2009 Yule Poetry Competition

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:24 pm

2009 Yule Poetry Competition

Siegfried slaying Fafnir

It’s that time of year again. Just as you start to put your brains on ice for Christmas we set you a challenge to get all those little grey cells up and running again.

This year saw the publication of Tolkien’s wonderfully evocative The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, two ‘new’ lays from old legends, written entirely in 8 line Eddaic fornyrðislag metre. Now, don’t be scared. Although Eddaic fornyrðislag is horribly complicated, with more rules than the European Union, we’re letting you off lightly and asking for poems that just capture the spirit of it. What we’re looking for is a few verses, not more than 32 lines (or much shorter if you like), about one of Tolkien’s heroes. He or she can be from any of his books and all you have to do is tell part of their tale as vividly as possible. The essence of fornyrðislag is to use very few words, but words that cut right to the emotional heart of the tale, plenty of drive and rhythm and as much alliteration as you like, with the first letters or with the sound of the whole word. Each verse should be 8 lines long, made up of two distinct groups of 4.

It’s not as hard as it sounds (because we’ve eliminated most of the really tricksy rhyming rules) and to inspire you and give you a model to help you along, here are a couple of verses from Tolkien's The Lay of the Völsungs describing Sigurd finding the dragon’s hoard after slaying Fafnir:

Gold piled on gold
there glittered paley:
that gold was glamoured
with grim curses.
The Helm of Horror
on his head laid he:
swart fell the shadow
round Sigurd standing.

Great and grievous
was Grani’s burden,
yet lightly leaped he
down the long mountain.
Ride now! ride now
road and woodland,
horse and hero,
hope of Odin!

We're a talented bunch here and I know we can all have some fun with this. So pick your hero and get writing .

You can submit more than one poem and all entries need to be in by New Year's Day.

The winner can chose between two books out this year: The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun (of course) or the new edition of Tales from the Perilous Realm, illustrated by the wonderful Alan Lee.

Excerpt The Lay of the Völsungs [copyright]The Tolkien Trust 2009/Harper Collins[/copyright][/i]

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 1:28 pm

This is cool! will get my thinking cap on. So many heroes, so little time!!

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:19 pm

We won't exactly be short of people to chose from, will we?

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:18 pm

Good point! One would be hard pressed to write one of these based on, for example, someone from the cast of 'Seinfeld'!

Lindariel · Post by **Lindariel** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:01 pm

This sounds like a LOT of fun! But how on earth am I to choose just ONE hero to extol in this gritty, direct style? ARGH! Choices! Choices!

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:37 pm

ARE we restricted to just one? one entry, I mean? I sat down on the train this morning and wrote three verses on my first choice of hero, starting in my usual organised fashion at verse three (although I didn't know it was verse three when I wrote it), then verse four, then verse one. Only verse two to go . . . mind you, once it's written I'll have to let it sit for a while and then tidy it up

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:43 pm

All this enthusiasm is wonderful! I'd like to see every poem anyone can offer - we'll ponder in the backroom whether they can all be competition entries or whether the poet has to nominate one of their offerings as their actual entry before the deadline.

Meliel · Post by **Meliel** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:06 am

Eeep!! This is exciting! $\:D/$
Lindariel is right, hard to choose out of the many likeable characters...

I'll do my best to choose a hero, can't wait!

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:32 am

marbretherese wrote:ARE we restricted to just one? one entry, I mean?

It is good to see the creative Tolkien juices flowing. $\:D/$ Let's really get creative and to help that along and to answer marbretherese's question...No, you are not limited to one entry. Like Iolanthe, I would like to see every poem everyone has to offer...so...enter as often as you choose until you run out of heroes...hard to do with Tolkien.

Let the competition begin!!

Meliel · Post by **Meliel** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:41 am

Here it is, I hope you like it!

“A Hero With No Sword” by Meliel

He stood at the slope of the spewing volcano,
As he watched the menacing black gate.
His best friend laid lifeless on the rocks,
Lightheaded from his burden’s weight.
When all faith seemed to be failing,
And his friend’s consciousness lacked,
He said, “I cannot concede now...
Because there’s no blundering back.”

He held his hurting friend
As he ascended the agonizing mountain;
Knowing that he could die
With his clinging companion behind him.
At any accidental moment,
Any flash that followed him,
He could have been suddenly grabbed
By the ghastly gremlin Gollum.

The beast made a blow to his head,
Attempting to steal the ring,
But the hero fought the creature off,
Not stopping for anything.
He was a brave fellow,
Yet gentle like the lamb.
Recognized for his honesty,
The hobbit’s name was Sam.

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:04 am

Now THAT is lovely!!! Going to be hard to beat.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:27 am

Really good use of alliteration, Meliel, and you use it to describe a defining moment in the story. Well done!

This is going to be fun!

Meliel · Post by **Meliel** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:41 pm

Thank you so much, Merry and Riv!

I did my best.

Lindariel · Post by **Lindariel** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:46 pm

OK ladies and gents, the gauntlet has been thrown down by our youngest member, who is all of 13 years old now. Can we live up to her wonderful entry?

Meliel · Post by **Meliel** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:13 pm

I'll bet you can, ma.