Never be discouraged at learning!

Never be discouraged by difficulties!

Never be discouraged, when progress is slow!

Never be discouraged, where success lags!

 

Never be discouraged by the indifference of the world,

Never be discouraged by the ignorance of the world!

Never be discouraged at the lack of comprehension of whosoever it may be!

 

Never be discouraged through the faults of others,

Never be discouraged through your own fault!

 

The Gods do not admit that good and fine efforts should be in vain.

An artist is a priest - a divine servant!

 

And I say unto the artist: Courage!

 

There is a time for our defeats,

A time for our victories!

 

On condition that there be:

A time to look -

A time to listen -

A time to love -

A time to suffer -

A time to endure -

A time to forgive -

A time to learn -

A time to understand -

A time to absorb -

A time to digest -

A time to reflect -

A time to mature -

A time to bloom -

A time to expand -

A time to create -

A time to reproduce -

A time to sow -

And then will come the time to reap!

 

What is an artist's life ?

 

A time when you are dependent on others,

A time when others are dependent on you!

 

A time when the populace despises you,

A time when you despise the populace!

 

A time when the artist knocks in vain at the gates of Art,

A time when Art shelters the artist!

 

A time when money insults the artist,

A time when the artist insults money!

 

A time when the work of an artist is obtainable for a few cents,

A time when untold millions could not purchase that same work!

 

A time when, through the fault of the nation, artists perish,

A time when, through the lack of artists, the nation perishes!

 

A time when your native town makes your reputation,

A time when you make the reputation of your town!

 

A time when, being envied by too many, you suffer,

A time when, being envied by too few, you suffer!

 

A time when you are a unit,

A time when you are multiple!

 

A time when you will specialize,

A time when you will universalize!

 

A time when you will be the prisoner of your tradition,

A time when you will escape from your tradition!

 

There is:

 

A time when your reputation makes your talent,

A time when your talent makes your reputation!

 

A time when your renown is greater than your genius,

A time when your genius is greater than your renown!

 

A time when your efforts are so low that the crowd can reach them,

A time when your efforts are so high that they surpass the crowd

 

A time when nothing counts except what you do,

A time when what you do counts for nothing!

 

A time when you fancy you are weary of effort,

A time which calls out to you: Still greater efforts in your effort!

A time when it seems you have nothing more to say,

A time which cries out to you: Fool, does life ever stop?

 

A Time for meditation,

A time which cries out to you: WORK!!

 

 A time which disgusts you with the present, which cries out to you:

And what of the past!

 

A time which says to you: Ah, we know of what has gone by, which cries out to you:

What of the future?

 

 

Preface to  "How to Sing a Song" by Madame Yvette Guilbert.

From scanned copy at  www.traditionalmusic.co.uk

 

Reformatted and with some word changes by Charles Crandall

This song is very special to me, as you can see by the fact that it is the source of the quote that I use on my page.  I think that every child should hear it, but because it speaks out against the accepted norms of this society I would never be allowed to share it in a classroom.  So I share it with you for songs have power and are the weapons of the bard.  May this song strengthen and protect children from those that would try to kill their souls and break their spirts to make them "fit in".

Who am I? I am a simple free bard, singer and storyteller. A filker and spell crafter. I practice an eclectic mix of northern European pagan traditions; Wiccan, Druidic, Norse, Shamanic following no authority save my own inner calling.  I believe that is was the way of the wandering bards, who traveled through all of the lands of northen europe, learning new songs and lore. In the Mudane world I am a preschool teacher, for teaching was every the work of the bard.