Lament for the Rohirrim
Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning,
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?
Aragorn recites this poem as he approaches Edoras, accompanied by Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli. He recites it first in the language of the Rohirrim,and then translates it for his companions. It recalls "how tall and fair was Eorl the Young... and his steed Felarof, father of horses."
I sometimes skim the poems in LOTR, or read them only for the historical information. But when I looked at this one recently, it occurred to me that it is written in one of Tolkien's favored literary forms. It is a riddle. Most Tolkien fans recall the famous "Riddles in the Dark", and in many preliterate societies, riddles are an important form of literature.
What's the answer? Where is "the hand on the harpstring"? "Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning"? Clearly, ol' J.R.R. himself. The poem is a riddle, and the author is the answer.
p.s. What have I got in my pocket?
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