See the Fair Lady

See the fair Lady of the Lake
How patiently she waits
until that moment
when suddenly she lifts her hand
and without a sound
takes hold of the sword
flying through the misty air
over the surface of the water

Who was it ?
Who has thrown the sword
through the mist into the lake ?

It is you !
Yes here you are !
We see you standing by the shore
an expression on your face
of awe and wonder
In your eyes are tears
for the friends that you have lost
and the times you spent together
which will never come again

Guinevere and Lancelot
and the noble knights of the round table
and the battles that you fought
in the mountains and on the plains
to secure your kingdom
How could we let you forget them ?
And of course the questing for the Grail

But who are we
who observe your lonely figure
looking out over the lake ?

The sword blade pointing upwards
slowly descends into the depths
Unseen cold in darkness
there it lays
Let it lie there now and forever
with the Lady of the Lake

We are the children of your nation
the true descendants of your race
who were told of you in stories
a legend to admire
inspiring us to answer
the question of the ages
and giving us the power
to bring you back to life once more
in our imagination
and to hold you here
and hail you as our King
Arthur
prophet of poetic vision
master builder of the myth of Britain

Return to your castle
Camelot is safe
Your work is done

-

Yes you who knew
how to forge the metal from the stone
You knew it well before the hour
and still have not forgot
the riddle of the autumn flower
the key that fits the lock
that you might one day
ride out from your tower
to meet the Lady of the Lake

Everywhere you looked for her
In every place you sought
to find her waiting there
You dared to dream of her at night
that when the bloody battle
for your kingdom has been fought
when friend and foe alike
have fallen slaughtered in the fight
then you alone would be left standing
with both hands holding the sword
Excaliber
made magically
from metal made from stone
with knowledge passed down to you
by men of wisdom and tradition

You would lift up that sword
and with a roar proclaim your victory
and promise to restore Excaliber to her
where it should rightfully belong
Your strength was only lent to you
for faithful service to the strong

Her power and dominion
over science in war and peace
her tranquility and her reason
is the subject of our song

Like fruit out of season
this ancient story we relate
tastes sweet to men devoted
to the Lady of the Lake

Her patience is eternal
In our dreams she never sleeps
She loves us from a distance
forever out of reach
She is not real but still we feel
we owe her thanks in deed
The blessing of the Fairy Queen
will give us everything we need

For when we have both laughed
and cried in equal measure
satisfied our hearts' desire
with pleasure and with pain
at last we find
our time is spent
looking for an ending
in songs of joy and sad lament