minstrel: RE: Fools circle, et al....

[Mike Baker]

Mikal, your words show the depth of your feeling.

Kind gentles, I would beg you to note that we who indulge in "filk" only 
continue a tradition as old as the troubadours (and probably well 
established even prior to those worthy poets and songwriters).  Most of us 
also work in "more serious" styles, at least upon occasion.  I would hope 
that my own works, and commentaries, offered here speak to the better that 
can be blended by following such a path.

There is indeed a time to be serious & contemplative, there is a time also 
to be light of heart and quick of tongue.  Mikal sought to avoid offense and 
inadvertently appears to have offended. Leave it with his apology, please

Now: Mikal, I'll be having a wee bit o' exception to somewhat that ye've 
said:

> True, we should be serious about our art, but not all the time.

Not that part: 'tis as true as the fact ye were born of woman, man.

> True, we should be striving for perfection, but when a skill becomes
> second nature, it is also beneficial to enjoy it as well.  Being a bard is
> both an avocation and a recreation.  Sometimes when we "play" as bards,
> our work is not as beautiful as it could be.

Then this bit o' wisdom slips from ye as well?  Not all that we essay to 
achieve as bards can or should be beautiful!  There is a time that we must 
tell the truth of a thing, and tell it harshly.  If anyone would be a true 
bard, they must also be in some part a teacher & historian.  And history is 
not always a beautiful subject to be teaching...

I would say that ye've definitely got the best of part of it otherwise, 
though.  "Playing" with new forms, material, themes can often lead to some 
rough work.  Is it not part of what brings us here to work past the 
roughness and polish up the gems that are hid inside?

"Stretching to answer a challenge" is a very fine tool o' learning, my 
friends.  Sometimes, and often when and where it can do the most harm, our 
stretching exercises rebound to our embarassment & regret.  Why is this not 
the better place to work through the hard and difficult parts, among a 
gathering of bards &c. who either have or will face the same challenges?

Mikal, may the winds give voice to your words & the birds tongue to your 
songs.

Kihe Blackeagle (the Dreamsinger Bard)  s.k.a. Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri 
al-Amra
     currently residing in Barony of the Steppes, Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mike C. Baker                      mbaker at rapp.com
Any opinions expressed are obviously my own unless explicitly stated 
otherwise! 
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