Middle-earth Journeys

Posted: **Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:46 am**

Let's Celebrate Tolkien's Yule Season with a Contest

I have been able to lay my hands on an extra copy of the Tolkien Hobbit Calendar for 2006 and we are offering it up as a prize for a fun Yule Contest here ar MeJ.

Click on images to enlarge.

There will only be one prize and one winner, because there is only one available calendar.

Here's how you enter to win the calendar.

You must write either a prose or poetry entry of 150 words or less that celebrates Tolkien's Yule Season. It can be fact or fiction...your chioce.

You must post it accompanied by a piece of Tolkien art (by any artist)...NO FILM SCREENCAPS ALLOWED HERE. You must also identify the artist by name.

Your entry must be entered ON THIS CONTEST THREAD by 8:00am (U.S. Mountain Standard Time) on Saturday, December 22, 2005.

We will all vote for the winner in a poll in this same thread. Each of us can only vote once. The voting will begin at @10:00am on December 22, 2005 and will end at 8:00am (U.S. Mountain Standard Time) on Saturday, December 24, 2005. Therefore the prize will be awarded and shipped on Christmas Eve.

Here is a humble example of what may be entered into the contest. REMEMBER...you can use either prose or poetry.

No...this is NOT a contest entry.

Meriadoc The Magnificent and The Children of Samwise

A Hobbit lives in the Shire.
He's wearing his winter attire.
The season is Yule,
And he's not such a fool
To be far from the warmth of the fire.

This Hobbit makes ready for guests.
He's had a bazillion requests.
All want to be present.
In finery resplendent.
A big bunch of Shire-folk pests.

For it is reported to all,
To Hobbits, both the big and the small.
A special guest there is certain to be,
From the land to the South by the Sea.
When Elessar, the High King comes to call.

So, dream of Elves and candies this Yule,
When the air is chilly and cool.
Dream of warm fires and Kings,
And many marvelous thngs
Brought to life by the Tolkien school.

Let us know if you need help posting your pictures. We will be glad to assist.

Let's have some Yule fun. Let the competition begin.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:34 pm**

Way out of practice writing poetry, but here goes:

One Christmas Eve I dozed before the fire,
And as I dozed, I dreamt of festive fun:
A Christmas in the spirit of the Shire,
A time of light and joy for everyone.
I dreamt of cakes & ale, of bread & wine,
Of music, dancing, poetry and song;
Where everybody had a lovely time
And young & old alike joined in the throng.
When I awoke, upon the hearth I found
A sprig of some mysterious silver tree;
As though an elf had come without a sound
And left a Christmas gift there, just for me;
And all around me then I heard the call:
"Let there be peace on Earth! goodwill to all!"

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:47 pm**

Excellent for someone so rusty.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:15 pm**

Oh that is lovely! I can never think straight enough these days, thanks to two elflets that have a knack of driving me crazy. (my sons)

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:54 pm**

The 25 of Yulemuth Parting

On the winter soltice, the shortest day of light did the nine depart.
From Rivendell did two Men, four Hobbits, an Elf, a Dwarf, and a Wizard set out on a quest.
Their task was to undo a great evil, a ring of power and pain to be made udone in the fires from wence it came.

To this task noble men brought knowlege of swords, the elf keen sight and arrows true, Hobbits small but stern;
these friends of the earth, the dwarf with iron resolve and steadfast will;
hard as living rock, and the wizard; wise servant of the secret fire.

Of all these skills none were greater than the love they bore.
Blessed were they of Elbereth who's grace shone upon them, yet even unto the darkest places of Middle Earth.
For pity would undo what malice had wrought.

On that longest night did hope shine within thier hearts which would guide them to what end they did not know.
All roads lead to one end and darkness passes into fair morning light.

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:07 pm**

Bruce, that is awesome!
I have just been reading the unfinished tales and The Siilmarillion. Your piece captures a real sense of the passion in J.R.R's writing.

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:57 pm**

I must laugh out loud...last night as I sat with several Tolkien referrence books around me I started reading to come up with a poem very similar to bruce's. Two hour later I still was caught looking things up emersed in the books with no intention of writing anything. I just get lost in the words and don't come up for air.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:09 am**

Here's my contribution--with pleas for mercy from the real poets in the group

(And Phillipa, I know just what you mean.)

In Ithilien, dark trees stand
sentinel over the tumbling land
In the White City, banners soar
over stone streets warmed with open doors
In Lothlorien, leaves of mallorn
Lay thickly upon the land forlorn
Far north, the Iron Mountains lie
Reaching stony heights to icy skies
And winter winds sweep night to morn,
in the Misty Mountains, ‘round old Redhorn
But here I lie, in my warm bed
Feather pillow tucked behind my head
In the Shire that I love best
No other place, no other rest
is where I’d rather be this Yule
(Except, perhaps, where horselords rule)
Among these folk, my friends, my kin
together we’ll sing the New Year in
And a toast I’ll raise, and drink with pride
to friends afar in the world outside.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:57 pm**

Very good work thus far from what I have seen. Thanks for the praise everyone, and I hope more wil come in before the deadline.

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:23 pm**

I hope there will be more entries, too - I had such fun writing mine and I really enjoyed reading the ones from Bruce and Francoise! perhaps everyone else is busy putting the final touches to their own compositions?

Posted: **Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:19 pm**

Perhaps even after the contest we can still post our creative endeavors. I have not the time as the children are home from school today (bad weather) and tomorrow is out of the question. I do want to add something and will do so regardless of a deadline.

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:00 am**

Yule Contest Extension

The quality of the entries in our Yule contest has been extraordinary. We have decided to extend the contest just a little longer in the hopes of getting any additional entries. You see...you have us all spoiled already!! So, the new deadlines is...

10:00am (U.S. Mountain Standard Time) on Thursday, December 22nd.

Click on images to enlarge.

Let the contest...continue!

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2005 4:00 am**

The Trees of Middle-earth

Telperion and Laurelin,
The first of all the trees,
Lit up all of Valinor,
The land across the seas.

The mallorn’s found in Lorien
In shades of grey and gold.
Its living boughs are shelter
To elves and hobbits bold.

The great White Tree of Gondor,
Ancient symbol of that realm,
Is guarded by the fountain
By a guy in a weird helm!

So do you have a Christmas Tree?
Behold it with new eyes:
It tells the tales of Middle-earth
To those who are deemed wise.

(I had so much fun reading the other excellent entries that I had to try my hand at this myself! But I want to disqualify myself from the contest--conflict of interest and all that! Good luck, everyone, and Happy Yule!)

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2005 4:25 pm**

I am glad to hear that the contest has been extended, this will allow more folks to sumbit their work. For those who think their creativity is not up to this task, just let your imagination free and associate it with your favorite Yuletide-like illustrations.
I was waiting for yours and was very pleased to see your fine poem Merry.

Good luck to all and a fine Yule season.

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2005 5:01 pm**

Thanks, Bruce! 'Tis but a bit of doggerel, I fear, but I wanted to use the fine picture. I echo your encouragement, though: I am the least creative person at Middle-earth Journeys, I am sure, so if I can do it, everyone can!

Middle-earth Journeys

Tolkien's Yule Season Contest

Tolkien's Yule Season Contest