Mikes Place

By Michael L. Craner

In ancient times, the Bards were greatly respected and loved people.  They traveled about, playing beautiful music and reciting tales of adventure, heroism and notable deeds.  Sometimes, the more gifted ones were even touted to be magical!  Most likely this attribute was given by the ignorant folk who lacked any education, and mistook it for magic.  Needless to say, the respect suited the Bards, and they probably did little to dispel the myth.

The Bards were usually very well educated, the Druidic bards typically spent their first twenty-five or so years in some form of formal education, and in those days, that was nearly half their lives.  Being who they were, and growing up with such a commitment to education, they often returned to places of learning from time to time to continue their thirst for knowledge, or even just to find comfortable refuge in the winter months, making the best use of the "down time".

The Druids especially, believed in reincarnation, and knew that "you can't take it with you".  This is why there are so few records found from the Druids themselves.  They committed all their knowledge and wisdom to memory, believing the soul would remember what their minds had learned, because the words of an author would be lost, especially if they reincarnated in another plane or even world.

But what made the Bards legendary?  We have authors, poets, and singers today, many of which have been forgotten already, how are they not like their ancient predecessors?  The ancient ones spoke to peoples' souls on multiple levels.  Their musical instruments, and verse not only conveyed a message in obvious form, but also on the subconscious level.  They were true word-smiths, making use of several senses to convey their message.  Intricate verse and musical notes that reached out and grabbed a person by the soul and shouted, whispered, touched and sang, using meter, and structure, not just words.  

There are so many ways to convey a message, and most people miss them by only glancing at the surface.

For example:

Simple to write,
words to rhyme,
do delight,
not all the time.
a spark of light,
poem sublime,
make it right.

Ok, so it's a little rough, but you get the message...or did you?