Best Poetry in LOTR

[markedel]

Well what do you think

I go for Legolas singing "to the sea etc." in the field of cormellan this won't be in the movie which does suck

[FrodoFriend]

The Bath Song!!!

[Starr Polish]

I like the Bath Song too, but I couldn't tell you until I read all three!

[KGamgee]

Sam's Song in Cirith Ungol....ooo that's so great!

[Menelvagor]

The Road Goes Ever On and On, and all of it's variations. That ones great. I'm so glad it made it into the movie.

[FrodoFriend]

That is a nice one. I'm going to try and make up melodies for some of these (I know it's already been done, but why not again?). Maybe my screeching will literally awaken the dead, and then I can ask the Professor what he imagined his songs sounding like.

[Wayfarer]

Sam's song...

but you should all get the lays of beleriand. the lay of leithan is great. ;)

[athelas]

I loved Sam's song in the tower too.:D There's a song that Bilbo sings in the chapter "The Ring Goes South" in FotR that begins as "I sit beside the fire and think of all that i've seen..." I kind of like it. Sam's troll song was great too.

[Nazgûl Queen]

All the Elven ones!

[Aragorn]

The one in Wayfarer's signature and the one emplynx made up:

Hush little Balrog don't say a word
Papas gonna buy you a Nazgul bird
And if that Nazgul bird don't fly
Open your mouth and let it fry

:D Seriously though I like the Cow Jumped Over The Moon Song that Frodo did at The Prancing Pony Inn at Bree.

[Legolas]

NAMARIE, and "I sang of leaves...". So, both Galadriel's songs in Lorien.
I like Bilbo's song in Rivendell too (FotR, book II, chapter III - don't know the name)

[markedel]

Bilbo's poem about Earendil perhaps? Apparently it is quite a complex one in terms of meters and such. But I know little of those things.

[Laurelyn]

I actually can't pick a favorite easily . . . they're all beautiful, or funny, or whatever. I guess it would have to be the version of the Cat and the Fiddle that Frodo sings at the prancing pony.

Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat
The white horses of the moon
They neigh and champ their silver bits
But their master's been and drowned his wits
And the sun'll be rising soon.

[Radagast]

Hmmm well I always liked 'The Man in the Moon' sung my Frodo in Bree OR Nimrodel (I need to learn how to do accents:( ) sung by Legolas

[Legolas]

Originally posted by markedel
Bilbo's poem about Earendil perhaps? Apparently it is quite a complex one in terms of meters and such. But I know little of those things.

Not that. The one with 24 lines. Apparently I can't give you any quote, because I know it only in Lithuanian.

Also, have you learnt any of these poems. I told that one (that Bilbo's song I mention) in my school contest, and I got 9/10. I guess my teacher hates Tolkien. Have to teach her a bit :)

[Renille]

Galadriel's last song in Lothlorien...ooh...I love that. Also, "The Road Goes Ever On etc..." and Sam's Troll song! And anything sung by Tom Bombadil! And Legolas' song in Lothlorien! Frankly, anything...

[Starr Polish]

Next year for individual speech I want to do one of Tolkien's poems. What would you suggest :D

[Menelvagor]

I have a question. Is the Lay of Lethian (sp?) recorded anywhere? I know Aragorn tells part of it in FotR and the story is told in the Sil, but is the actual Lay found anywhere? (BTW, don't have Unfinished Tales or any of the History of Middle Earth)

Thanks:)

[Ñólendil]

Tolkien's original Lay of Leithian (I think that's the right spelling) can be bought. It is I believe in The Lays of Beleriand in The History of Middle-earth series. It's for the old mythology but it can definitely still be enjoyed. Tolkien tried to revise it, but as usual the busy soul never finished it. If you haven't read Of Beren and Lúthien in The Silmarillion (forgive me if you are quite familiar with it), I recommend it.

[Menelvagor]

Thanks Inoldonil, I'll have to get that one.

Starr Polish, that'd be a good one if you need something long.

[Nazgûl Queen]

I've only read LotR, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, and out of them my favourite one is Galadriel's Song.
It's so beautiful!

I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew;
Of wind I sand, a wind there came and in the branches blew.
Beyond the Sun, beyond the moon, the foam was on the Sea,
And by the strand of Ilmaren there grew a golden Tree.
Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone,
In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion.
There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years,
While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven-tears.
O Lórien! The winter comes, the bare and leafless Day;
The leaves are falling in the stream, the River flows away.
O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither shore
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor.
But if of ships I now would sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?

[noldorlord]

It has to be "the fall of Gil Galad" its just so epic and emotive.

