Tuesday, 18 August 2009
The Wizard's Apprentice
Bitesize back up and running tomorrow I hope. I have more hours this week than last week but they are spread out in a way that should still allow me to keep the project going. :)
For now, here's a poem I writ. :P
The Wizard's Apprentice
The wizard turned to his apprentice
Said, to learn you must observe
Every careful measured motion
Listen well to every word
Because when you're making magic
The most important thing of all
Is not the act of conjuration
But the power to enthrall
The apprentice practiced often
And he always tried his best
But he could never match his master
In terms of power or finesse
So he locked himself away
In solitary meditation
Determined to surpass and
Not just be an imitation
And as the years drifted by
He came to the realisation
That he'd never match his mentor's
Many magnificent creations
And though he practiced for a decade
One day he reached the understanding
That even to come close would be
Fatally demanding
But that didn't stop him trying
With every single breath
To be the greatest wizard
Even if it meant his death
But this story's just a metaphor
A well-penned ink illusion
It's still a work in progress
Many years from its conclusion
And locked in eldritch combat
Our two linguistic mages
Have never even met each other
Outside of these pages
That great wizard's name is Martin
Head and shoulders 'bove the rest
And the apprentice is called Charon
As I'm sure you could have guessed
So I'm inviting you along
As silent witness to my quest
To one day match my hero
And be declared England's best!
© Charon 2009
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nice poem, very autobiographic. But who the f... is that Martin guy? I doubt it is that Martin Bryant dude you mentioned on your myspace site. I suppose it is a famous (or not so famous) english poet you admire and idolize.
ReplyDelete*opens Wikipedia to investigate this matter* :)
C.
Hah, not Martin Bryant no. :P Martin Bryant is an Australian, in jail for a crime he couldn't possibly have committed after being bullied into making a false confession. Very complicated stuff. Look into it, it's fascinating. It was a multiple shooting of several military 'top brass'. Really suspicious that the shooter (who killed them trained style, double tap, one in head one in chest) was thought to be mentally impaired Martin Bryant who can't aim for shit, much less with that precision (multiple dead targets in a crowded restaurant, no missed shots).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the Martin in question is Martin Walkyier. He is England's finest poet, just a pity no one realises it except me (and probably him).
He began his career by writing for and singing for thrash metal band Sabbat. From then he turned folk metal (practically inventing the genre) with the band Skyclad (a band which went on to inspire modern folk metal bands such as Italy's Elvenking). Skyclad were notable for many reasons. Firstly, their style of folk metal, coupling metal guitars and riffs with electric violin and political lyrics. Then there was Martin's notable lisp and intrinsically magical lyrical stylings. A master of double entendre, wordplay, alliteration and rhyme. (more on that in a sec). Skyclad also never sold out. It was never about the money, a fact evidenced when they launched their website which openly condoned the sharing of Skyclad images, lyrics and mp3s! In their own words "That's what the internet is for!"
After that he had a brief stint in the band The Clan Destined. (Clandestined, get it?)
Sadly, he is known to have a little bit of a temperament, which we assume is why he eventually left Skyclad, and didn't last long in the Clan either.
As for his talents. Well, you only have to look at some of Skyclad's album names to see his mastery at work. From the clever double meaning of "Silent Whales of Lunar Sea" (silent wails of lunacy) to the brilliantly imaginative "Oui, Avant-Garde A Chance" (We haven't got a chance). Their song titles too follow this catchy wordplay with some of my favourite examples being:
Think back and lie of England.
Great blow for a day job.
Single Phial.
Any old irony?
The silver cloud's dark lining.
Deja vu ain't what it used to be.
History Lessens.
Little Miss Take.
The Great Brain Robbery.
Thinking Allowed?
Vintage Whine.
Clever stuff. But it's not until you look into his masterful lyrics themselves that you see what a genius Martin truly is. I can provide detailed analysis of some of my favourites as blog entries if you wish but for now, just look over this song called Something to Cling to. I know English isn't your first language but I'm sure you'll spot plenty. Pay attention to the constant extended ocean-faring metaphor and the rhymes not only at the ends of lines but in the middles too! Also watch for runs of alliteration. He's awesome at that.
Song follows in next message due to character limit for comments.
Here you go.
ReplyDeleteSometimes life feels like an ocean,
cruel and far too cold to mention.
Though you raise a great commotion - still no-one pays you attention
There's no sail on the horizon,
when the shark-fins gather near,
you watch your chances of surviving scuppered -
(sink, then disappear),
CHORUS
All I need, all you need, all we need, is something to cling to.
(Watch your chances disappear when the shark-fins gather near),
All I need, all you need, all we need, is something to cling to.
As your 'fair-weather-friends' stand waving,
from the comfort of their yacht,
(it's strange how when you needed saving
they conveniently forgot).
The countless times you've stopped them sinking,
fought to keep their lives afloat,
and hauled them upwards, (without thinking).
to the safety of your boat.
