Roads Go Ever On
Roads go ever ever on, Over rock and under tree, By caves where never sun has shone, By streams that never find the sea; Over snow by winter sown, And through the merry flowers of June, Over grass and over stone, And under mountains in the moon.
Roads go ever ever on, Under cloud and under star. Yet feet that wandering have gone Turn at last to home afar. Eyes that fire and sword have seen, And horror in the halls of stone Look at last on meadows green, And trees and hills they long have known.
The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet.
The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with weary feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.
The Road goes ever on and on Out from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone. Let others follow, if they can! Let them a journey new begin. But I at last with weary feet Will turn towards the lighted inn, My evening-rest and sleep to meet.
Still 'round the corner there may wait A new road or secret gate; And though I oft have passed them by, A day will come at last when I Shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun.
The Hobbit - audiobook (free! . . . until they take it down): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvXbSGffSjU
Just today I was thinking it may about be time for another re-read
About 3 years ago, there was a hobbit quilt on display at the Paducah, KY National Quilt Museum.
Every major element of The Hobbit was represented in the quilt. Musical instruments that the dwarfs had played, the Shire, Smaug, etc. A list of items to find was posted next to the quilt, and it was quite a challenge to find everything.
The quilter had spent 2 years making the quilt. It was a wonderful piece.
Ah, Google to the rescue!
Here is an article about the quilt, along with a photo that can be viewed in slightly larger format: http://www.quiltviews.com/hidden-secrets-in-sue-mccartys-masterpiece
The photo does not give the experience of seeing the quilt in person. It is worth visiting Paducah just to see the museum.
Something I wrote for my 2 youngest some 45 years ago after reading them “The Hobbit”
Lothlorien
A name to conjure with
in search of perfect truth
A magic place by Tolkien’s bless’d heart devised
and given to mankind
to find that sweet light of total love
wherein each soul resides.
The silvering sound of gentle voices
children’s laughter
breezes whispering in harmony
through singing elven chimes
lamps softly lit glowing golden
into the shadowed places
warming all with love and joy who enter
for all time.
Souls in rapture all complete
so sweet so sweet
O Maker bring my loved ones there
that I may rest in peace.
Lothlorien!
What is interesting is that Tolkien never intended to be a writer of fiction. He was really obsessed with inventing his “fairy languages”, and then realized that for the languages to really work, there needed to be mythology associated with them, because every real language is influenced by elements from its myths. So he created the stories just as a backstory for his languages, and was a little disappointed when people thought the languages were just window dressing for the stories!
Watched ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies’ the other night and got homesick for Middle Earth. I’ve read the books a few times but it’s been several years. Was thinking maybe it’s time to make the journey again.
The movies have been quite good overall. My biggest disappointment was the portrayal of the orcs and such being an army of WWF rejects. But Jackson has done a fine job with such a sweeping epic. It can’t replace the enjoyment of actually reading the books and filling the imagination with the story though.
A toast to the Inklings!
Thank you.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
silivren penna mÃriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-dÃriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, sà nef aearon!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
o menel palan-diriel,
le nallon sà di’nguruthos!
A tiro nin, Fanuilos!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
silivren penna mÃriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-dÃriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, si nef aearon!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
o menel palan-diriel,
le nallon si di’nguruthos!
A tiro nin, Fanuilos!