Fantastic Worlds of Myth, Magic, and Wonder
On the Imagination Frontier
On the Imagination Frontier
The Tale of the Lamp
Bravely he held the lamp
Carried it high above the night
Brightly it shone around the camp
Scenes it sought to surround the sight
Its flame flickered
daring the pending, morning light
Tales he told to listening ear
Legends he spoke to chase the light
Ballads sang, each to hear
The mem'ry! The height of his might
Lamp and oracle
daring the pending, morning light
Golden streaks of light
Come streaming over the hill
Showing the sun's strength and might
Proving the oracle's power and will
Light and story
daring the pending, morning light
Traveling midst the winds
Seeing the tales as they shape
The mighty yarn that he begins
Conquering oracle, cloaked with cape
Riding bravely on
daring the pending, morning light
People came from far and near
As evening fell upon their eyes
Each they came, a saga to hear
Bravely told as twilight dies
The mghty tale
daring the pending, morning light
Stories told, mouth to ear
The strength, power and might
The tales they came to hear
And they passed on the sight
Lamp and bard
that dared the pending, morning light
A brief commentary on this piece: I wrote this piece sometime around 1983 on a whiteboard or chalkboard in the Youth Center of the church I went to. I still remember the images -- "Traveling midst the winds" -- I still remember that particular image. The character was / is facing the right, his cloak fanning out behind him. There were / are clouds in the image. The character seemed / seems to just "move" with the wind. The inspiration? I don't know. Why I wrote it down -- I don't know.
But I wrote it down. And I'm glad I did.
