Members' Art, Prose and Poetry

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:39 pm

It is wonderful, Iolanthe--you've captured something in the light that I think Tolkien would love. Now I have to go back to read the story of Fingolfin!

RR, what other ideas do you have for the series? I personally would like to see the Gaffer's garden, planted with root crops!

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:18 am

Merry wrote:RR, what other ideas do you have for the series? I personally would like to see the Gaffer's garden, planted with root crops!

That's an inspired idea Merry!! May have to move that to the top of the list.

I am working on ideas for Cerin Amroth, Lothlorien...or...

"They jumped over the low place in the hedge at the bottom and took to the fields, passing into the darkness like a rustle in the grasses."

...or...

"As they began to climb its first slopes they looked back and saw the lamps of Hobbiton far off twinkling in the gentle valley of the Water."

There is certainly plenty of inspiration.

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:49 pm

Your painting is lovely, Iolanthe - time and time again I've read advice from professional artists which advises not giving up when you think it's gone all wrong - and you've proved them right with this one!! Often paintings lose their way about halfway through - it really is worth persevering!

Riv, I think Merry's idea of the Gaffer's garden is a great suggestion for your series. Perhaps you could include runner beans as well as root crops? I'm sure he would have grown those too!

elentarivarda · Post by **elentarivarda** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:39 pm

I don't have a scanner or digital camera with me, so my phone camera will have to do. LOL This is a sketch of Lady Galadriel - I wanted her to look like she's a part of nature. It's only a sketch and I have a lot do do with it.

I might even try it in watercolors - which I discovered are not in storage!!!! I also included some close ups of her hair/dress and of the water vase.

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:36 am

I'd love to see a watercolour based on these wonderful sketches, Elentarivarda !!

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:05 am

I love the flowing style, like tumbling leaves and tendrils

. It's very distinctive Varda and does make her seem part of nature, just like you wanted. Get those paints out!

Lindariel · Post by **Lindariel** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:21 pm

Lovely work Iolanthe and EV! It is below 20 degrees F here today, Iolanthe, and your painting of Fingolfin and his people crossing the Grinding Ice has caused me to bundle up in my double-fleece comforter here at the computer.

EV, I love your Galadriel drawing. She seems to have become part of the trees and leaves and water surrounding her.

More please, ladies!

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:52 am

I was going through my poems and found some really old ones. This one may already be on this thread but I'm not going through 30 pages to find out. It's just an ok one but it's something to add here.

Creating Arda

The Void is palpable
and thought creates colors.
Windless tornadoes squeeze
gas into matter and
in the end songs have breath.

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:07 pm

You've never posted that one before, Philipa, it's new to me. It's great to have some more poems here

.

I love the last line - 'in the end songs have breath.' The singing of the world into being is one of my favourite moments in the whole of the Silmarillion. The idea really captures me everytime I think about it (maybe it's because I'm a singer...). The line reminds me that all the people of Middle-earth are songs made flesh. I love that idea.

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:24 pm

Thanks for posting your poem, Philipa - I haven't seen it before either. The link between breath and creation (breath of life) always reminds me of the link between the words respiration and inspiration. It all comes from the same Source.

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:15 pm

Glad I didn't bore you with my drivel.

It's a pretty rough poem and probably should have reworked it before posting it. I already see changes I should have made.

Iolanthe yes, the singing used as creation also fascinates me. It's not only poetic (Tolkien's no slouch in that dept) it makes sense to me too.

It all comes from the same Source.

Definitely marbretherese.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:39 pm

Yes, it's a good articulation of that Mystery: 'palpable' is a good word here, too, Philipa. Thanks!

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:25 pm

We wantsss more poetry precioussss...we doess.

Very nice Philipa...very well done.

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:06 pm

As our Christmas thread has led to a surge of creativity that's gone well beyond funny doggeral, I'm importing some of the 'proper' poems over from the 'Fireside Fun' thread to our 'proper poetry' thread ( ) so they don't get lost when that thread is archived. Then we can find them again with the other poems when we want to. .

