Bardic Contest Five
Nov 2005 to May 2006

Contest judge is mikerdna@hotmail.com Rules at bottom of page

Contestants & Salvo # Chart

Mike #1, 2, 3, 4
Hedgewizard #1, 2
Skye #1, 4
Sami #2,
Hazel #2
Tony #3
Sarah #3
Brian #4
Peter #4

The following entries are representative of the submitter's views.
They do not represent those of the web-master, the RDNA or anyone else, not even the composer, perhaps.

Bardic Salvo #4, February 14th

Stuck in the Middle with You

By Mike the Fool, DC Grove
For the Public Domain, Feb 2006
Original Song "Stuck in the Middle With You" by the group Stealers Wheel, c. 1973 (when it was #10 in U.S. & U.K.), appearing occasionally in movies. For history of the song, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuck_in_the_Middle_With_You

Click or Plug the following address into a new window to sing along
http://www.sequinsbyeileen.com/midi/stuckinthemiddle.mid

Dedicated to everyone who's been brave enough to try out a different religious group, such as the RDNA, to broaden their horizons. The MUSIC IS JUST ROCKING! By the way, I was inspired by the Druidic way of threes, and the Buddhist concept of the middle path of sensible moderation. The singer is often misattributed to Bob Dylan due to similar voices.

(18 seconds of introductory music)

Well I don't know why I came to this rite,
I got the feeling that church rules were too tight,
I'm so scared in case they find out my plan,
Cause if it's not their way then it's banned.
Fluffs to the left of me,
Fanatics to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you.

Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
And I'm wondering how I'll find what is most true
And I heard you complement faiths but not replace;
Looking anew, yeah, adding Nature to my base.
Fluffs to the left of me, fanatics to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

Well you learned much from Nature,
And you're proud that you're a green-thinkin' man, (music riffs)
And your folks, they all come grumblin',
Stuff you back in the box and say,
Please (don't think....) Please (don't think....)

(1 bar Little interlude)

Trying to make some sense of it all,
And I can hear the voice of Nature's call.
Is it wise to go to think 'mong the trees?
'Cause they tell you to take the center way of threes
Fluffs to the left of me, fanatics to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

(23 second interlude)

(6 second interlude)

Well I don't know why I came to this rite,
I got the feeling that church rules were too tight,
I'm so scared in case they find out my plan,
Cause if it's not their way then it's banned.
Fluffs to the left of me, fanatics to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
Stuck in the middle with you.

Druid Thing

Many ways a song to sing
How to do this Druid thing?

Listen to the ancient trees,
The ancient song and rhyme
Druids then are Druids now
It's just a different time
Men and women loving Nature,
Counting years in rings
Love will circle back around
It's just our Druid thing

Create a greener future
Believe in what has been
Druids, trees, Goddess Nature
All of life our kin

Under a Pile of Snow

I know that you are under the snow
Waiting for the spring, when you'll grow
Your turn at life seems blocked and slow
But your time will indeed come though

RAIN

By Skye, Jan 2006

Rain beats down each drop a drummer.
The rhythm matching the beat of hearts.
Stirring souls and primordial instincts.
And in this experience each soul and heart joins with all others.
From the time of the earth mother's beginning,
the rain joins each generation,
each individual,
each heartbeat,
in Her rhythmic dance.
All are one.

Bardic Salvo #3, January 10th

A Rainy Embrace

Along in the garden,
A soft gentle rain calls us out,
To dance among the flowers,
Hand in hand.
A determined gaze and a subtle nod,
Sets our world in motion,
The taste of raindrops on your lips,
Warm hands upon cool skin,
Inflame the passions,
Setting desires free.
Where comes the thunderclap,
If not from the beating of your heart?
Where comes the lightning,
If not from the flash of desire in your eyes?
Caught together in the storm,
Closer than the next breath we take.

Night Musings

By Sarah Hart

Walking through the woods at night
Looking up at the stars so bright
I wonder if they can look back
Peering through the sheet so black
And am I as wondrous and odd?
Each thinking the other a god?

Now Just Rolling Stones

By Mike the Fool, DC Grove
Dec 2005, For the Public Domain
Originally "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan in 1963, found on albums
Click or copy and plug address directly into a new browser window for music:
http://www.sternton.com/midi/m1/BobDylan_LikeARollingStone.mid
It's a bit tricky to sing, just howl away following the harmonica, no one will know the difference if you miss the beat!
Hear 20 second snippets of various versions of the original at
http://bobdylan.com/songs/rolling.html
By the way the background on this song is the question of who built Stonehenge, who got forced to do the back-breaking labor for what purpose. This is my idea.

[15 seconds music]

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the slaves a rind to be kind, didn't you?
The bards sing, say, "Beware king, give rope not string"
You thought they were all --kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Growing rumors of rebel scouts
Now you don't -- talk so loud
Now you don't -- seem so proud
About having to be hauling around big rocks.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a throne
Like a complete unknown
Now just rolling stones?

