{"id":95880,"date":"2014-12-17T20:54:01","date_gmt":"2014-12-18T01:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?page_id=95880"},"modified":"2014-12-17T20:54:18","modified_gmt":"2014-12-18T01:54:18","slug":"the-great-hall-of-poets-december-2014","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/the-great-hall-of-poets\/the-great-hall-of-poets-december-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Hall of Poets – December 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Elf Remembers, or Galadriel’s Lament: A Poem in Two Parts<\/strong><\/h4>\n

by Mrs Adam C<\/em><\/p>\n

The Light of Valinor<\/strong><\/p>\n

A silver light gleaming, stars mounting to the sky;
\nthe darkness flew, the dawn gleamed dim, the sky filled with light.
\nThere were Two Trees, far in the West, Two Trees without decay,
\none silver-clad, one wreathed in gold, before they passed away.
\nIn Valmar fair, the City Gold, the bells were rung at dawn,
\nand when the stars burned fiery-bright the Elves were dancing long.
\nBeneath the thrones of ivory, under the seats of stone
\nthe Vanyar played their glitt\u2019ring harps, and silver horns were blown.
\nO Valmar sweet! the roofs of gold, the doors of polished bronze
\nreflect the beauty of the Trees across the gloaming lawns.
\nTaniquetil the ever-white was glist\u2019ning in the light
\nof those Two Trees in elder days before there came the night.
\nAtop the peak of that great mount was set a mansion white;
\nand on the roof of azure hue were spangled stars alight.
\nO Ilmarin! I used to gaze upon the lofty heights,
\nand ever from Oioloss\u00eb the eagles flew in flights.
\nThe mountains tall, the Pel\u00f3ri, they reached unto the sky,
\nand in that field of matchless blue the eagles strong did fly.
\nThe swans of Oss\u00eb decked their prows, while on a field of blue
\nthe seagulls mewed and cast their eyes down on peerless view.
\nO Valinor! the moon did rise and with the sun in train;
\nbut till I can return to thee there is no rest for me.<\/p>\n

The Darkening of Valinor<\/strong><\/p>\n

O! Oioloss\u00eb, the darkness falls, the eagles fly away,
\nand left am I, now here alone, on land unto the sea.
\nO Telperion, O Laurelin, your light has left my heart;
\nand never more shall I see thee, for you are lost from me.
\nTaniquetil gleams glitt\u2019ring white, her shining peaks reveal;
\nand Valmar of the Valar is veiled in mourning, for the Trees of Light are dimmed.
\nNo longer do the Vanyar play their glitt\u2019ring harps at dawn;
\nNo longer are the silver horns blown bright at loss of day.
\nO Valmar bright! the leaves of gold shine from dying Laurelin;
\nand all would see Telperion and silver light therein.
\nWhere F\u00ebanor the Fire-eyes with all his kindred dwelt
\nbefore bright Elven-Tirion the growing darkness felt.
\nO Tirion! Thy crystal stairs led up to fountains clear,
\nand there I ran in days of old to see the morn appear.
\nAnd in the West, there by the Sea, a city gemmed and pearled,
\nwhile in the harbour docked the ships whose banners were unfurled.
\nAlqualond\u00eb! thy beaches fair are spread with silver shells,
\nwhile on the Sea thy white ships sail upon the crystal swells.
\nIn Avathar a darkness rose, a shadow woke from death,
\nand ere the sun had risen Valmar felt the haunted breath;
\nThe Trees, they died, the light there fled, the wells were sucked up dry,
\nand then the shadow left that darkened land beneath the sky.
\nO Valinor! I hear again sweet Valmar\u2019s golden bells,
\nand how I wish once more to fly across the shining swells.
\nThe darkness veiled, the shadow down, the Trees were laid to rest;
\nyet I shall long forever for the silver shores again.<\/p>\n

~~ * ~~<\/p>\n

THE ROAD TRAVELLED<\/strong><\/h4>\n

by Richard F<\/em><\/p>\n

60 years have come and gone while I travelled paths laid out in parchment bound with leather,
\nWitnessed by sun and moon who lit my way;
\nSo scarce could I believe that one day those who had contributed so much would appear,
\nRising out of darkness to stand before me;
\nWhispers in the wind, the ringing of steel, voices rising in joy…in song…in anger…
\nand in sorrow;<\/p>\n

So much to comprehend and yet here they were…
\nSmeagol who held my fear,
\nGollum who bore my pain,
\nGandalf who taught me wisdom,
\nAragorn who gave me strength and courage,
\nand
\nBilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin who taught me never to judge by appearance.<\/p>\n

Those and so many more who influenced me, now lending those lessons to new generations.
\nOnce more the door opens and the path beckons \u2026 leading them on to new adventures,
\nOh how I envy them for the wonders they will see, and yet I hope they
\nnever loose sight of the dreams and stories which made them who they are.<\/p>\n

