Air.

    A mistaken notion they hold;

    That, they the Earth owned."

9. The Bard then picked up the Lyre and sang:

    The small boy stood with sturdy Legs astride and

    Arms aside, he said "Hello Rock."

    The big mound said "H e l l o" Back. But,

    From the first 'H e' to the last 'o'; one million, two thousand,

    Three hundred years, four days and seven hours when by.

    "Why, the cheeky boy!" The Mound exclaimed; "What a flighty

    And impolite Species they are; never stays around

    Long enough, so a person can reply."

10. The boy, of course, did not hear.

      Because, as you all know, Rocks are notoriously slow.

11. They nodded and smiled. All understood what

      The Bard implied. They also know, that the wall

      Between 'here' and 'there' is the Speed of Life

      And the Spin of Time.

12. The Bard went on; "Once in a while

      Someone, who remembered, would be born.

      But, in the Past slain the messenger was.

      In a frenzy they burned any women, who was smart,

      Pretty or odd. Underground the Wise Ones went.

      The Ones, who followed "The Way."

      No one to teach Ancient Lore anymore.

      The Past forgotten, the "Way of Wherefore" lost.

      And, on down The Road the people go.

13. "But, Bard," One of the guest said;

      "You are here"! "Ay, but, as far as I know,

      I am the first one, in two thousand years,

      Who remembered the path from 'there' to 'here'."

14. Few were the guests when the Bard did start,

      But News by mind and by Root-Telegraph travels

      As fast as any high technology line.

      One by one they came. The near, quietly slipped in.

      The far, with almost a silent plop of displacement Air,

      Would appear.

15. Soon the Inn was filled with Men and Women

      Of many a hue. Gnomes with pointed red hat and Fairies

      Silken clad with wings fluttering nervously,

      Before settling down; three to a chair they did share.

      And, Elven Folk tall, with glowing Skin, towering like

      Like lamp posts above all.

16. Strange, the Bard though, only one or two Dwarfs

      To be seen. But, beside who was here, two-third more was

       Listening in. Such a gathering had not been seen

       In many a year.

17. An elderly Gnome with a shiny white beard

      Stood up and said; "Bard, are you saying that the Lore is

      All but forgotten over 'there'?"

18. The Bard nodded yes. The Gnome went on;

      "By the young ones 'here', the first thing learned is the Lore."

      He picked up a small Girl with red cheeks

      And bouncy curls. Placed her on the table next

      To the Bard and said; "Mer, recite the Lore."

19. She stood straight and proud with a tiny red hat

      Atop her curly head and with a clear voice recite she did:

20. The Lore of Wherefore

      Ancient they may be. Rule they do, sound and true

      All of Mother's children, Past, Present and the Future too.

       First of all; of our green brothers take care.

     They clean, refresh and replenish our Air.

     Never partake without remake. Always

     Make Sure they endure.

      Second; to keep our Soil and Water clean

     Always remember the rule; what we discard today,

     Tomorrow we eat. The unclean

     Birth only Sickness, Mutation and Death.

      Third rule in our genes we carry.

    Our minds are of the kind, which cannot endure

    A population beyond a certain bound or

    Our genes will count.

    When male and female hormones in the same

    Body fight. Over-crowding is the social trigger

    That this gene trigger. This social trigger also

    Includes; violence, murder and child abuse.

    If - we do not our numbers curve,

    The built-in reducer will swerve. Never

    Mix Recessive Gene with Recessive Gene

    Or heart-break will be seen.

     Fourth Lore govern the genes that the mind

    Can control. The Blank Genes is for us to inscribe,

    To change, to append or to modify.

    The Jumping Gene is for the Race to surge.

    Such are:

     The Four Lore of Wherefore.

    But, be vary of what the Jumping Gene may carry.

    And, the Blank Gene is best used for memory infused.

    Always remember and adhere to

     The Lore of Wherefore.

    Because, then both 'Here' and 'There' will

    Be around forever more.

21. Shyly Mer accepted the applause. But,

      By the time in her chair again she sat, a bright pink

      She had turned by all the attention earned.

22. "Yes," the Bard said; "that is the Lore

      Not being heard anymore, and thus, well all is not over 'there'.

      Acid-Rain and Ozone decline. Toxic Waste in the ground

      And High Radiation Count all around. Overall hangs the threat

      Of Global Death, by the power of Nuclear Flowers.

23. Many did try to warn. But, nobody heard,

      And Ecologist became a dirty word. When the ones

      Who believe is finally heeded.

      Pollution will be so bad; all can see repair is needed.

      By then, afraid I am, the hurt will be beyond what Men

     Or Mother can rebirth."

24. The Gnome replied: "Aware we are of trouble,

      'there,' seeped it has to 'here'. Now, many are the places

      Unfit for Folk, Weren Kin and our Brother Green.

      On some lands none have survived;

      Including all that crawls, big and small.

25. Disaster us struck before awareness keened

      And many have died. "The Gnome looked at one of the Dwarfs

      And asked, "Uffi, do you want to take over?" Uffi replied,

      "No, I cannot. Too great is the pain."

      He looked around querying as he said, "You, for us all Speak."

      They all agreed, including the Elves. One could hear

      The echoing yes from the ones listening in.

