Disclaimer: Most of Tolkien's works seem to be being fought over anyway, so I'd like to emphasise my distinct absence from the fray.
A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! Been hearing the song 'Hallelujah' a lot lately, it got in my head and this is the result; a poem, from the POV of Varda or Elbereth, to its tune.
Hallelujah
I feel the winds and rivers flow;
The pulsing tides change, high and low;
And all the earthly beauties of the meadow –
The trees bear fruit,
New plants take root,
I see this world reborn anew,
And all the people sing a hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
_
I remember a time without the Sun,
Before I set the Moon to run,
The seeds left of those that once gave light;
My stars burned bright,
Across the night,
And set all darkness into flight,
Beacons leading Westward – hallelujah!
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
_
There was a time, before Shadow –
Before the world was steeped in snow,
And all our dreams were bent upon Arda:
But darkness came
And settled deep,
Roused silent troubles from their sleep,
No longer did they sing the hallelujah!
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
_
Lonely walked the Exiled Ones,
Far and wide from Elvenhome,
The world became too dreary and unloving.
But we closed the way
And bent the Seas,
No straight path left upon to flee,
No pity for their heedless hallelujah!
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
_
A golden ship came flying near,
The only mortals to come here,
Praying us save all Arda's Children:
We heard the call,
And came at last,
The Stone, a beacon on his mast!
All through the earth we sang the Hallelujah!
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
_
The darkness that we once dispersed,
Rises again, in hearts immersed,
And the Firstborn take the ships to flee its grasp.
But what of those
Who stay the path?
What of those who take this task?
Who will listen for their hallelujah?
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
_
Can the world be saved again?
Can it recover from this pain?
I wish with all my heart that it could be so:
The Hope of Man,
A City White,
A Council forms the Walking Nine –
Come pray for them, sing with me! – Hallelujah!
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
_
And when this peril too is passed
And all the world is changed at last,
Will we be forgotten with the last ship?
In ages hence,
New darkness yet,
Will they remember or forget?
Will they still remember the hallelujah?
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.
Hallelujah; hallelujah;
Hallelujah; hallelujah.