Into the Halls of Mandos(Based on the Tale of Beren and Luthien by JRR
Tolkien)
By Andrea Tee
Note: As I have received so many emails both from friends and readers asking me to come up with a Tolkien-based poem, I complied all too happily. Unable to think of anything Lord of the Rings, I moved instead to the Silmarillion which I dredged through about two years ago. As I love the story of Beren and Luthien with a firery passion (OK, I'm prone to exaggeration, but I really, really liked it) , I have written this as a tribute to Jhon Tolkien (1892-1973) himself. Merry Christmas to everybody.
He never saw the new day rising,
His sword he held till darkness came,
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
The Jewel lost to Morgoth's Bane.
***
Weary was he, but on he fought,
His life hanging by threads,
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
I ran to him, but ran too late,
Heo nafre wacode daegred.
***
Why did he fall, while still I live?
The years he saw-were not in vain,
He had given all he had to give,
The last he saw-was Luthien.
***
But where were you when Beren fell?
Where are you now, Gilthoniel?
Where were you in time of need?
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
***
Spirit of the Valar, heed my call,
As I descend to Mandos's Hall,
You sent the eagles to our aid,
But will you yourself not come instead?
***
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
I greive for thee, O Beren fair,
You kept your honour-kept your faith.
You kept your love.
***
By Andrea Tee
Note: As I have received so many emails both from friends and readers asking me to come up with a Tolkien-based poem, I complied all too happily. Unable to think of anything Lord of the Rings, I moved instead to the Silmarillion which I dredged through about two years ago. As I love the story of Beren and Luthien with a firery passion (OK, I'm prone to exaggeration, but I really, really liked it) , I have written this as a tribute to Jhon Tolkien (1892-1973) himself. Merry Christmas to everybody.
He never saw the new day rising,
His sword he held till darkness came,
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
The Jewel lost to Morgoth's Bane.
***
Weary was he, but on he fought,
His life hanging by threads,
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
I ran to him, but ran too late,
Heo nafre wacode daegred.
***
Why did he fall, while still I live?
The years he saw-were not in vain,
He had given all he had to give,
The last he saw-was Luthien.
***
But where were you when Beren fell?
Where are you now, Gilthoniel?
Where were you in time of need?
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
***
Spirit of the Valar, heed my call,
As I descend to Mandos's Hall,
You sent the eagles to our aid,
But will you yourself not come instead?
***
A Ebereth Gilthoniel!
I greive for thee, O Beren fair,
You kept your honour-kept your faith.
You kept your love.
***