The Minstrel

(Dedicated to Sting)

The minstrel comes on from afar
Down any long and muddy road
He navigates by northern star
His lute and pack a heavy load

Been on that road for much too long
Trudging on from place to place
And everywhere he brings his song
And everywhere they know his face

He sings of places far and new;
Of true and everlasting love;
Of where the tree of knowledge grew;
That simple values are enough

The minstrel always stays a while
Collecting news and words to sing
And then he sets off with a smile
And never lets his groupies cling

And we, remaining, can but wait
Until he reappears some day
To sing of memory and fate
And pause upon his endless way

(c) Leoni Venter 2 December 2002