[Renille]

I need to have a selection of memorized poems (5-8 min. long total) by later this month! I really want to have LOTR ones...does anyone have any suggestions for a collection of that length which all follow a specific train of thought? (ie...all hobbit songs, something portraying some tangent of the book so that even non-readers can understand...)
Thanks in advance for your help! :)

[Vanimdil]

My favorite is Frodo's song of Gandalf, especially this part:

"A deadly sword, a healing hand,
a back that bent beneath its load;
a trumpet voice, a burning brand,
a weary pilgrim on the road."

I also love that part of "The Fall of Gilgalad" that Sam recited.

Another poem that is very expressive is that of Eomer:

"Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising
I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking:
Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall."

It gives me chills both of sadness and triumph.

Another beautiful one is:

"A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna miriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-diriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, si nef aeoron!"

The first part of it often runs through my mind, proving that Elvish words do indeed remain graven in one's memory. :)

[Araethirion]

*ahem* The best poetry in LOTR is:

All that is gold does not glitter

All those who wander are not lost

The old that is strong does not wither

Deep roots are not reached by frost

From the ashes a fire shall be woken

From the shadows a light shall spring

Renewed shall a blade that was broken

The crownless shall again be king.

Hehe... I memorized it.

[Strange-Looking Lurker]

I like all of them!

[Radagast]

Got to be 'Namarie' hasn't it though?

Na-MAHR-i-eh

You know what Im talking about! :)

[KGamgee]

Sam's Song is the best!
Though here at journey's end I lie
In darkness buried deep
Beyond all towers strong and high
Beyond all mountains steep
Above all shadows rides the sun
The stars forever dwell
I will not say the day is done
Nor Bid the Stars farwell

Its so inspirational that Sam was in such an awful position, but still had hope. I have 4 poems memorized and thats one of them.
~KGamgee~

[Wayfarer]

Yes. ;)

[wahine]

I like Bilbo's poem in Rivendell.

I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen
Of yellow flowers and butterfly's
In summers I have been.

Coul anyone possibly POSSIBLY give me that entire poem? I memorized it when I was a kid but that is all I can remember of it. I would like to refresh my memory.

[crickhollow]

:) I like the lament for Boromir. other favorites are The Man in the Moon, The Bath Song, and Legolas's song of Nimrodel.

[olsonm]

The Ent/Entwife song.

[Blackboar]

I like my old signature:

Ho, Ho, Ho, to the bottle I go,
To clear my heart and drown my woe,
Rain may fall and wind may blow,
And many miles be still to go,
But under a tall tree I will lie,
And let the clounds go sailing by.

It is actually a song but you know:rolleyes:

[Falagar]

Perhaps 'I sang of leaves'...or maybe 'A Elbereth Gilthoniel'...

*thinks*
...
*thinks some more*

Gimli's song in Moria. Period.

[RosieCotton]

Sam's Song, or Bilbo's Song (I sit beside the fire and think...)
I also like The Fall of Gilgalad (the short part in Fellowship)

But I don't know. I sort of like
Three Rings for the Elven Kings
Under the Sky
Seven for the Dwarf Lord in their Halls of Stone
Nine for the Mortal Men, Doomed to die
One, for the Dark Lord, on his Dark Throne
In the Land of Mordor, where the Shadows lie
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them.
One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness, bind them.
In the Land of Mordor, where the Shadows lie.

It sort of sums everything up rather nicely. :)

[BeardofPants]

My favourites are actually from the BoLTs (Oh Kortirion!), and the Lays (part of which is technically in LOTR), but if pushed for a favourite (from LOTR), I guess I would go with the lament for Boromir.

[Falagar]

My favourites are actually from the BoLTs (Oh Kortirion!), and the Lays (part of which is technically in LOTR), but if pushed for a favourite, I guess I would go with the lament for Boromir.
You mean Kortirion among the trees, right?

[BeardofPants]

I wasn't actually giving the title, I was just lamenting for Kortirion. And I don't actually mean that particular version, but the later one entitled, The Trees of Kortirion: Alalminórë, Narquelion, HrÃ*vion, and Mettanyë.

[Falagar]

Ok...:)

[Attalus]

I like the one that Sam sang part of, "The Fall of Gil-Galad." :)

[Adrian Baggins]

I like:

Stilll 'Round the Corner There May Wait

Upon the heart the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone.
Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky,
Pass them by! Pass them by!

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sond and ston and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!

Home is behind, the worl ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead,
We'll wonder back to home and bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,
And then to bed! And then to bed!

I also like the elves song in the chapter called 3 is Company in Fotr called Snow-white! Snow-white! O lady Clear!, Farewell we call to harth and hall from a Conspiracy Unmasked.

The one poem I like is said by Bilbo. It is called When winter begins to bite.

[wahine]

I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.

I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.

For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood and every spring
there is adifferent green.