26. The Gnomes looked at the Bard and said,

      "Since I have chosen been as the one to speak.

      I am known as Garth, the elder."

27. The Bard replied as he bowed to all.

      "I am Bard, my name and profession is the same.

      He turned to Garth and said, "Please, go on."

28. Garth went on: "Uffi and his kin

      Smithens and Miners are. All things Metal and Jewels

      'here' are made by them. Labored they have In the Earth

      For untold years. Never left the unclean around

      For Home and Hearth is underground.

      Poisoned, they were by the Seeping Waste from over 'there'.

29. Slowly the poison worked, silently the killer lurked.

      Disguised as sickness plain, until too late. Two-thirds

      Have died. Of the rest, we are not sure, Genetic damage

      At best. The Future of the Race is in quest.

30. Contact we tried to make with over 'there.'

      But, with eyes Closed and ears plugged, all they

      Saw were Angels, Devils or Glowing Lights.

      Us, they could not see or hear. Expected this we should,

      Considering 'there' we are only a Myth.

31. "Oh," The Bard said: "The Flying Saucers are thee!"

      "No, no," Garth Replied as he Shook his head;

      "No need for those fangled things to go from 'here'

      To 'there'. They be the Watchers and they are back."

      "Ay, and the Gamblers too," said the tall Elven

      Named Lys while she nodded her head knowingly.

32. "Who are Watcher and what do they want?"

      Asked the Bard.

33. Garth went on: "The Watchers are not one.

      But many. From different Realms, Times, and Planets

      Are they. Some are far advanced, their world

      Never down the Road to nowhere went.

      Others past that stage and survived. Some did not.

      Few are they, the ones collecting Seed. Hoping to find

      Compatible Kind, for their kin to survive

      As a hybrid. The same knowledge they all found;

      The Nuclear Road a blind alley hold.

34. But, most just sit, watch and make notes

      As the living laboratory unfolds. While the Gamblers

      Take bets on the way of extinction. Which way will

      The Earth's population go? By Nuclear Explosion

      Or dying from Waste and Pollution. Few are the odds

      Given on the chances of living.

35. The Bard looked at Garth and said:

      "Your words strikes like Ice-Spears in my heart.

      The truth more dreadful than any fancied

      Invasion from Aliens Parts.

36. With tears in his eyes he played the Lyre

      As he sang the words:

      Wake up, wake up. My people of Earth, and see,

      No Future can be from and economy that makes more Profit

      From growing Warheads than Wheat.

      Wake up, wake up. Wake up, wake up.

37. The last wake up could barely be heard.

      Again the Bard a question asked: "Will none help?"

38. Garth sadly replied: "How can not many,

      Save a whole planet. A fleet it would take, and of what

      Importance is one small planet on The Galaxy's edge.

      Only the Watchers are 'there', to rules

      They must adhere. Non-interference is The Policy.

      Sampling of non-entities is allowed.

      But, only testing of Intelligent Beings be done."

39. "If the end can be seen and the order given

      To pick-up survivors. The only ones taken

      Would be the Humans with the type of Minds,

      Who could the shock of Reality survive?"

40. "Only the Marchers themselves can stem the tide.

      Save the Earth and all that in her abides."

41. As Garth paused; A silence fell through the Inn,

      So laud it could be heard, and a forever sadness

      Filled their hearts That never would Depart.

      Garth sighed, quenched his parched throat and went on:

42. "Yesterday, we tried to reach a Wise One 'there.'

      We must know if destruction is near. Our fate with yours

      Is tied, because 'Here' and 'there' is forever joined

      Like the two side of a coin. Know we must, when to leave,

      But, the Time is not clear without a Seer."

43. The Bard nodded and said; "that is why I am 'here.'

      A message I bring. "She was aware you were 'there'

      But, your Time and Place askew. A stir you created,

      And, apparently she knew it was you."

44. The word she sends is these:

      "Greetings to all. If she could be 'here' she would.

      Over 'there' unfinished is her task, and aside from the Road

      Many have moved. Hope awakening, but,

      Diverse are the fractions. Forming is the main Ones, and

      To a point, Powers are converging. The race is on!

      And, not yet is the outcome set?"

45. "Thank thee, for easing our hearts."

      Came the reply from Garth. "You see, if dire need Force

      Us to flee. All cannot leave; a choice each must make.

      For some, to the land is bound by soul and heart,

      Never to part. Some who can leave may choose to stay,

      Rather than go on living, apart from kin and kind,

      From those we love more than our own body and mind."

46. Garth stopped and again he sighed.

      Again the silence fell like a Darkening Spell. Then

      To the Innkeeper he said; "Hildy, another Round of Mead,

      And To Bard he turned; "Bard, the rest of the night

      We can tarry and make merry. Tomorrow plans

      We must make and a message I want you to her take.

      Tell her, contact again we will try;

      Same Time and Place, but, in a Ten Years Space."

47. In agreement the Bard nodded yes.

      Then merry they did make. News and gossips were exchanged.

      With that, plus songs and tall stories the evening went.

      For a few hours troubles were forgotten, And, their old Pleasure

      Of Life and living Bard could be given.

      A happy memory that evening hold – a Treasure ever

      Glowing in the Bard's mind and heart.