The Travelling Folk

--

Have you never once heard

Of the travelling folk,

To whom many were lured

By the words which they spoke?

--

Some fancied them foes

Of an intrepid sort,

Not to refashion their prose

For the ears of the court.

--

Their words are now barred

By the keepers of gold,

For the martyrs’ names marred

By the tales that they told.

--

No, he could not withstand

The bold truths which they spoke,

Therefore death laid his hand

To the travelling folk.

--

Now the strongest are killed

And the bravest have fled,

Will nobody dare

Tell the tale of the dead?

--

-CL

7-20-07

This poem is dedicated to all those who ever risked or lost everything in search of freedom, particularly freedom of speech. Thank you.