I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.

[Millane]

The fall of Gil-galad... it doesnt actually say what the words are but when the rohirrim start singing as they kill i would like whatever they sang.

[The Lady of Ithilien]

Earendil Was A Mariner and the excerpt of the song of Rohan that closes "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields." I know, that's two, so I'll divided them into two categories. In terms of a poem that works well with the text, it's the latter: "Red fell the dew in Rammas Echor." Sends chills up your spine. Araethirion, however, has a good case for Aragorn's verses.

Earendil Was A Mariner is my choice for a poem that stands alone. There's a good Suite 101 (http://www.suite101.com/print_article.cfm/4786/91315) article by Michael Martinez about that and its "twin" Errantry, a poem that eventually took on a life of its own, which delighted JRRT.

Oddly enough, both poems are so long that I skipped them for the first several times I read and reread the books.

[diannah]

Sam's song about Gil-Galad is my personal favorite.

[jerseydevil]

Since I love to travel it's "The Road Goes Ever On and On"


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,
Pursing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.


That's the version Bilbo sings as he leaves the shire. Frodo however, when he leaves the shire changes "eager" to "weary".

I also imagined all the places I could go just by stepping out my door. It's a simple song - but it's just a really profound thought I think in such a simple song.

In Salem, West Virginia my college was right off of US 50 and my house in Seymour, Indiana was right off of US 50. It was cool to think that basically - even though I was 500 miles apart - I was still on the same road as my family.

[azalea]

Aw, JD, that's so sweet! My family lives off of I-75, as does my husband's(in a different town), and now we've moved to a town right off of I75, too, so I know what you mean! It feels comforting in a way to know they might be traveling the same road as you at the same time!

I love that poem, too, although it feels melancholy to me. It makes me long for a time when you could step outside and walk in any direction to find an adventure. Now you'd run into fences, people's back yards, or a Wal Mart:rolleyes: . It feels like no room is made for the country dirt road where you can wander for hours, or a place where you could step over the crest of a hill and not see any civilization for miles around, just grass, trees, rocks, and streams.:(

[Orion]

Lament for Boromir is my favorite, it is so sad and beautiful at the same time.
"Through Rohan over fen and field where the long grass grows, the West Wind comes walking, and about the walls it goes. ... 'O Boromir! From the high walls westward I looked afar, but you came not from the empty lands where no men are.'" etc.

It is just beautiful. The other that I like a lot is Amroth and Nimrodel´s song.

[Ninquelote]

I think all of them are great in a unique way, but I prefer the shorter rhymes.

"Legolas Greenleaf long under tree
In joy thou hast lived- beware of the sea!
If thou hearest the call of the gull on the shore
Thy heart shall rest in the forest no more."

Concise and to the point, I think...

[Nimphredil]

My fav is defenetly Bilbo's song in Rivendell about Earendil.
I know it by heart. (The first pages are easy, I get troubles sometimes when reading the part when Earendil leaves the Undieing (sp?) Lands).
I know also some other poems from LOTR by heart (The Road Goes Ever On and On, Bilbo's other song in Rivendell, I sang of leaves.., the poem about Aragorn that Bilbo made up, Three rings for the elven kings.., some of the Tom Bombadil's songs). So I guess I'm a Tolkien's poetry fan plus I have a good memory and nothing bether to do.
I'm learning the song about Nimrodel right now.
I also like Sam's song in Cirith Ungol (that I don't know by heart).

[Bombadillo]

I think the song of the Ents' March to Isengard is the best by far.
"To Isengard! Though Isengard be ringed and barred
> with doors of stone;
Though Isengard be strong and hard, as cold as stone
> and as bare as bone..."
and as it goes on it gets cooler. Too lazy to write it. It's so metal.

That and the Rohirrim call to arms:
"Arise now, arise, Riders of Theoden!
Dire deeds awake, dark it is eastward.
Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded!
> Forth Eorlingas!"
In the clearest voice and loudest call heard in the history of ME.

[Wayfarer]

Earendil and Durin's Day are two favorites of mine, but I would have to say that Sam's Song is the one I enjoyed the most. Gil Galad gets an honorable mention.

In western lands
beneath the sun
the flowers may rise in spring
the trees may bud
the waters run
the merry finches sing
or maybe 'tis a cloudless night
and swaying beeches bear
the elven stars
as jewels white
among their branching hair

Though here at journys end I lie
In darkness buried deep
beyond all towers strong and high
beyond all mountains steep
above all shadows rides the sun
and stars forever dwell
I will not say 'the day is done'
nor bid the stars farewell

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I recently read Earendil, and loved it. :) But I think my favourite is:

The Dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells,
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.