You've gone to the hardest wars all right, Vengitrix
But you know you only used to watch others fight hard
Nobody has ever taught you how to eke out a hard living
And now you are gonna have to work, --- you tub o'lard
You said you'd never compromise
on building great temples, but now you realize
Those rocks are sure oversized
As you strain with your arms and thighs
And think do they have to come from Wales!?

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a throne
Like a complete unknown
Now just rolling stones?

(Music gets a bit quirky)

You never turned around to see the tears of the peasants and their fears
When they gave heavy taxes to you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't bleed other people to get wine and furs for you
You used to ride on the roan horse with your sycophant
And now you work like an elephant
Ain't it hard when you know you cant
Eat any meat, just bitter plants
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a throne
Like a complete unknown
Now just rolling stones?

The Priests on holy ground and got you now digging dirt mounds
They're all drinkin', thinkin' to add more stones & layers
Exchanging their precious lore
But you better learn your assigned role, build shrines for their prayers
You used to be so amused
At the stargazers dreams and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
You're closer to the earth now without your shoes
You're expendable now, to the abuse you've got no appeal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a throne
Like a complete unknown
Now just rolling stones?

Bardic Salvo #2, December 12th

Lost and Found

By Sami Catnsam@aol.com
Dec 2005

For as long as she could remember,
Longer than her years,
She was in discomfort by the end of October.
Her family, her world, deemed her crazy,
that's what they all said.
Depression setting in,
as the length of the nights grew longer.
Always alone, ever lonely.
Feeling as if some thing,
some one, had left her,
Searching in vain in the ever lengthening darkness.
Holidays meant nothing to her,
at least not the ones her family knew.
Hers were of a different sort,
Although never formally introduced.
The longest night brought relief,
From the fear and the loneliness.
The feeling of abandonment lessens,
She is on the right path,
A path that was chosen before she began.
She celebrates the Sons return.
Soon the warmth, the flowers, will too.
Years go by, the cycles repeat,
Suffering and celebrating alone.
Until one day, heart rejoicing,
She is welcomed, she is understood.
She is Bard, she is Ovate, she is Druid, she.........

IS LOVED

We Belong to Her

By Mike the Fool, DC Grove
Dec 2005, For the Public Domain
Originally "She Belongs to Me" by Bob Dylan in 1963, found on albums
"Bringing it all back home" "Self Portrait", "More Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits",
"Bootleg Volume 4", "No Direction Home" 2005.
Click or copy and plug address directly into a new browser window for music:
http://bobdylan.com/audio/covers/shebelongs_gd.ram Mind you, it's the cover version by the Grateful Dead in 1978, so it's alot more mellow than the original snappy Dylan version.

She gives all the things we need
She's a goddess, not good nor bad
She gives all the things we need
She's a goddess, not good nor bad
Nature must be dealt with by all religions
Not just a recent fad.

One will start out gawking
Floored by the beauty of her trees
One will start out gawking
Floored by the beauty of her trees
But you will wind up hearing whispers
Down upon the breeze

She dances through seasons
Winter spring summer and fall
She dances through seasons
Winter spring summer and fall
She's the same yet changing
Our laws can't stop her at all

Her words have a timeless ring
You know them before she speaks
Her words have a timeless ring
You know them before she speaks
Her pathways are myriad
Your fate is quite unique

Bow down to her on the Sun's Days
Salute her when the season shifts
Bow down to her on the Sun's Days
Salute her when the season shifts
For Halloween recall the dead
and for Beltane cherish her gifts

Hazel's Haiku #1

By Hazel
Dec 2005

A leaf in forest
Dry and crumpling under foot
Is home to the ants

First Spring Poem

The green Goddess stirs in the folds of our earth

In the Alban Eiler that is ours I claim the greening of the land in my veins
As greenfire overtakes the grasses and plantings
I will keep alive the old ways of Druid and Wiccan

Look to the unfolding bloom and breaking earth
Surely new times and growth shall come
And all kindred bless the awakening life.

Bardic Salvo #1, December 5th

Holding Out for Druid (I Need a Druid)

By Mike the Fool, DC Grove
Dec 2005, For the Public Domain
Originally "Holding Out For a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, early 80s. Written by Jim Steinman.
Click or copy and plug address directly into a new browser window for music:
http://www.garyrog.50megs.com/midi/holdingoutforahero.mid

(30 Second opening music)

Where have all the wise ones gone and where are all the gods?
Where's the great green nature mage to fight these pious squads?
Isn't there a kind sage beyond these narrow creeds?
Late at night I walk these forests and I dream of what I need

I need a Druid
I'm waiting out for a Druid till the end of our night
She's gotta be trained and she's gotta be deft
and gotta save us from our plight
I need a Druid
I'm waiting out for a Druid till the end of our strife
She's gotta be calm and she's gotta be wise
and she's gotta be in sync with life
In sync with life

(15 second music)

Somewhere after midnight
Cloaked in ancient mysteries
Somewhere just beyond the trails
There's something calling out to me
Glowing in the dark woods and whisp'ring in the leaves
I'm gonna take a long hard trip to learn what she believes

(25 seconds music)

Out on the mountains beneath the heavens above
Out where the shoreline strokes the sea
I can swear that there's something somehow teaching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain
and the storm and the flood
I can feel her approach in the pulse of my blood.

