Well, we’re back!

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. Grab your favourite beverage, and come and join us by the hearth. Enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

An evening in the Writer’s Den

by: Tom Frye

I sit here at my rolltop desk,
my mind a million miles away,
deep in a realm of castles and dragons.

A mushroom lamp sits on my computer tower,
two gnomes, ever vigilant, sit bathed
in the mushroom’s yellow light, watching me.

To my right, is a picture of Bilbo Baggins,
seated at his desk in the comforts
of Rivendell, a quill pen in hand.

The elderly Hobbit is surrounded by books,
a tall tankard, a long-stemmed pipe, and
a bag of pipe-weed, ready for the smoking.

Behind Bilbo sits a picture of my Doberman,
Bummer, who has been gone now for 20 years,
yet she still graces me with her presence.

My pens rest in my chipped mug, depicting
a herd of deer racing toward my second mug,
steam rising from dark caramel coffee within.

My feet are bare, rubbing constantly on
carpeted floor, taking in the comforts of
my haven away from the world.

A rose scented candle burns beneath
my three lion heads on my wall, flickering flames
illuminating the jewels in their eyes.

Before me, magic happens on the screen,
words bring a story to life, creating images,
displaying visions, destined to make an impact.

A sword rises, a sword falls,
another dragon is slain,
another shadow prince fallen.

A white horse races across green fields,
an Elven rider upon his back, his golden hair
trailing in the wild winds.

Gems spill out of a mountain cave,
hidden there for centuries,
by the dragon who first stole them.

Ah, I sigh as I lift my hands from
my keyboard to sip at my coffee,
yet before my third sip, I’m back to work.

Sparks fly from my keys as the
visions from my head are transferred to
to the screen, then to the page.

Just one more book, is my silent prayer,
don’t let me die before the Legendry
is completed, until the last dragon slain.

I take a break, sipping once more
at my coffee, the wood smoke from
a campfire still lingering from my story.

Geesh, I say, sniffing at my shirt.
Is that really smoke I smell?
Or simply my imagination?

© Copyright 2016 by Tom Frye

~~ * ~~

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. Grab your favourite beverage, and come and join us by the hearth. Enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Long Roads

by Tom Frye

The long road lies before you,
a far journey to reach your goal.
Miles of endless traveling,
but take comfort, O weary Soul.

Though you may seem far from nowhere,
Where you stand and where you’ve been,
all short-cuts with little traveling,
lead nowhere in the end.

So, if the road seems long, now.
And the journey much too tough.
Remember, gems and jewels,
are cut from rougher stuff.

And though it’s quite a struggle,
with Apathy a constant foe,
it’s the journey on the longer roads,
that helps your soul to grow.

So stay steady on your journey,
and surely you’ll succeed,
and claim the golden harvest,
where before were only seeds.

©Copyright 1999
   Tom Frye

~~ * ~~

An Elegy for Boromir the Brave
(As sung by Pippin) 

By Joseph Paul Hession 

A dear old friend who never left my side. 
Where arrows bend, he would not run and hide. 
He stopped the ill, those creatures fell and shrill— 
Now blessings send, in peace and calm reside. 
  
A shining star who always showed the way. 
If near or far, he’d come to brave the fray. 
He came to aid, turned bent and evil blade— 
To caring shield, in love and concord lay. 
  
A mighty lord who carried me along. 
When held to spear, he rescued me from prong. 
He saved and freed, from dark and evil breed— 
I bid thee hear, to you this blessed song. 

~~ * ~~

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. So come and join us by the hearth, and enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Andreth’s Lament

by Caroline Flynn

The trees are bare, the wind is chill
But I remember the spring upon Dorthonion’s hill.
My hair is grey, my eyes grow dim
Yet they brighten when I recall him.

But between us a wide gulf spanned
Unbridgeable by any earthly hand.
I looked upon his flame, bright as the midnight star –
A light I could only behold from afar.

For he was a child of the earth’s morn:
I, mortal man’s daughter born.
He, an Elda, for whom the ages flow by,
I, of the Edain, doomed to age and die.