From Philipa:

Philipa wrote: Just a haiku I wrote while waiting for the dinner to cook.

Snow falls in Lindon,
upon the Misty Mountains
Lórien sees it not.

From marbretherese:

marbretherese wrote: This isn't short, or particularly Christmassy and it isn't that funny. Apart from that it fits the criteria perfectly . . . .

This was found scrawled on a piece of paper which fell out of an ancient copy of the Red Book of Westmarch.
Like many such ballads it's not entirely accurate,
being a popular version of an old, old tale:

The Ballad of Sam Gamgee

It’s Christmas Eve: we’ve feasted well
And carolled merrily;
Now gather round and I will tell
The tale of Sam Gamgee.

Young Sam, a gardener, overheard
His master plan to flee
The Shire: “I’ll join you! Say the word!”
Declared stout Sam Gamgee.

Two more made up their little band;
They roamed adventurously
Beset by danger in strange lands
Unknown to Sam Gamgee.

At length they came to Rivendell
And tarried pleasantly:
“Elves and wizards! Dwarves as well!”
Said happy Sam Gamgee.

A Fellowship they formed at last,
A valiant Company
In Mordor’s fires the Ring to cast
(Including Sam Gamgee).

Two Men, one Wizard, Dwarf and Elf,
Four Hobbits, one Po-nee?
He kept having to pinch himself,
Excited Sam Gamgee!

In Moria, when Gandalf fell,
Sam wept despondently.
Then under charmed Lothlorien’s spell
Came heartsore Sam Gamgee.

At Amon Hen Frodo took flight:
“Now, Master, wait for me,
I mustn’t let you out of sight!”
Cried desperate Sam Gamgee.

To Mordor then with Gollum’s aid
They went. Great bravery
In Shelob’s lair our Sam displayed –
That’s just like Sam Gamgee!

And for a while Sam kept the Ring
For Frodo; faithfully
Ignored its call; the evil thing
Could not touch Sam Gamgee!

Then, as they neared their journey’s end,
His master valiantly
Sam carried, like a true, true friend;
Devoted Sam Gamgee!

They stood beside the Cracks of Doom,
The Ring shone vividly;
Despite the heat a sense of gloom
Crept over Sam Gamgee.

“I’ll keep the Ring!” his master cried
But Gollum viciously
Bit him and took it o’er the side
In front of Sam Gamgee.

Beside his master Samwise lay
In Orodruin’s lee.
The Ring was gone – no more to say
But “Thank you, Sam Gamgee.”

Home in the Shire they feasted well
(They made Sam Mayor, you see)
And to this day the hobbits tell
The tale of Sam Gamgee.

From elentarivarda:

About one of my favorite storylines...the Legolas/Gimli friendship and Legolas' loyalty and devotion to his friends.

elentarivarda wrote: Legolas remained
tho' the gulls sang

his duty not done
his friends not gone

with Gimli he traveled
until Elessar's time unraveled

And then the friends
sailed to the Silvery ends

From Merry:

Merry wrote:Song of the Galadhrim

O, the queen of all trees!
Sing praise to the mallorn,
Lothlorien people,
The home of the first-born.

O, Caras Galadhon,
Our fair city of green
Living towers and great,
Great majesty unseen.

Living green in the spring,
Fallow gold in the fall,
On their stems of silver,
O, sing praise to them all.

Laita te, laita te,
A eglerio!
Andave laituval-
met, A eglerio!

A galadhremmin en-
norath le linnathon,
A Galadriel,
Si nef aearon!

O, Galadriel Queen,
Hear us all as we sing.
Maybe you have found peace
At the end of the Ring.

(A little late for Christmas, but it takes us non-creative people a little longer! I sometimes imagine the elves of Lothlorien after Galadriel is gone, maybe gathering around her mallorn to sing their hymns and wish their Lady well in her new life. I've borrowed some Sindarin from a couple of sources that I think might fit!)

Wonderful

!

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 10:21 pm

Good idea. Maybe if we get enough collected we could post them as we do the artist's gallery.