Orpheus Sings

Stanza 1: In the age before King Arthur and before the Table Round - When Druid power still was strong Their sway unchallenged, right or wrong - Blood sacrifices spilt their entrails on the stony ground. But Merlin rose to fight their power In myrtle grove and oaken bower And there amidst the standing stones, Merlin his battle found.

Stanza 1: On the day I fell to pieces, tidal waves had swamped my mind Tsunamis of charged emotion – fueled by betraying mankind: Yea - by all my kith and kindred, by the friends I once held dear, And by those who had professed deep love: the closest, and most near.

Stanza 1: Grasp the sword and kick the steed Ride! Ride on! Away – make speed! The traitors come to take the land We are betrayed! We make our stand.

Stanza 1: Why lay aside the circling gold that once as king I wore? I wore it proudly once when I rode down to battle's shore. My men and I would kill the Sea-Wolves come across the sea For we would fight or we would die. And none of us would flee. So armed we: fought for kith and home. My warriors and me.

Introduction: I lie here midst these ruined walls Which moulder silently me round about. The mosses cling. Small plants from nooks peep out To spring up skywards, sending down their roots To claw and crack away the facing stones.

Canto 1 (Introduction): As the winters come at the end of the year And when spring arrives to bring all good cheer There is plowing, and sowing. When summer's sun Bestows warmth and heat upon everyone On the sweaty peons at work in the field. Until autumn seres, and the crops may yield Golden husks of corn. Fruits and heads of kine. Kegs are filled with ale. Broached the cask of wine. As the winter comes, and the cycle ends. But in Camelot – where does all this tend?

Stanza 1: I woke and I sat 'pon the whitened sands Near the azure seas of immortal lands And I rose and turned round to gaze at the sky While I laughed and ran and I wondered why I had come to this place where there was no death To still my breath.

Stanza 1: I saw. And in my vision walked upon a land all desolate As though the angry powers had condemned all breathing life to die. Except – I heard, I thought, the sound of living men ahead of me And hurried on. To come upon a beach beside a dismal sea.

Tonight I came upon a star. It fell down from the Milky Way. It landed here across my path. But how it came - I cannot say. It was a gift from Heaven's hand. He gave the star into my care. To grow it into mighty dreams. And make it fruitful year by year. For men are stars who – bound to earth Must keep earth's boundaries a time. But after this, in bodies new We men will walk star-paths sublime. I kept my star. Care for it well. To make it bloom and fruit each year. And hoping in immortal lands Eternal harvest reap I there.

Stanza 1: Roll the dice! The gods display Their rule of earth, of stones and clay, Of air and water, fires that flame, Aethers which solidness disdain. The spheres rolling to heaven's gate To eternal themes: of love and fate. Come – roll the dice! The gods display Their baleful powers here today.

Canto 1: So when to sleep – where does my spirit go? To what far distant plains - what place explores? Its ghostly steps doth tread the liquid air To walk on ground more solid than this earth. My spirit brings me back – sometimes – a gift: A dream, a vision, or a prophecy To open up the future. Or the past. Revealing things that I could never know Nor yet perceive myself: even if I'd tried For twice one thousand years by mortal strength.