Sorry if I got it wrong, My Hobbit's been missing forever...:o

Of couse, I also love "Snow-white! Snow-white!"

Which is that? Sam's Song?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

As azalea mentioned bringing this up, I thought I'd do so. :)

[Lady of Rohan]

You beat me to it Gwai. :) (And sorry Azalea)

My favourite is the tale of Tinuvel.

[Bombadillo]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
I recently read Earendil, and loved it. :) But I think my favourite is:

The Dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells,
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.

Sorry if I got it wrong, My Hobbit's been missing forever...:o

Of couse, I also love "Snow-white! Snow-white!"

Which is that? Sam's Song? I don't know if that's right or not, but that's pretty good for no Hobbit. You really must like it.

[azalea]

:) No need to apologize.:)

I found a pad of large-sized paper in my old closet at my parents' house. On it, from many years ago, was "The Road Goes Ever On and On," which I had written out with a felt pen in a stylized script. I think I had planned on tearing it out and framing it to put on my wall or something. It was fun to find that after so many years.:)

[Silpion]

I like the song Galadriel sang in the chapter Farewell to Lorien, I don't think it has a title but the first line is
I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:
it's just so sad, especially the last lines.
But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?
I also enjoy The Lay of Leithian, Sam's recitation of The Fall of Gil-galad, the song Aragorn sang of Boromir, and this song the elves sang in the chapter The Grey Havens
A! Elbereth Gilthoniel!
silivren penna miriel
o menel aglar elenath,
Gilthoniel, A! Elbereth!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees
The starlight on the Western Seas.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

You refer to her Lament? I actually have a sound file of Tolkien himself singing that. :)

[Silpion]

:)Lucky you:)
I wonder if it is as poignant as when the "Galadriel Voice" in my head sings it. (Okay, now I sound insane.)

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Oo

Maybe a little...;)

Naturally, I'm only kidding. :) I know exactly what you mean.

[Aragorn_iz_cool]

The one the Galadriel tells Gandalf to tell Aragorn (Where now are the Dunadain...)

Also Aragorn's poem (All that is gold does not glitter...)

And the one sam sings on weathertop (Gilgalad was an Elven King)


I memorized all three

[LutraMage]

Bilbo's "I sit abehind the fire and think". Really makes you think:cool:

[Rosie Gamgee]

Yes!! I love that one, as well as the 'Merry Old Inn' one that Frodo sings in the Prancing Pony. I've memorized both of those, as well as 'Gil-galad Was An Elven King', and a couple of other small rhymes, like 'Tall ships and Tall kings'. I love all of Tolkien's poetry (well, most of it). I really like Sam's 'Rhyme of the Troll'. Makes me laugh.:D :D

[elixir]

See my signature :D

In case I ever change it, I like Bilbo's poem about Aragorn best. It's simple but has a deeper meaning, which I love...

[hectorberlioz]

I like all poetry on lotr, but bilbo's poetry is superior in my opinion. He has that original touch, elves(as good as they are )mostly write romance and heritage stuff(i like it) and their poems can be so long....but never completly boring.

ELEXIR: hey, youre pretty new here. Welcome.

[Lanelf]

Sam's song in Cirith Ungol; Sam's Troll song; the Lay of Lethien (sp?) even though I've only read the bits in the Silmarillion; Bilbo's song about Earendil; most Hobbit songs; heck, all of them! Except Tom Bombadil. *shudder*
Lanelf.

[IronParrot]

I think the Old Walking-Song ("The Road goes ever on and on...") and its later variations really frame and define the entire book.

In terms of structure and lyricism, I would have to go with the Lay of Luthien. Try reading it out loud if you haven't, and you'll understand what I mean.

[ethuiliel]

I love all the songs in LotR, but my absolute favorite is Sam's song in the orc tower, it's so sweet. I love how he just sings in the face of despair, and refuses to resign to it. He is in a horrible situation, but instead of despairing he sings.

[Valandil]

Originally posted by LutraMage
Bilbo's "I sit beside the fire and think". Really makes you think:cool:

I agree about this one... AND I like Sam's 'Big as a house, grey as a mouse' about the Oliphaunt! :p

[durin's bane]

Oh, I love that one! It's so funny.

My favourite's always been "All that is gold does not glitter..." It's very pretty.

[Lady Ravyn]

my favs are:

"all that is gold does not glitter..."
"i sang of leaves, of leaves of gold..."
"the road goes ever on and on..."

[Beren3000]

The best bit of Tolkien poetry in my opinion is not in LOTR it's Beren's song (my signature is the last part of it) in the Silmarillion. In LOTR I like Galadriel's message to Aragorn. However, I think the MOST touching bit of poetry was the three rhymes that Legolas and Aragorn sang in Boromir's funeral; they were just amazing!