VOTING: 2009 Yule Poetry Competition

[Riv Res]

VOTING: 2009 Yule Poetry Competition



Siegfried slaying Fafnir

© Unknown

Now it is time to vote for your favorite Yule poem!

Congratulations to all our entrants for giving us such wonderful poems and heroes to choose from! You will have until January 17 (6:00 am Mountain Time) to cast your votes. This will be a tough decision. Good luck!!



REMEMBER...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.

[Riv Res]

#1


“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]

#2


Dauntless, Death-desiring Dernhelm
Fearlessly faced dark Death-Dealer.
“Depart Dark Dwimmerlaik, Carrion King!
Or my sword shall smite thee!”
Ringwraith replied, “No man may mark me;
Unharmed, unhindered, untouchable am I.
With flayed flesh, by demons devoured,
Long languishing shalt thou suffer.”

Lightly laughing, Dernhelm dared him,
“Woman shall wound thee, Death Demon,
Eowyn am I, Eomund’s daughter!
Woe-wielding, Death-defying!”
Winged wight flew fiercely upon her.
Mighty maiden, King’s kindred,
Fair and fearless, slight and slender,
With slashing steel slew craven creature.

Tall and towering the Nazgul knight
Smote her shield, bones breaking.
Cold and cruel, with mighty mace
The Dark Demon desired her death.
Sudden stab from hobbit hero
Magnificent Merry flouted their foe.
Then shivering Shieldmaiden, fainting, falling
Dealt Death to the Death-dealer.

[Riv Res]

#3


Steady beat of friendship
Sam's devotion to a promise
made not to be broken,
nor to be shaken by deception.
A heart sturdy
gives all with out question.
Evil follows it's own path
changes form, without substance

Which one leader,
which follower.
an unknown end beckons;
Doom begins to prevail
Friendship holds to promise
in a black world.
His burden carried to fulfillment,
saved by a Hobbit hero's hand

[Riv Res]

#4


Swan on shield
And swan-helmed, Tuor
To the strand strayed,
Storm-clouds noting;
Wild the wind and
Waves revealing
Glorious Ulmo,
Lord of Waters!

“Messenger, my
mantle wear ye,
path & purpose
from peril shielded;
warn the wise and
wily Turgon:
dread downfall of
Doomed Gondolin!”

Transfixed, Tuor
Took the lappet,
Cast the cloak
With care about him,
Valiant vowed to
Voyage onward,
Seeking secret
City of Turgon.

Waves lashed wildly,
Washed ashore
Shipwreck survivor
Stunned Voronwë:
Guide to Gondolin,
Gift of Ulmo!
Swift they set to
Sea-god’s bidding.

[Riv Res]

#5


The treacherous tunnels of the murky mine
Soldier on in spine-chilling silence.
“Advance to the bridge,” the wizard says,
“But beware of the Balrog’s violence.”
Swiftly and soundlessly, the group scurried
Crossing the dull Khazad-Dûm.
Unknowingly awakening a fiery foe,
The death-assuring demon of doom.

The horned creature roared,
With wretched reverberation.
It stood in a taunting stance,
Wanting response of the population.
“You must yield,” Wizard wails,
Echoing ever endlessly,
“Or return to your residence...
...In pain and misery!”

The demon disobeyed, desiring death,
As it launched forward frightfully.
Grasping the wizard, it plummeted,
The fellowship watched distressfully.
The wizard latched onto the ledge,
Wondering of his last words,
“Fly, you fools,” said he, firmly,
Frodo cried out as the ledge dispersed.

[Riv Res]

#6


Tall and terrible, Tol-in-Gaurhoth,
Once fair Felagund’s Minas Tirith,
Now werewolf wold, grim and ghostly,
Ghastly grinned on lissome Luthien.
Siren song sang she, seeking
Felagund fair and Beren brave
Painfully prisoned in tower terrible
By sneering sorcerer Sauron.