Yet our hands touched in the night,
And I felt his flame, sharp and bright
That burned in his eyes, touched his golden hair
And touched the heart of a maid, young and fair.

Joy for a short time, then long sorrow
And the dawn of our love had no morrow.
Did I alone love in those blissful days?
For in the end, you turned away.

On a grey morning you set forth
Answering the war-horns of the North.
Was it mist upon your face, or tears,
As you left me behind to fading years?

Youth’s years may indeed have been few,
But all I would have given to stand beside you!
Did you spurn the love I thought we had before?
I never asked, I saw you never more.

But in the regret, I found a friend,
As your brother sought the hurt to mend.
And he said that your love had been great,
And only unwillingly did you separate our fates.

But as we sat and by the fire spoke,
My hurt was healed, hope awoke.
I understood that you were not free,
But that you loved me as I loved thee.

In fire you fell, named the Sharp-flame.
But my memories shall no longer be regret and blame.
O irony! That I, the fading mortal
Shall outlive thy years immortal.

Farewell, my beloved! If beyond death’s rift –
Death, in hope Iluvatar’s gift –
Await me, remember me, beyond the night
Where shines the Everlasting Light.

~~ * ~~

Behold the Orc!

By Jennifer Russell

Behold the Orc, for such are we,
Spawned by fell necromancy
From steaming stinking depths we crawl
A curse on our heads and siblings all,
When we emerge from pits of hell
We blindly follow, swarm pell-mell
By Elven folk and men reviled
No more no less an evil child
With blackest thoughts and what ere’ defiled
Scorned and hated
Yet we were created..
Is it not said that from the Elves,
We were but moulded from themselves?
Those perfect beings so fair so wise
From them, in twisted aspect, guise?
Are we but YOU in fell disguise?
Ah think before you scorn and sneer
It is not us the Orc’s you fear..
Against your so called light you need…
Our darkness and our foulest deed!

~~*~~

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. So come and join us by the hearth, and enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

The Ride of Dernhelm

by: J Houdart

Across the sea of golden-grassed plain
Sails Windfola, swift, bearing two without name
In day yet darkened by menace unspoken
Gentler lies are soon to be broken
As on with the company, racing toward doom
At the walls of yon city, be-circled with gloom
Dernhelm the Silent keeps hidden his face
But hides not his passion, his strength and fell grace.

To War! beats his heart, to Death! sings his sword
But rides he in silence, without leave of his lord.
Cloak-hidden, shadow-ridden he takes all care to be
For the secret he keeps, his brothers must not see
That secret he holds and another he bears
Before him on Windfola: a small hobbit shares
His duty and destiny, to great deeds they are called
Upon Pelennor’s vast field before the prize thus high-walled.

For there in that doom a dark Power lay,
waiting and coiled, whom no man can slay.
How then can this man, fierce and strong though he be
Strike true? End the terror? Make the walled city free?But that deed will soon come. Two wounds will be wrought
One by hobbit, brave and true, a man and yet not
And Dernhelm the Silent will give voice at last
Striking true, Death banished back into the Past.

At great cost, that blow giv’n, yet hope will remain
For the hero to sing and ride out free again
But proud, hair unbound, laughter ringing and strong
For the secret is done, surprise mingled with song
As his helm is then moved, and his kinsmen find there
True hero yet no brother: Eowyn the Fair.

~~ * ~~

Untitled

by: A Plume Cox

Your shields break beneath our blade 
We invade your sacred home 
Prepare to be crushed by our one crusade 
As we move along and roam. 
You call this land the southlands 
Now hear our volcano roar 
In the end you will not stand 
In the new land Mordor. 
Here the orcs roam all free 
In the fiery dark land 
Any human, elf or dwarf who enters will have to flea 
Or be scorched by Sauron’s hand. 

~~ * ~~

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. So come and join us by the hearth, and enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

The Beautiful Queen of Stars

by: Peter Kenny

Bright stars gleaming in the night,
Diamonds in the sky,
Gifts from the lady ever white;
Radiating with light,
Too beautiful for words,
She is queen of the stars shining bright.

