Vinyatáro Hyamië Niennan

I vinya rí tuilessë tuianë
Ar halla alanë lauc' árinen.
Yá naica nixë nehtas coivio,
Rí parca, issë tarë téravë.

Á hlarë ni, Nienna sámë nainaron,
Ye m' etelehta nairellon úcólimë!

Lá cestan tensi envinyatië:
Laurenya nestala avánië.
Á polta ni, ve rí Ringareva,
Mi raumo termarë lacúnala.

Man varyuva queninyar meldë intello?
Nai úquen; inyë ricë tenna qualmenya.

Tá hánolyavë mardassen omentië...

Gwindor's Prayer to Nienna

The young reed (or: grass stem) sprouted in spring
And grew tall in the warm sunlight.
When bitter frost deprives it of life,
The reed is dry, (and yet) it stands straight.

Hear me, Nienna, helper of lamenters,
Who delivers us from unbearable sorrows!

I don't ask for renewal anymore:
My healing golden light is gone.
Make me able to, like December reed,
Endure unbending in a storm.

Who will protect my beloved people from themselves?
Maybe no one; myself, I (will) try until my (violent) death.

Then, a meeting in your brother's halls...

Notes

After King Thingol's ban on the Sindar speaking it because of the Kinslaying, Quenya remained as spoken language among the lords of the Noldor and as general language of lore. We know Nienor daughter of Húrin was taught it (her last words before she died were partly in Quenya). If an Edain lady knew it well enough to correctly use it in a state of shock and grief, it is safe to assume Gwindor the Noldor prince knew it well enough for poetry.

The context is Gwindor's stubborn resistance to the reckless military policy of Nargothrond under the influence of Túrin Turambar. The healing golden light refers to his beloved Finduilas. Vinyatar is a Quenya translation of the likely meaning of the name Gwindor (young lord). The genitive case is Vinyatáro, like in Tolkien's Altariello Nainie (Galadriel's Lament).

Gwindor is a "Valar optimist" in canon, who believes they care about Middle Earth and will eventually help, and it is not unikely for him to have personal reverence for Nienna. Nienna is pictured here as the giver of moral strength, rather than physical strength which is the domain of Tulkas.

Thanks to Tolkienian linguists Paul Strack and Tamas Ferencz for making this translation possible.