We Will Never Forget Thee, Gondolin

by Hellga

A poem with English version and a Quenya version, about the fall of Gondolin

DISCLAIMER:  Language of Quenya and tragic story of Gondolin belong only to their creator, J.R.R. Tolkien.  I am merely playing with them.

I Will Never Forget Thee, Gondolin.

Valië Vairë inírië liar martommion

Námmë parca cuilëvalta ve i Aldu.

Sí i nárë hendimmëllo avánië

I lámar ómammion lantar cemenenna

Eress' métimar lussar i rámanen vílëo

Liltar i nísimar lotessen tuilëva.

Ustan' ar rácina ná vanima márinyá.

Ú-cenuvan fánar mindoniryar anaróressë

Ú-cenuvan fánar mindoniryar andúnessë

Ú-cenuvan meldonyar ananta istan:

Emmë nyénuvar lin, Ondolindë,

Mandos ringessë ar nu anarya Hópar

Ú-hehtuvammë lin, Ondolindë.

Yéni únótimë autuluva ar entuluva

Lassi lantuvar salquënna laiqua

Fanyar leluvar helwessë sercëa

Ar Anár antuvamë rier silmar.

Lindílma ortuva eressë nyérënen.

Nyérë an natí vanwa ar natí tuvina

Nyérë ú-hehtuva órélma tenn'Ambar-metta

Ú-cenuvan Aldalyat anaróressë

Ú-cenuvan Aldalyat andúnessë

Ú-cenuvan meldonyar ananta istan:

Emmë nyénuvar lin, Ondolindë,

Mandos ringessë ar nu anarya Hópar

Ú-hehtuvammë lin, Ondolindë.

Lissë-miruvórë tyava sára noressen ettelen

Ar masta tyava ve les ú-rambalyassen

Ve les sí quatala ehtelëlyer yáressë-lirila

Lóti úva Tumbalandessë,

Lalamë úva Cornorontessi.

Ilyë emmë istanë ar melnë ná vanwa.

Er lussi ú-fifírula nár órëmmassen

Ú-cenuvan mallëlyar anaróressë

Ú-cenuvan mallëlyar andúnessë

Ú-cenuvan meldonyar ananta istan:

Emmë nyénuvar lin, Ondolindë,

Mandos ringessë ar nu anarya Hópar

Ú-hehtuvammë lin, Ondolindë.

Translation of the poem:

Valie Vaire has torn the threads of our lives

We are dry of life now, like the Two Trees.

Now the fire has disappeared from our eyes

Echoes of our voices fell into the [bloodied] earth.

Only the last whispers in the gentle breeze

Dance on the fragrant [late] spring flowers.

Burned and destroyed is my beautiful home.

I will never see its white towers in the sunrise.

I will never see its white towers in the sunset.

I will never see my friends, an yet I know:

We will weep for thee, Gondolin,

In the cold Halls of Mandos and in sunny Havens.

We will not forget thee, Gondolin.

Years uncounted will go away and come again

Leaves will fall onto the green grass

Clouds will travel across the blood-red sky

And sun will paint crowns over our faces.

Our song will rise now only in sorrow

Sorrow for what was lost and what was gained

Sorrow that will never leave our hearts.

I will never see sunrise over your trees.

I will never see sunset over your trees.

I will never see my friends, an yet I know:

We will weep for thee, Gondolin,

In the cold Halls of Mandos and in sunny Havens.

We will not forget thee, Gondolin.

Sweet mead tastes bitter in other lands

And bread tasted like ashes outside your walls

Like ashes that now fill your fountains.

There will never be flowers in Tumladen,

There will never be laughter in Echoriath.

Everything we knew and loved is gone.

Only memory undimmed lives in our hearts.

I will never see sunrise over your streets.

I will never see sunset over your streets.

I will never see my friends, an yet I know:

We will weep for thee, Gondolin,

In the cold Halls of Mandos and in sunny Havens.

We will not forget thee, Gondolin.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

This grew out of the starting poem of my story "I will never forget thee, Gondolin"

The poem is in part inspired by a poem of Hatul's "Lírë Macalaurëo" which is the answer to Galadriel's "Namarië". The image of Valië Vairë was too powerful, and this poem started from that image.