A little tavern off the side of the main street might prove inconspicuous
And that’s true with the low grumblings at the tired hour of mid day
Soft layers of light filter through the half closed blinds
Onto a table held in a stagnant game of cards
You’d think the players were caught in stasis
At the table were two men, they joust their words
Until one places a card, flashing a prideful smile
And with a steep crescendo their voices rise
Then the inconspicuous tavern turns to a lively brawl
And in the corner of this growing excitement
A smile curves on an even more inconspicuous figure
As she pulls out her lute and places a resonating chord
After all, what fun are clashes without a little accompaniment?
With a spirited melody, the bard dances along
Each footstep echoless but gracefully flowing
Matching the pace of the battling brawl
Until one stands triumphantly over the collapsed other
And so the bard ends her piece as the final punch connects
Among the distraction she pays her bill on the counter
Then quietly steps out of the tavern as to not deal with the mess inside
________________________________________
The next day, you might find that bard at the same tavern
Or maybe not, she lives a carefree, unorganized life
This midday she quietly sat in lull playing her flute
Halfway into an alley to avoid the busy marketplace
She didn’t notice the approaching armed and drunken man
And so the man called to her, unkindly requesting all of her money
But she was a bard, so she didn’t have any money
So she spun up an offer to buy the man a drink
And hopped to her feet with a slight grin
The bard walked down the road with alacrity
Leading the drunken man who stumbled behind inattentively
Straight into the sheriff’s office, knife still in hand
________________________________________
The main street held a fountain near the middle
The bard sat there only sometimes
And today was one of those sometimes
Seeing the busy street in front, She pulled out her lute
And played the songs of her people
Passerby’s would often stand by the side to watch
Sometimes they tossed coins into her upturned hat in front
Having a crowd riled her motivations
And so she strum and sang at her best until the sun began to set
After the performance she sat slumped against the bench
Eyes resting in an easy torpor
Until 2 children came running up
Their faces excited, and eyes glowing with the light of the setting sun
“Could you play another?” they gleefully asked.
The inconspicuous bard then let out a soft groan
With her face upturned to the vibrant sky
Then she cast a sweet smile at the children
And played her lute again