CHORUS
AIl I need, all you need, all we need, is something to cling to
(Fight to keep your life afloat - far from the safety of your boat)
All I need, all you need, all we need, is something to cling to
So tired and numb - your limbs now weaken
and you slowly start to wonder;
Should I not admit I`m beaten,
let these waters drag me under?
Feel a peace and calm descending,
ceasing fears, and cares, and crying.
Knowing that your life is ending,
reconcile yourself to dying.
Then as if from out of nowhere.
(and just when you least expected).
floats a single piece of driftwood - by some unseen force directed
It's a gift life often brings you.
when you thought all hope long gone.
sometimes a single dream to cling to.
gives you strength to carry on.
It seems the wisest words that I know,
(three which some dead scholar wrote)
are simply these: - "Dum spiro spero"
meaning; "WHILE I BREATHE I HOPE".
CHORUS
All I need. all you need, all we need, is something to cling to,
(The wisest words man ever wrote are simply "While I breathe I hope").
All I need, all you need, all we need, is something to cling to.
(If you want the mp3, let me know. :) It's even better when you hear it.)
Ok I couldn't resist. Here's another piece of Martin genius, a song I've been listening to loads recently.
ReplyDeleteNo Strings Attached.
Now the final curtain's fallen,
for no show goes on forever,
if the world's a stage - mine's empty.
whilst upon it you'll tread never.
As the instruments lie silent in their coffins made of wood,
i rest assured they'd say these words - If say these words they could;
Whatever happened to the songs - the music that we made,
and the joy we shared together as on me your fingers played?
Are those symphonies forgotten - with our cases closed and latched'?
Dreams now dusty, old and rotten - empty shells (no strings attached).
Amidst the dying candle-light,
I sit forlorn, alone,
a space once filled with laughter bright,
the place my heart called home
Now the puppets are my company - but wood and straw can't speak;
though if by chance they came to life I'm certain they would weep;"
"What am I without your tender touch -
the hands to hold and guide me,
what purpose has a puppet with no puppeteer beside me?
I do not care I have no hair - my painted face is scratched.
but fear my wooden heart will shatter with no strings attached.
[CHORUS:]
No mourners assemble in this white-elephant's graveyard,
a dearth of bloom upon my tomb - an absence of forget-me-nots.
For Romeo I understudied - this sepulchre dark and bloodied,
It's my final resting place - amongst these "cloak-and-dagger' props.
Your kiss turns princes into frogs - and passion-plays to monologues.
Now last and least- the minstrel-takes his bow upon the stage,
he's played a fool and played the prince - (but never acts his age).
And If for once not lost for words- l wonder what he d say,
to win fair maiden, slay the dragon, keep dread foe at bay?
"Though I am not a wealthy man - my heart is pure and true,
and the only riches that I have - the love I feel for you.
Now my life is robbed of meaning
Like a purse of hope that's snatched.
Must I spend my whole time dreaming -
living life no strings attached?"
[CHORUS:]
No mourners assemble in this white-elephant's graveyard,
a dearth of bloom upon my tomb - an absence of forget-me-nots.
For Romeo I understudied - this sepulchre dark and bloodied,
It's my final resting place - amongst these "cloak-and-dagger' props.
Your kiss turns princes into frogs - and passion-plays to monologues.
Wonderful poems! Really heartmoving. That guy knows what he is writing about. Well i will definetly look into more of his works - even his music though i am definetly no metalhead. But i give it a try. To honor this guys work.
ReplyDeleteSomething to cling to is my favourite so fa Almost autobiographic i must say - except for the piece of driftwood ;P
C.
P.S: Feel free to post more about his work. I am interested :) Maybe your other readers too? *looks around at the invisible audience*
Oh about the mp3... You can send me a PM on the Eccaira forum. I'll give you my email add then so ya can send me stuff :)
ReplyDeleteC.
I enjoyed this vid greatly:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-rG7Yhw_KQ&feature=related
It shows a live Skyclad gig somewhere in a small german town, and the singer (Is it Martin?) introduces their song in a funny way. He said: "The germans are wirklich nett. Maybe it is because they have great beer" :D *lol*
By the way i know the band skyclad from my former Pen & Paper buddies. One of them was really into folk metal. (He played a militand priest warrior that went really well with his RL personality *Snickers*) And Skyclad was one of his favourite bands, side by side with Moonspell, Iced Earth and ... *ponders* whatnot. I hardly remember any more bands since i am no metalhead but they were much into Dark Metal, speedy metal and scandinavian bands and such. They were younger than me :D
C.
Martin's german is amazingly well. O.O
ReplyDeletec.
Yeah that's Martin in the vid. :) Skyclad are really something else. I like to think of them as "The Greatest Band You Never Heard Of." :P
ReplyDeleteOne day next week, or more likely, the week after, I'll take one of his songs and give you a detailed analysis of his style.
Oh and send me an email at Charon333@hotmail.com Ches because I'm gonna do Bitesize now and I know with it being so late that I'll forget to message you on Eccaira (or forget to pick up the reply).
k
ReplyDeletec.