We call on her in dark times,
Moments of despair;
Praying to her for brighter times;
Prayers she hears sent by us,
Our songs raised in praise,
She listens to our voices with love.

Night- time skies filled with gleaming stars,
Blossoms in a field of dark,
Dewdrop diamonds from a silver tree.
Down here on earth in starry light,
We now see in that sparkling sky,
Visions of her shining face;
The Beautiful Queen of Stars.

Lady dressed in shining white,
Radiant snow white,
Queen revered by one and all;
We rejoice in the light,
Of her gleaming stars,
She is queen of the stars shining bright.

~~ * ~~

“Utulie’n Aure”

by: Caroline Flynn

“Tears unnumbered ye shall shed.”
So was spoken the prophecy of dread.
Upon the Anfauglith such a battle was fought
That unnumbered tears and devastation were indeed wrought.

As the battle waxed thick and strong,
And the hopeless end seemed not long
There arose a cry, so strong and clear
That, for a time, was dispersed all darkness and fear.

“Utulie’n Aure!” In a loud voice Fingon cried,
And over the field the din of battle died.
For lo! Turgon his brother was come from Gondolin,
And glad was the meeting of the sons of Fingolfin.

Never so welcome was hope unlooked-for.
“Utulie’n Aure!” Never was the cry heard stronger before!
In the brothers’ hearts hope was glad and high –
Alas! That it should so soon die!

For Turgon was driven back and forced to retreat,
Though Huor urged him that he went not in total defeat:
“While yet you stand, Morgoth shall not be our demise,
And from you and me, a New Star shall arise.”

But did this comfort Turgon when he heard of Fingon’s fall?
Or did he regret having retreated behind his walls?
Hope one moment, then black despair –
Why did all have to perish that was good and fair?

“Farewell my brother, so valiant, so brave,”
Turgon murmured. “Alas, that you could not rest beside Father’s grave.
But wherever you sleep, may you be in peace,
From Mandos’ Halls may you find a speedy release.”

For a time he stood, sad and silent:
But then a light came to his eyes, steady and defiant.
Huor’s words echoed again in his mind,
A hope and a promise they would bind.

“Utulie’n Aure!” He cried his brother’s cry,
And he raised his fist against the sky.
“But even if day shall fail and night fall,
A New Star shall arise that will Evil forestall!”

~~ * ~~

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. So come and join us by the hearth, and enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

The Steward and the White Lady

by: Cassie Hughes

She lay bereft of all she loved and wished her life was done,
That King had never called her back from limbo’s darkened home,
Within these hallowed healing halls her heart felt caged anew,
What now for maid without a shield? No cause to cleave unto?

In waking dreams she wandered there a ghost in living form,
Her hopes and dreams dispersed as dust, her mind encased in storm,
‘Twas thus he first did spy her there caught up in moonlights glow
And from that moment lost his heart to Rohan’s greatest jewel.

Fair Eowyn he then pursued though she desired naught
But finding honour within death, this goal, her only thought,
With inner strength he persevered and piece by piece did steal
Away despair and hopelessness, her zest for life reveal.

At last the scales fell from her eyes, she finally perceived,
The wise and steadfast prince of men to whom her heart had cleaved,
The Steward and the Lady found at last their just reward,
A strong, enduring love in which to live in light restored.

~~ * ~~

I’ve included this following poem to commemorate Remembrance Day. It’s one I wrote as part of my Literature degree in memory of my Grandfather. Lest We Forget

Grandad Speaks

by: Kelvarhin

They called me Jack,
Though my mates
Called me Snowy.

A hazel-eyed beauty,
From London’s east-end,
Became my life’s love.
Two adored daughters,
Completed our home.

War intervened,
To the R.A.F. I soared.
Not to drop bombs,
Or dogfight in the sky,
Dinghy Drop rescues
Were my choice to fly.

The fates made their call,
Rescuers missing,
Lost over North Sea.
Three simple words,
All that were shared.

Missing in action.

No body to mourn,
No grave to cry on.
A telegraphed epitaph,
My Loves only memorial.

~~ * ~~

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.