The poetry meme

[dreamflower]

taken from rubynye

When you see this, comment with a poem you love or post one in your own journal to encourage the proliferation of random poetry through your flist.


Bilbo's Last Song

Day is ended, dim my eyes,
but journey long before me lies.
Farewell, friends! I hear the call.
The ship's beside the stony wall.
Foam is white and waves are grey;
beyond the sunset leads my way.
Foam is salt, the wind is free;
I hear the rising of the Sea.

Farewell, friends! The sails are set,
the wind is east, the moorings fret.
Shadows long before me lie,
beneath the ever-bending sky,
but islands lie behind the Sun
that I shall raise ere all is done;
lands there are to west of West,
where night is quiet and sleep is rest.

Guided by the Lonely Star,
beyond the utmost harbour-bar,
I'll find the heavens fair and free,
and beaches of the Starlit Sea.
Ship, my ship! I seek the West,
and fields and mountains ever blest.
Farewell to Middle-earth at last.
I see the Star above my mast!

-- J R R Tolkien

I love this so much. I've done a calligraphed version of it you can see it here.

Comments

[periantari.livejournal.com]

I love that poem! It's so beautiful! This is a good meme-- i might have to join. :)

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a beautiful version you made of it. It's just perfect. I love that poem too and have it in a little book illustrated by Pauline Baynes (at least I think it's her) and I love it a lot.

[shirebound]

That gives me chills.

[dreamflower]

I hope you do!

[dreamflower]

Yes, I have the lovely little Pauline Baynes book as well. Her illustrations are so delicate and perfect in mood.

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

I love her work so much. I also have a beastiology (?) she did and it's wonderful.

[dreamflower]

I think it one of JRRT's loveliest poems/songs. Have you ever heard the musical setting of it that was done for the BBC version of LotR? It's sung during the journey to the Grey Havens by a boys' choir and it sounds unearthly.

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is indeed beautiful and a wonderful choice! And your calligraphed version is gorgeous!

[dreamflower]

She was Tolkien's personal favorite among all the various illustrators of his work. I think there was only one thing she did that he didn't like-- an inset of the Fellowship on the illustrated map of Middle-earth she did. But he loved all the rest of it!

[dreamflower]

Thank you! I loved making that piece. It took me three or four tries before I got just the right "sunset" over which to write.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

One of the most achingly beautiful poems in LOTR... your calligraphy of it is perfect.

[dreamflower]

I agree.

And thank you. *grin*

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

That is a beautiful poem. Almost as Beautiful as Sam's song in the tower.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

oh that's lovely! I remember that!

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

This is so, so gorgeous. I always love Tolkien's poetry -- you can hear the music in it.

And your calligraphed version is wonderful!

[gamgeefest.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to hunt down this poem. Thanks for sharing it!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

It is a wonderful poem, no question about it. Thanks for posting it.