Favorite Poem/Song?

[Lomadia]

Which of Tolkien's many poems and songs do you prefer? What about it particularly appeals to you? What does this poem or song add to the story for you?

If you're having trouble finding a poem or song, the index in the back of The Return of the King includes a list by title and by first line.

[Elanor]

Well, I've always liked " The Road goes ever on and on" ! How about you, Lomadia?

[Lomadia]

I'm particularly fond of the song Frodo sings as he is walking with Sam to meet Bilbo before they journey to the Grey Havens:

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a 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.

To me this poem signifies Frodo's acceptance that he cannot stay in Middle-earth, which I admire very much. I think we would all like to be so at peace when it finally comes time for us to 'pass away.' I'm especially moved by the idea of death as being just another journey, whose destination is hidden from us until we take the journey ourselves.

[Beren Erchamion]

Mine's a passage from the battle of songs between (High King?) Finrod Felagund and Sauron. It can be found in the part of the Silmarillion concerning Beren:

He chanted a song of wizardry,
Of piercing, opening, of treachery,
Revealing, uncovering, betraying.
Then sudden Felagund there swaying
Sang in answer a song of staying,
Resisting, battling against power,
Of secrets kept, strength like a tower,
And trust unbroken, freedom, escape;
Of changing and of shifting shape
Of snares eluded, broken traps,
The prison opening, the chain that snaps.
Backwards and forwards swayed their song.
Reeling and foundering, as ever more strong
The chanting swelled, Felagund fought,
And all the magic and might he brought
Of Elvenesse into his words.
Softly in the gloom they heard the birds
Singing afar in Nargothrond,
The sighing of the Sea beyond,
Beyond the western world, on sand,
On sand of pearls in Elvenland.
Then the gloom gathered; darkness growing
In Valinor, the red blood flowing
Beside the Sea, where the Noldor slew
The Foamriders, and stealing drew
Their white ships with their white sails
From lamplit havens. The wind wails,
The wolf howls. The ravens flee.
The ice mutters in the mouths of the Sea.
The captives sad in Angband mourn.
Thunder rumbles, the fires burn ---
And Finrod fell before the throne.