Tolkien inspired me to begin writing poetry. It was his mastery of language, and the beauty of the poetry in Lord of the Rings, and his idea that we were sub-creators that gave me a vision for it. My first poem was inspired by the metric used by Theoden on the Pelenor fields. In the chapter titled, ‘The Ride of the Rohirrim’, Theoden utters these stirring words.
Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered
a sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor
I sat out on my front porch, facing the courtyard. It was autumn, and the leaves from the tall trees coloured the ground with shades of red, yellow and orange. I had been reflecting on my struggles, and how I never seemed to be able to give up the things that hurt me. My heart lifted with courage, and with my ears still ringing with the cry to ‘Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor’, I penned these words.
My heart lies wounded, ever broken, wanting to be free
Yet not greatly, do I seek it, trying fearfully
Not so! Cried He, with fervor strong, to you soundness of mind
Tis yours to claim, beloved child, adopted son of mine.
He came to earth, to live and die, and hang upon a tree
And no sweeter thought had He, than His love for thee
So do you think, that He would have, you wounded and not free
When faithful and just, to forgive is He, a child such as thee
Someday this Earth will hold no more, my feet upon this ground
For judgment day, will come with shout, to us a golden crown
A trumpet sound, the saints of God, will meet Him in the air
Eternal life, wounded no more, no pain, no strife, no care
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Perhaps one day the sun will shine a little bit too bright,
That gaseous ball expand too large, a really scorching sight.
And when that day comes long from now, we finally will learn,
Just what it’s like on Mercury, as we all smoke and burn.
Your code doth not notice the line breaks I enter?
Perhaps what you need is a programming mentor.