Under the Green Desk Lamp…
With the new season of the rather middling ‘Rings of Power’ dropping now on streaming services, I thought it worth re-sharing this old poem. This is a reflection from events occurring in the First Age of Tolkien’s Middle Earth legendarium, but some of the references may just be relevant. Time will tell.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this old poem either way, originally posted in 2017.
Now I look back to Gondolin,
That city bright and fair.
With endless song and shining towers,
And fountains crystal clear.
Its seven gates had warded us,
From the darkening and doubt.
And in our hidden valley dear,
We shut all others out.
Built so proud upon its hill,
A beacon true and sure.
That song and jest and merriment,
Through madness might endure.
We raised it up from barren stone,
To stand the test of time.
Its towers gleamed beneath the sun,
And love and peace were mine.
But where love blossoms
Envy too, takes root in hearts less fair.
The serpents came, and brought their ruin,
And laid my city bare.
So through the mountains we did fly,
To safety in the south.
Where still remained a people free,
Upon the Sirion’s mouth.
But as I passed I turned once more,
My fear and doubts to tame.
No city white did meet my sight,
Nothing but smoke and flame.
The cries I heard, the screams and clash,
The death of all I’d known.
That hope for all should sunder one
From his beloved home.
At last my gaze turned to the West,
Where the setting sun grew dim.
And there I dreamed I saw a star.
…Alas for Gondolin.
-Brad OH Inc.
