(a comparison of styles)
by Will Douglas
(to the tune of "Roy Rogers" by Elton John and Bernie Taupin)
(for Eliane)
Haul back my string
Drop a bolt in
Point me downrange and then fire
A crossbow I am and I always shall be
To nothing more do I aspire
I'm quick on the draw
It may be a flaw
But if I miss I'll fire again
I don't feel the need to knock everyone down
With the ink spewing forth from my pen
Chorus
Oh, we're two songwriters with quite different styles
A catapult and a crossbow
I write 'em fast when the muse is on me
Delib'rate I'll call you; I'll never say slow
It's the bardic tradition that we both hold dear
Of music, and stories, and friends drawing near
Call up the circle
Light up the fire
Let's both entertain and inspire
Your target is wide
There's nowhere to hide
You level a circle or feast
A catapult fired by a bold engineer
Devastating to man and to beast
You plan out your rhyme
Taking your time
Getting it exactly so
If it takes you four hours to get it down right
Then that's just the way you ought to go
Chorus
(copyright (c) 2002 by Douglas Cox)
Background: Owen, Eliane and I had all been at Skerrstrand's first event, Woodland Romp. we were convoying home and talking to each other on radios. Eliane had mentioned that it took her about four hours to write a song. Now, here songs are really good; she sang her Three Words at feast at Skerrstrand, and Tarrach, who was Prince of the Midrealm at the time, stopped and stared until she was done. Truly great song.
I tend to write fast. This was no exception; I wrote it the day after I got home. Eliane didn't get to hear it for a couple of months, but she seemed to like it.
Public debut: Uncle Dahrien's Filk Hour, at Warriors and Warlords X