Richard Bard left us a lasting legacy in his poetic ballad describing his family's harsh ordeal at the hands of their captors. His and Catharine's courage and perseverance during their captivity in the face of what must have sometimes seemed to be insurmountable odds that they could ever overcome their problems; has been an important and everlasting lesson for all of us. Let's continue building Richard's inheritance by contributing to this "never-ending" personal expression in the true tradition of the Bard.

Hopefully our lives are a little less traumatic and troubled than Richard's and Catharine's were, but who's to say in this wonderful yet dangerous and potentially catastrophic world we live in. We too can put a part of ourselves down in verse for posterity, and maybe we can all learn from each other's experience and insight.

It can be on any topic you wish, and it doesn't have to be fantastic, enthralling, melodious verse... Just from the heart.

If you are related in any way; directly or indirectly, maternally or paternally, to the Bards of "Carroll's Delight" feel free to contribute, via e-mail, a few lines of prose, poetry, or lyrics, for this page- for Richard and Catharine- and especially for the one who paid the dearest price- John.
 
 

LET US FIND A HIGHER MEANING,

ONE OF TRUTH AND LOVE AND JOY,

SO THAT WE MAY LEARN TO WALK,

JUST LIKE A BABY GIRL OR BOY.
 
 

SORROW CAN COME WITH US TOO,

DEPRESSION- OUR STEP-FRIEND,

ONE-LEGGED WALKING WOULD BE NEW;

AND STANDING SURELY END.
 
 

THE WORLD GIVES NO COMFORT,

FOR ITS CREDITS ARE ILLUSION,

ONLY WITH OUR STAFF OF FAITH,

CAN WE JOURNEY THROUGH CONFUSION.
 
 

THE TRIP IS LONG, THE TRIP IS HARD,

BUT AT THE END OF DAY,

IT ALL SEEMS QUITE WORTHWHILE,

TO BE ENJOINED IN THIS WAY.
 
 

SO WALK WITH US A LITTLE WHILE,

THEN STRIKE OUT ON YOUR OWN,

SINCE ALL TIME AND SPACE ARE CURVED,

WE'LL MEET AGAIN AT HOME.
 
 

IF YOU'RE NOT TOO TIRED,

WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER STROLL,

WE MAY EVEN RUN THIS TIME,

FOR BETTERMENT OF SOUL.
 
 

ON AND ON WE COULD GO,

UNTIL THE END OF TIME,

AND THEN OF COURSE WE'D START AGAIN,

TO MAKE ANOTHER RHYME.
 
 

THEN WE WOULD BE MOVING,

JUST AS FAST AS WE COULD GO,

SURELY THE RACE IS OVER,

HOW MUCH FURTHER CAN WE GO!
 
 

JUST THEN WE LOSE OUR BREATH!

A PANIC PAUSE ENSUES!

IS THIS THEN DEATH...

AND ARE WE ALL TO LOSE?
 
 

IT'S JUST A LITTLE REST WE TOOK,

"A DREAM" SOME SAY, I'M SURE,

TO SIMPLIFY GOD'S PROBLEMS,

IS THE PURPOSE AND THE CURE.
 
 

RICHARD BARD OF INDIAN FAME,

POSSESSED SOME TRAITS THAT WE MAY CLAIM,

STEADFAST, LOYAL, COURAGEOUS AND TRUE,

I HOPE HE PASSED THEM TO ME AND TO YOU.
 
 

HE ACTED LIKE A REAL  CHRISTIAN,

OR SO IT SEEMS TODAY,

ALLOWING NOT HIS STRENGTH AND FAITH,

TO EVER GO ASTRAY.
 
 

CATHARINE TOO,

WHAT A WOMAN IS SHE!

TO BRAVE THOSE THINGS,

UNTIL SHE'S FREE.
 
 

CAN WE DO LESS,

WHEN SUCH AN EXAMPLE THEY'VE SET?

I HOPE TO SAY,

IT'S A STANDARD WE'VE  MET.
 
 

SO THINK OF THEM WHEN YOU'RE BURDEN GETS HEAVY,

AND YOU CANNOT ENDURE,

THE LAST LINES OF THE BALLAD,

CONTAIN A MAGIC CURE:
 
 

"AND MAY HE BY THIS SORE DISTRESS,

PREPARE YOU FOR A FIGHT,

UNTO THE GREAT INHERITANCE-

OF BLESSED SAINTS IN LIGHT."    - Curtis Bard - (entered Jun 1, 1996)

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I AM TIME

I WONDER IF MY END WILL EVER COME.

I HEAR THE LAUGHING AND CRYING OF THE WORLD.

I SEE TO THE ENDS OF THE UNIVERSE.

I WANT TO SEE FARTHER.

I AM TIME.
 
 

I PRETEND TO BE THE SUN, THE MOON, THE STARS.

I FEEL THE PLANETS ORBITING INSIDE ME.

I TOUCH THE OUTER REACHES OF THE SOUL OF EVERYTHING.

I WORRY FOR THE PEOPLE AND MYSELF.

I CRY FOR THE EXTINCTION OF MANKIND.

I AM TIME.
 
 

I UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHERS DO NOT.

I  SAY WHAT OTHERS ARE AFRAID TO THINK.

I DREAM I WILL LIVE FOREVER.

I TRY NOT TO DREAM TOO MUCH.

I DREAM LIFE, LIFE IS MY DREAM.

I AM TIME.                                   - Samantha Kristen Bard - (entered Jun 1, 1996)

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DAYDREAMS BECOME REALITY

IF YOU PATIENTLY WAIT,

AND HAVE A WHOLISTIC SENSE

OF THE FUTURISTIC GATE.
 
 

FOR SEEING BEYOND EACH DAYDREAM

IS DIFFICULT FOR NARROW MINDS,

ACCEPT IT FULLY AND ENJOY

AS THE DREAMSCAPE UNWINDS.     - Suzanne Frances Bard - (entered Jun 1, 1996)

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TIME IS AN OVERWHELMING FORCE OF NATURE,

FOREVER SPRINGING ETERNAL,

LIKE THE CYCLE OF WATER RENEWED,

DROPLETS OF TIME FLOW INTO ITSELF,

FLEETING, SURGING, CHURNING- MOVING FORWARD,

NEVER TO BE TOUCHED- OR HARNESSED BY MAN.
 
 

USE YOUR TIME WISELY MY FRIENDS,

USE YOUR TIME WISELY...
 
 

BEFORE IT FLOWS PAST US ALL.     - (On the twenty-ninth day of the first month in the year of our Lord-
                                             Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-six.  Andre Bard.) - entered Jun 1, 1996

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(Add verses here with name & date entered at end of submission.)