Members' Art, Prose and Poetry

[Merry]

Well, I'm not very good at this, but it was fun to try, and I didn't want Iolanthe's excellent Gandalf to stand alone! So here it is:

Oh, Who Art Thou, Olorin?

Many are my names in many countries, he said. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkun to the Dwarves; Olorin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incanus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.

Compasses call thy names, Grey Stranger,
But to Arda mystery thou remain.
Divine but not immune to danger:
To Durin’s Bane.

“Wisest of the Maiar was Olorin.”
Lorien taught thee to vision;
Nienna to mercy, hope unseen:
Saving mission.

By Lady Varda favored, sent
(Not in thy being to deny her),
To Eru’s Children, steward, servant:
The Secret Fire.

Thy dreams are bold, Olorin;
Visions of green earth, free.
Kindler of hearts, power unseen,
Preaching pity.

Fire, water, air and earth:
Thy passion passed through all.
Embodiment in Middle-earth
Entails a fall.

“Naked I was sent back . . .
Until my task is done.”
White Rider in defense, attack:
Victory won.

But who art thou, Olorin?
The god of many names
Forgot them all in death, rebirth:
The price of flames.

So when the white ship brings thee West,
To Valar, kin, you come,
(“Well done, faithful servant, best,”)
Wilt thou be home?

[Iolanthe]

Merry, I don't know why you say you're not very good at this, that poem is just wonderful !

I love the fact that you've taken the whole of Gandalf's being and his journey. There is great sacrifice there and it's made me look afresh at just what he gave up to help Middle-earth and how hard his road was. The last verse makes you think. He has become so much more than when he was sent, he has passed through a great darkness than none of the other Maiar have endured, he has been loved by so many peoples and individuals that well never join him in the West. Who is he now indeed and where is his real home?

This is exactly why I think art and poetry inspired by Tolkien can open our understanding and our hearts and make us see things afresh, as well as being a lot of fun for us to do .

Any more Gandalf offerings out there? I did start work on a comic verse - Tolkien himself knew how to use both the sublime and the ridiculous . I'd better get on with it! And how about a Gandalf Haiku?

[Merry]

Oh, good, Iolanthe, that's exactly what I had in mind. Gandalf seemed so much at home in ME, especially the Shire, in so many ways. Maybe that's another reason why the Valar allowed two hobbits to come back West with him!

[Airwin]

And how about a Gandalf Haiku?

How's this?

Gandalf was his name
His task to save Middle-Earth
and then crown the King

[Iolanthe]

Gandalf's mission in a nutshell, Airwin! I'm glad everyone is having a go .

Here's another one:

Olorin I was
Then Pilgrim Grey I wandered
Now White fire burning


I admit I find Haiku difficult - it's a first for me too!

[Philipa]

At the risk of getting a 'boooo' and being a stickler for correct forms of Haiku, you are writing senryus not haikus.

A haiku is written about the seasons and a senryu is written about people.

[Merry]

I have never heard that distinction, Philipa. Learn something new every day!

[Airwin]

Shows you what I know about poetry. No booo Philipa, thanks for letting us know the correct name!

[Iolanthe]

Shows what I know as well..... not a lot ! Is this the place to admit that I first called it a 'Haka', had a much later that it was wrong and had to log on again to edit it ?

So that was our first attempts at senryu then .

Anyone for a Haka (tee hee)?

[Philipa]

Well I suppose I'd better shut up or put up.

Deep, black shadowed flame
ruled Moria than smote by
Mithrandir's blade.

[hope]

Merry!!

Excellent poem

Here goes......

You began so bent and seemed so old
Timeless you were and returned so bold

Yet humble and gentle with strength anew
Your role so vital to battle on through

So Gandalf, Mithrandir the Grey Pilgrim
Middle Earth it must Thank you.

[Philipa]

Good job everyone.

Merry the last lines are stunning.

So when the white ship brings thee West,
To Valar, kin, you come,
(“Well done, faithful servant, best,”)
Wilt thou be home?

[Merry]

Thanks, Philipa. I like the thought behind the poem a lot, but the mechanics just defeat me. For example, I can't seem to fix that last stanza: I've been using the formal 'thee/thou/thy' all the way through, but I can't get that to sound right in the third line. And I like the previous stanza a lot, but the rhyme scheme isn't the same as in the rest of the poem. Aaarrgh!

Maybe I'll keep working on it.

I've loved all these poems--this is great!

[Iolanthe]

It's fun, isn't it? Your poem reads very well to me, Merry, but I admit that I fiddle with my poems for ages (even years) afterwards .

Nice senryu Philipa! I think I'll have another go at a proper Middle-earth Haiku. There's a lot of seasonal stuff in Tolkien...

Well done, Hope! It's great everyone is giving it a go. I've always found it interesting that those sent by the Valar took the shape of old men with the wisdom and learning we asociate with the old but also with hidden power and strength that we don't.

[Iolanthe]

Moving away from poetry and the Gandalf theme for a bit (so I have more time to think of a real Middle-earth haiku ) here is another completed painting:


Isenguard




Saruman's wheels of industry also contain the Eye and Saurman can be seen looking through the Palantir at the top of the tower. The painting now gives me the creeps !