Disclaimer: As well as the usual disclaimer, I must note that the form
of the poem is modeled on "These Foolish Things," by Bryan Ferry.
These Fading Things – sung by Frodo in the Shire, before
leaving for the West
Oh will it never let me be
Oh will it never set me free
The Ring that I bore
Though it is no more
It still invades my memory
I recall every hope and pain
From walking there and back again
A mithril shirt that bears an Orc-spear's traces
A scrap of leather that was trouser-laces
All of my thoughts have wings
These outworn things
Remind me of it
A whistling Samwise in the garden content
Those stumbling steps of Elanor so intent
A memory of stone kings
These many things
Remind me of it
It was
So small
But conquered me
When it did that to me, I somehow knew what would have to be
The winds of war that never bring an answer
The winds of peace cannot make me a dancer
Oh how the shade of it clings
These spirit-things
Remind me of it
Some bundled oddments serving for a pillow
Half-drowning at the root of Old Man Willow
All of my thoughts have wings
These long-gone things
Remind me of it
I knew
That this
Was bound to be
My loss has haunted me, the Ring has wholly enchanted me
The rasp of fallen leaves like conversations
Elf-cloak now thrown aside looks accusations
Oh how the shade of it clings
These fading things
Remind me of it
The smile of Arwen only questions poses
There's urgency before the Haven closes
The song that Rosie sings
These pressing things
Remind me of it
How strange
To think
It holds me still
What once was dear to me is somehow no longer near to me
The scent of pipeweed and the clouds like streamers
Will draw me onward with the other dreamers
Oh how the shade of it clings
Every last thing
Reminds me of it
Just it
Oh will it never let me be
Oh will it never set me free
The Ring that I bore
Though it is no more
It still invades my memory
I recall every hope and pain
From walking there and back again
A mithril shirt that bears an Orc-spear's traces
A scrap of leather that was trouser-laces
All of my thoughts have wings
These outworn things
Remind me of it
A whistling Samwise in the garden content
Those stumbling steps of Elanor so intent
A memory of stone kings
These many things
Remind me of it
It was
So small
But conquered me
When it did that to me, I somehow knew what would have to be
The winds of war that never bring an answer
The winds of peace cannot make me a dancer
Oh how the shade of it clings
These spirit-things
Remind me of it
Some bundled oddments serving for a pillow
Half-drowning at the root of Old Man Willow
All of my thoughts have wings
These long-gone things
Remind me of it
I knew
That this
Was bound to be
My loss has haunted me, the Ring has wholly enchanted me
The rasp of fallen leaves like conversations
Elf-cloak now thrown aside looks accusations
Oh how the shade of it clings
These fading things
Remind me of it
The smile of Arwen only questions poses
There's urgency before the Haven closes
The song that Rosie sings
These pressing things
Remind me of it
How strange
To think
It holds me still
What once was dear to me is somehow no longer near to me
The scent of pipeweed and the clouds like streamers
Will draw me onward with the other dreamers
Oh how the shade of it clings
Every last thing
Reminds me of it
Just it
