Orpheus Sings

A madman lives alone in a graveyard as he loses his mind. Of hope - there is none. None - that is, until some miracle-man shows up...

Death visits a man lying on his death-bed. But are the two foes? Or friends?

Running an efficient operation in Hell is a ticklish business - at the best of times. So - imagine the hell to pay when Hell itself is invaded. From without.

Lost in the suburban maze, a young man asks a passerby for directions. After all, passers-by are human beings too, ready to assist one another as the need arises. Right? Right. Well, except if passers-by aren’t always what they seem…

Merlin confronts the druid power: speaking out against its traditional use of human sacrifice. But Merlin goes further: openly challenging the druids to a trial of strength. Has Merlin's mocking gone too far? Can one man overcome the infernal powers that answer the druids' bidding?

King Arthur summons Uther to arms - urgently. Along with all his men. But Uther is tired of war - although he grimly acknowledges its necessity. But - will there ever be an end to battles? Does all the incessant warfare merely signify a dying kingdom?

When the Sea-Wolves fall upon the coast, Caer Avalon strengthens its walls, lays in stores, and summons its men to arms. But are strong walls and sharp swords enough to repel the fierce raiders from across the sea?

The Ruins were home to the gods - so they said. But what other powers now dwell in the ruins: centuries after the gods have fled?

Farinor is orphaned by the Fever, and raised by the kindly Wiggins' family. But Farinor is half-Faerie blood: his destiny is sundered from those of other mortal men. What adventures must Farinor undergo before he finally understands what his Faerie-kind demand from him?

A human soul embarks on a journey across time and space to probe the mysteries of being. What new secrets will it reveal upon reawakening?

Why are the heavens suspended, on pillars of coruscant blue? And why are the clouds hanging airborne like shrouds Metamorphosing all the time too? Why are sable heavens so star-filled? The numberless suns in dark sky? With galaxies whirling, rotating unfurling - One day I should like to know why. Where are the storerooms of snowstorms? What are the measures of hail? Who has second-sight? And where lives the light? Why do seasons progress without fail? What words have the winds in the mountains? What language do rains chatter by? Which paths underground do the streams move around - On that day, I should like to know why. What do all the animals speak of? What say all the angels around? What fields in heaven will to us be given? What wonders are there to be found? When will I travel the universe? How many stars live and then die? Do aliens roam? Or is mankind alone? Either way, I should like to know why. How do souls knit to their bodies, deep inside their own mother's womb? From where come souls rife to give us new life? Where do they live beyond the tomb? Sub-particles ad infinitum, inner worlds infinitely - Go smaller together, inside us forever - And in heaven I'll understand why.

After death, I shall dance on a sunbeam, And turn pirouettes in the air. Like the angels my body will move like a dream When in heaven I make my home there. I will climb up the rainbow one morning, And build castle-clouds in the sky. Aetherial battlements swelling and soaring And cloud-ships to move around by. One day I will scoot down a sun flare, And swim in the heart of the sun. And flame salamanders will come close and stare At their strange visitor who has come. For my spirit will blaze like a star-burst. Immortal, it never will die. For Jesus will free me from Adam's old curse And at last I will learn the whole “WHY?”.

Stanza 1: In the prison of my mind my madness kept me wholly chained So I knew not kith nor kindred, nor cared whereabouts I dwelt. My strength increased by tenfold when my anger was enflamed These twins – anger and madness – all I felt.

Stanza 1: In times ago among the stars a pair of angels walked Talking between themselves about the creatures being made. For they had seen great mysteries – about these both them talked. And what High God was doing made the subject that they sayed.

Stanza 1: “You've come for me – O Death, my friend? So finally – come for me? I loved my life. I love my death. So take my final faltering breath. For mortal things have mortal end This I have come to see.”

Prologue: A pilgrim I, whose lonely life Has known children, man and wife Both young and old, and middling too All walks of men. The false, the true, The bad, the good. The saint and knave. Bullies, cowards, and some brave. Knowing all these types of men And women, children; this I ken: Of all I've known, and all I knew - How many stayed beside me true?

Prologue: A demon on the walls of hell Rang hard the fierce alarum bell “Hell's invaded!” was its cry And to the walls all demons fly “Weapons – ready!” Devils arm And listen to the grim alarm.