(10 seconds music)

I am that Druid
I'm finding out that the Druid was here all of these years
I'm gonna be trained and I'm gonna be deft
and gonna rise over my fears.
I am that Druid
I'm finding out that that pathway was mine to blaze
I'm gonna be kind and I'm gonna be wise
and I'm gonna emerge from of the maze
emerge from the maze

(Trail off 25 seconds)

A Winter's Tale

By Hedgewizard charlie7@enter.net
Dec 2005, For the Public Domain

As whitest snow covers the earth
Great oaks stand in silent watch
The stars above seem to speak the names
Of spirits alive on other planes.

I turn the pages of old and new,
Books; I've found to be somewhat true
And again the pines by my window play
Soft tunes for a snow filled winter's day.

Thoughts will spin and time will still
The moving, pounding winter's chill.
A book, some wine, some thoughts of friends
In the night can be all that mends.

The lives we live while sound asleep
Crawl into our dreams and then they keep
Us wondering if this is reality at all
Or only the dream of a Neanderthal

Other bodies, souls as ours tonight
Live out their lives in sweet respite
We never meet but glimpse their mime
In ancient and future past tense time.

And so I am many people still
Living in house, and, barn, and mill.
I could be someone you've met in the dawn
A warrior prince or Queen's Knight's Pawn

The chess board is so large it covers five Earths
And never keeps track of the deaths or the births
For what we call living is at last illusion
Filled with our own near cosmic confusion.

Silent Sentinel on the Hill

By Skye Viajante, Sunset Protogrove
Dec 2005, For the Public Domain

Through time-
a silent purveyor- historian and protector of the land
witness to all that traverse this landscape- for centuries and more
from king to pauper- warrior to child- from red fox to crawling centipede

storms and windswept clouds pass- through the years-season after season
the rain beats well earned chisels- channels and pockmarks on your regal stoic face
the wind and the earth have carved your silhouette

still standing strong and stoic
unnoticed by some - worshipped by others
all creatures are viewed by you - none are judged - ALL are remembered
the sun and moon cast rays of light upon you - each in turn
and you bask in their glory having learned their mysteries
silent sentinel on the hill - watching all that goes before
how much history is in your recollect?

pressing a hand to you - offers so much
a chance to feel the rhythm of the mother
to feel so much history gone by
an opportunity to learn from you - if the heard and mind can be stilled

for only silence of spirit will allow entry into your rhythm of communication
I will sit - and wait - and hope
letting the knowledge in - as you choose to share it
I will sit and watch the world go by
and learn from you -

Rules of the Contest

Just because the Time of Sleep is approaching after Halloween, means that your creative urges have to go dormant! Last year's 4th Annual contest was a rocking success, and we hope for more this year

The RDNA will have our 5th Annual Wintry Bardic Contest from Nov 1st to May 1st, on this conference. Anytime during that period, submit to me your poems, songs, SHORT epic sagas, free-verse, or SHORT stories to me at mikerdna@hotmail.com I will host them this year as the judge [That way, I'll have a better chance of winning, no?]

Rules:
0. The words have to be your own, but you may parody or "filk" an existing
work, as long as you credit the original author.
1. Topic is something you feel is "Druidic"
2. Anyone can enter who would like to follow the rules.
3. Length can be anything from 10 words to 3 pages.
4. Poems, songs and very-short-stories are acceptable.
5. Try to be reasonably decent in contents.
6. Limit 40 entries per person.
7. Collaborations of multiple individuals is acceptable.
8. Entries from previous contests will not be accepted.
9. All contents should be clearly labeled copyright or public domain. General date of composition is requested.
10. All entries may be republished in a future edition of ARDA.
11. There is no compensation.
12. A handful of entries will be released piecemeal every 2 or 3 weeks on this web-page and will be announced on RDNAtalk and by a general mailing. An entry might be delayed in release to pair it with a similar themed entry at a later date.
13. Winner will be announced around May 1st, 2006 and will bear the honor of "Bard of the Reform" from May 2005 to May 2007.
14. A complicated mixture of voting rules will abe used. Previous Bards of the Reform get 5 votes each round, Mike gets 7 as a judge, everyone else gets 3 votes per round on RDNAtalk conference. Unused votes are lost after each round and do not "rollover". Votes may be split across multiple entries. Each round will winnow out the number of entries. It will take about 5 or 6 rounds (about 2 weeks) to conclude.

To see previous bardic contest entries go to:

http://www.oocities.org/mikerdna/bard.html 2001-2002 Winter
http://www.oocities.org/mikerdna/bard2.html 2002-2003 Winter
http://www.oocities.org/mikerdna/bard4.html