Wolf upon wolf, Sauron sent slavering
Melian’s maid to capture cowering.
But hound Huan, valiant of Valinor,
Slew them swiftly, silent sentinel.
Dread Draugluin, wicked werewolf,
Old in evil, Sauron sent.
Fiercely fought they, Hound and Haunt,
‘Til weak, wounded, Draugluin departed.

Then grim Gorthaur shape shifted
To foulest werewolf to walk the world.
Wicked werewolf against Melian’s maid
Slavering sprang, her cloak covering.
Drowsy darkness hindered him,
Then Hound Huan throttled his throat.
Slinking Sauron surrendered Sirion,
Mastered by maid and Hound Huan.

On vampire’s wing he vanished, vanquished,
As lovely Luthien proclaimed her power.
Spells spun she, sorceress of song,
‘Til stone upon stone tumbled tower.
Searching songstress and faithful friend
Long looked, then watching wept,
For Felagund the Fair lifeless lay
By brave Beren, ghastly, grieving.

[Riv Res]

#7


Clinging cobwebs,
creeping dangers!
Gollum grabbed
and grappled Sam.
Fierce the fight which
freed the hobbit;
Shelob-spider
struck at Frodo!

Seizing Sting
and star-glass, Samwise
stabbed as Shelob
stung her victim;
bared steel, brave
and boldly cried:
“A Elbereth
Gilthoniel!”

Thwarted, wounded,
withdrew spider;
shrouded, silent,
still lay Frodo.
Distraught, desperate,
doubtful Samwise!
stay at Master’s
side or leave him?

Quest recalling,
courage found, he
resolute retrieved
the Ring of Power.
Orcs heard he then
approach hard by him;
swift the Ring slipped
onto Sam’s finger.

[Riv Res]

#8


The Heart of Elwing

Gone is her Lord
on his twin quests,
to find those lost,
to reach Valinor.
Elwing remains
in Middle-Earth,
waiting for a sign,
by great Sirion.

Love for her sons,
young and untrained,
changing day by day,
needing guidance.
How could she leave
her children behind,
abandoned near
the mouths of Sirion.

Yet her heart sails
across the Sea
to ride the waves
with her beloved,
who proudly stands
on Vingilot
that set sail from
River Sirion.

In sorrow Elwing sits,
her face to the Sea,
neglecting all,
her sons, her people;
Westward watching,
waiting the return
of Earendil
to her by Sirion.

[Riv Res]

BTW...IMHO...this is terrific poetry!

[Lindariel]

I haven't been able to make up my mind yet on how to vote, but I must say, I firmly believe this is the best Yule Poetry Contest we have had to date. What extraordinary entries!

[Merry]

I agree, Lindariel: nearly impossible to choose. Our thanks should also go to Iolanthe, who interpreted for us the rules for this kind of poetry so well.

[Iolanthe]

You're very welcome!

I agree with all the comments - so hard to chose and everyone has produced stuff beyond my wildest dreams, given the challenge. MeJ members rock!

[serinde]

These really are brilliant poems!

[Riv Res]

Our hearty CONGRATULATION! to marbretherese for garnering the tops votes and winning the Yule Poetry Contest with her wonderful entry!!

#4


Swan on shield
And swan-helmed, Tuor
To the strand strayed,
Storm-clouds noting;
Wild the wind and
Waves revealing
Glorious Ulmo,
Lord of Waters!

“Messenger, my
mantle wear ye,
path & purpose
from peril shielded;
warn the wise and
wily Turgon:
dread downfall of
Doomed Gondolin!”

Transfixed, Tuor
Took the lappet,
Cast the cloak
With care about him,
Valiant vowed to
Voyage onward,
Seeking secret
City of Turgon.

Waves lashed wildly,
Washed ashore
Shipwreck survivor
Stunned Voronwë:
Guide to Gondolin,
Gift of Ulmo!
Swift they set to
Sea-god’s bidding.

Congratulations to all of our entrants who gave us such memorable poetry to read through the holidays!!