Stanza 1: The day the heavens split apart I saw it from Skull Hill. An innocent they put to death - as the oppressors willed. His back was cut by scourging, so his blood coursed freely down And his instruments of torture were paraded through the town - Upon this day. This days of days. The day the heavens split.

Stanza 1: God preselects whom He foreknew, predestines those of men He saves. His choice becoming manifest, selecting from mankind's depraved: From Adam's fallen offspring choosing who becomes His own Elect. God knew! He chose me! Deeds of mine - bear nothing on whom He selects.

What speaks with devil's wicked tongue? Just like a snake, primed with venom? A two-faced person: Janus-like Who always evil will requite. Its tongues are formed all barbed and bold To slander brazenly. All told In every quarter all around Each lie blared forth with loudest sound. Of its two heads: one charms the view Extracts your secrets, feigning true - Then turns to show its second face: Whose ugly spite brings your disgrace. For what can counter many lies? The truth? But rarely! Where mud flies It sticks. Integrity undeniable Drowns beneath the tonnes of libel. Flee slander-devils! They betray All that they hear the selfsame day. These two-faced monsters you despise So heed them not! Their speech: all lies! Note where these devils live on earth And give their evil lairs wide berth. Their filthy words God shall repay Them their full worth on Judgement Day.

Stanza 1: In the age before King Arthur and before the Table Round - When Druid power still was strong Their sway unchallenged, right or wrong - Blood sacrifices spilt their entrails on the stony ground. But Merlin rose to fight their power In myrtle grove and oaken bower And there amidst the standing stones, Merlin his battle found.

Stanza 1: On the day I fell to pieces, tidal waves had swamped my mind Tsunamis of charged emotion – fueled by betraying mankind: Yea - by all my kith and kindred, by the friends I once held dear, And by those who had professed deep love: the closest, and most near.

Stanza 1: Grasp the sword and kick the steed Ride! Ride on! Away – make speed! The traitors come to take the land We are betrayed! We make our stand.

Stanza 1: Why lay aside the circling gold that once as king I wore? I wore it proudly once when I rode down to battle's shore. My men and I would kill the Sea-Wolves come across the sea For we would fight or we would die. And none of us would flee. So armed we: fought for kith and home. My warriors and me.

Introduction: I lie here midst these ruined walls Which moulder silently me round about. The mosses cling. Small plants from nooks peep out To spring up skywards, sending down their roots To claw and crack away the facing stones.

Canto 1 (Introduction): As the winters come at the end of the year And when spring arrives to bring all good cheer There is plowing, and sowing. When summer's sun Bestows warmth and heat upon everyone On the sweaty peons at work in the field. Until autumn seres, and the crops may yield Golden husks of corn. Fruits and heads of kine. Kegs are filled with ale. Broached the cask of wine. As the winter comes, and the cycle ends. But in Camelot – where does all this tend?

Stanza 1: I woke and I sat 'pon the whitened sands Near the azure seas of immortal lands And I rose and turned round to gaze at the sky While I laughed and ran and I wondered why I had come to this place where there was no death To still my breath.

Stanza 1: I saw. And in my vision walked upon a land all desolate As though the angry powers had condemned all breathing life to die. Except – I heard, I thought, the sound of living men ahead of me And hurried on. To come upon a beach beside a dismal sea.

Tonight I came upon a star. It fell down from the Milky Way. It landed here across my path. But how it came - I cannot say. It was a gift from Heaven's hand. He gave the star into my care. To grow it into mighty dreams. And make it fruitful year by year. For men are stars who – bound to earth Must keep earth's boundaries a time. But after this, in bodies new We men will walk star-paths sublime. I kept my star. Care for it well. To make it bloom and fruit each year. And hoping in immortal lands Eternal harvest reap I there.

Stanza 1: Roll the dice! The gods display Their rule of earth, of stones and clay, Of air and water, fires that flame, Aethers which solidness disdain. The spheres rolling to heaven's gate To eternal themes: of love and fate. Come – roll the dice! The gods display Their baleful powers here today.

Canto 1: So when to sleep – where does my spirit go? To what far distant plains - what place explores? Its ghostly steps doth tread the liquid air To walk on ground more solid than this earth. My spirit brings me back – sometimes – a gift: A dream, a vision, or a prophecy To open up the future. Or the past. Revealing things that I could never know Nor yet perceive myself: even if I'd tried For twice one thousand years by mortal strength.