\u201cDedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien\u201d
\n\u201cand the many whose lives have been influenced by his writings over the years!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpecial Thanks to Peter Jackson\u201d
\n\u201cWell Done \u2013 A Compliment from the Heart\u201d<\/p>\n

~~ * ~~<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Song of the Skin-Changer<\/h4>\n

By Hali Ravenhammer<\/em><\/p>\n

My skin is fur
\nMy senses alive.
\nMany of us
\nOur species thrive.<\/p>\n

Then fires came
\nAnd burned our lands.
\nWe ran from our homes
\nInto enemy hands<\/p>\n

Wolf and Bear
\nAnd Hawk and Fox
\nAll of us caught,
\nBound with iron locks.<\/p>\n

From my prison, trapped.
\nHeckled, tormented.
\nWhile I watched them die
\nMy kin, I lamented.<\/p>\n

A proud race were we,
\nReduced to dust.
\nHere, alone
\nMy bonds start to rust.<\/p>\n

One of the few
\nWeak and critically ill.
\nIt\u2019s my turn to fight
\nAnd my child I must kill.<\/p>\n

He is so pale
\nAnd is going to die.
\nBut holds his head up
\nAnd refuses to cry.<\/p>\n

The changes takes it from him
\nAll of his strength
\nAnd to him I run
\nBut I\u2019m stopped at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>\n

I cradle his head
\nMy tears falling fast
\nUntil his eyes close
\nAnd his soul is now passed.<\/p>\n

They jeer and they laugh
\nThose who hold me
\nAnd in a blind rage,
\nI fight till I\u2019m free.<\/p>\n

Blood pours from my veins
\nAs I run through the wild
\nAll I can see
\nIs the dead face of my child.<\/p>\n

On the brink of death
\nI can hear a voice
\nSoft as light
\nGiving me a choice.<\/p>\n

To stay in my sorrows
\nIn my ache and pain.
\nOr to break from cage
\nAnd my kin rise again.<\/p>\n

I will avenge you
\nI promise my kin.
\nUntil every captor is dead,
\nAnd our pride I will win.<\/p>\n

Years ago there were many,
\nAnd now there is only one.
\nThe weight in my heart is crushing.
\nNow, in the night my song is done.<\/p>\n

~~ * ~~<\/p>\n

Lie Still, My Love (From Arwen To Aragorn On Their Last Night Together)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

by BlackFox<\/em><\/p>\n

Lie still, my love, lie still
\nThe hour, it is early still
\nSleep, my love, sleep
\nThe dark is yet too deep<\/p>\n

Rest, my love, no rush to wake
\nNot yet, ere the day’s break
\nWait, my love, no need to go
\nLet the river of dreams flow<\/p>\n

Lie still, my love, don’t leave
\nThe night still has songs to weave
\nLie still, my love, let it be
\nI beg you, stay here with me<\/p>\n

~~ * ~~<\/p>\n

A Question<\/strong><\/h4>\n

by Tyler A<\/em><\/p>\n

The Ring-Bearer and his faithful Samwise,
\nSpent half year trying, the ring, to destroy,
\nBattled by Sauron, evil was his guise,
\nWith merciless might, haunting the poor boy.
\nEver peering through the eyes of his spies,
\nSauron searched for the West\u2019s trick or decoy,
\nBattling with hate, the Ring-Bearer\u2019s allies,
\nThe Dark Lord hoped, Men and Elves, to destroy.
\nAided by faithful friends, the Ring-Bearer
\nTook the lost ways and the evil paths East,
\nThese problems you gave for their time to bide,
\nYet, why did the ring-bearer not take use
\nOf the eagles, on whose backs, he could ride?<\/p>\n

~~ * ~~<\/p>\n

Untitled<\/strong><\/h4>\n

by Claire G<\/em><\/p>\n

I want to go back to the days
\nWhen all was wild and free;
\nAnd all of us could laugh and dance
\nThe springle-ring under the trees.<\/p>\n

I want to go back to the days
\nWhen darkness did not reign;
\nWhen hope and happiness endured,
\nAnd love would conquer pain.<\/p>\n

I want to go back to the days
\nWhen the lands were lush and green;
\nAnd flowers bloomed on hillsides,
\nAnd sunshine was our queen.<\/p>\n

But long over are those days;
\nClaimed they have been by the past;
\nNow a dream cloaked in darkness
\nWhere hope can barely last.<\/p>\n

It’s the reality we face
\nIt’s the toll that our lives pay;
\nAnd now, when they’re all over,
\nI want to go back to the days.<\/p>\n

~~ * ~~<\/p>\n

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