minstrel: A Hymn in Mourning

[Fred (Flieg) Hollander]

Hello all --
   The following is a hymn which I wrote which recently got finished.
It has original music which I will be glad to share with anyone who emails
me and tells me whether they would prefer .mid  .wav  or .nwc (I will 
also FAX sheet music if you wish.) It was debuted at GWW-III. I share
it with you all as we approach the dark of the year. (The _ marks indicate
extension of a syllable over two notes in the tune.)


     A Hymn 
           – Frederick of Holland (1999)

CHORUS:
Hold fast to kin, cleave to your friends,
All on that day when dark descends. 
They'll bring you light when you have none
And lead you back into the sun

In Springtime the _days are merry and bright 
Yet Death will call _clouds that rob you of light 
In the bright days of Spring Death will bring a friend low
And away from the light into darkness you'll go

CHO:

In Summer the _days are hot and they're long 
The warm nights are _brief and filled with our song.
On a hot Summer's day, Death will take a young bride 
And you'll stand, with eyes staring, and in darkness bide.

CHO:

In Autumn the _days are shorter and chill
The night-time lasts longer in woods and on hill.
Yet more dark and more cold than long nights in the Fall
Is the darkness Death brings you, when he comes to call.

CHO:

In Winter though _cold and darkness do reign 
We know that the Springtime will come round again 
Death will take that bright blessing from leader or peer 
And will wrap you in darkness that counts not the year.

CHO:

Death counts not the season, nor cares that you care
But kinfolk and friends will hold you from despair
They will gather around you in your darkest night
And will comfort and guide you again to the light

Hold fast to kin, cleave to your friends,
All on that day when dark descends. 
They'll bring you light when you have none
And lead you back into the sun.

  =======================
As always, "this is copyright 1999 by Frederick J. Hollander".
Sing it at bardic circles or to yourself and that's fine. If you
want to try to make money off it, we have to have a talk about sharing.
  ======================

   *   *   *    Frederick of Holland, MSCA, OP, OL, etc.
  *|* *|* *|*   flieg at socrates.berkeley.edu        
 |===========|   
  (((Flieg Hollander, Chemistry Dept., U.C. Berkeley)))
 ====================== Old Used Duke  =====================
 [All subjects of the Crown are equal under its protection.]


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