Bardic Arts

Have I Known Too Much of Sorrow?
by
Gerhardt von Nordflammen

Have I known too much of sorrow?
And are my eyes made blind to light?
I’ve no hope left for tomorrow.
For all my dreams have died tonight.
Were there some spark, I wouldn’t know.
My eyes and heart see all as gray.
From no place fled, nowhere to go,
I’ve nothing left to light my way.

If I had a wish, but I’ve none
I’ve had them all and held them dear.
T’was by wishes I was undone
T’was chasing phantoms brought me here.
Some called I folly, some reason,
Some chance, and others destiny.
For each was fair, and each was treason
To inmost heart’s reality.

Dreams are the stuff fools are made of!
And hope the lameness, not the staff.
Wishes, dross for which we trade love,
And all these poisons did I quaff.
A thousand drear and dead delusions
Murdered the truth for which I sought.
Now I’ve nothing save illusions ...
Where lies the truth ... I have forgot.

Oh Love, have pity, for love’s sake.
Don’t leave me here among the dead.
Whose nightmare souls forever ache
And make the horrors they most dread.
Make me your slave and set me free.
Have mercy, show me how to serve.
Pray give me light that I might see.
Though light is what I least deserve.

Guiraut’s made his bed, let him lie,
And rot and suffer and be damned.
He got true death when life was shammed.
He asks Love’s aid ... he knows not why.

In the Vers style -- "Someone may be able to come up with a better definition, but as far as I can see, a Vers is simply a song that doesn’t really fit any other category." -- GvN
Guiraut is Gerhardt's "alter-ego", this is from a series of poems Gerhardt published in his second folio.
© 1984, Lawrence Hyink III

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