TOLKIEN LOVES ARDA
A thought, a theme, a world
by Fangorn
I saw my mothers smile in the heat of Africa
Hilary looked up at me when our father died
Our ship sailed back to England
The trees in Sarehole welcomed me back home
Hilary and I ran over the hills for four years
It was the favorite time in my life
Mabel taught me God, England taught me Sir Edwards School
We moved to Birmingham in Mosely, Sarehole was gone forever
But I found my voice in a language
My sweet mother died of sugar at Rednal and Aunt Bea took us
Edith smiled at me from a door I dare not cross
And the cross looked down at me and denied Oxford
Finally Oxford, then Switzerland, then Edith of my life forever.
Together finally, then WAR takes it all from me, and I am gone
To Germany I go, and fever and nightmares return with me
Alone for a long while in hospital does the fever of my mind grow
To a land of Mordor, where many shadows go
I think of Sarehole, Mabel and Edith....I pass my hand over my eyes
Then there were sons and a daughter and life
A beauteous Luthien to remain as my wife
And tales to tell and tales to make
And rhymes that were found in war's hellish wake
The world opened now before my wide eyes
Still colored by nightmares that still made me cry
But children and stories and a world that belied
All the hate and the fury we still wish to hide
For in a gentle hole, there dwelled a gentle Hobbit
A hole from Sarehole, and Africa's sun could not rob it
Nor the trenches of death, nor the halls of Oxford
Could steal fom my children a dishonest word
And as you sleep dear children of mine
And as I kiss each one of you in kind
Remember from Father comes at least this one thing
I give you a world where the crownless are King