I’ve been rereading a favourite book from my childhood, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien loved poetry and song, and his books are peppered with beautiful little rhyming snippets and lyrical celebrations.
This piece of a song comes from towards the end of the story, after Bilbo and the dwarves have faced off against the wily dragon Smaug. Bilbo and Gandalf are making their way back to Bilbo’s home in Hobbiton when they stop for a much-needed rest in Rivendell, at the Last Homely House. The elves are singing in the trees, and this is just a part of their merry song:
The stars are far brighter
Than gems without measure,
The moon is far whiter,
Than silver in treasure,
The fire is more shining
On hearth in the gloaming
Than gold won by mining,
So why go a-roaming?
O! Tra-la-la-lally,
Come back to the valley.
Celebrate the bright stars, the soft moon, the warm fire and the every day treasures that fill our lives with so much joy and meaning. Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend, poetry friends!
I think the elves are onto something! (Of course, Rivendell does seem like a pretty ideal place to “not roam” from! I don’t think I’d leave the Shire either, though.) Thanks for sharing this charming poem, Jane.
I’d have to agree, it would take quite a lot to tempt me away from the Last Homely House! 🙂
ha! that IS a merry song. This librarian never did find her way through that series……even knowing it’s unholy to utter such a thing. One of these summers, I’m going to get at least the first book on audio and give it another go. So many people love Lord of the Rings. I’m sure I just need to give it another chance. Have a wonderful, merry day! I think that today northern VA has wrested your title of raincity away from you and is holding onto it. As far as I’m concerned, you can have it back at any point!
OK, just between you and me and the wall (don’t tell my mother!), I never really got into LOTR. I LOVED the movies to death and have watched them a bunch of times, but I read the books once, and wouldn’t do it again. Just too long and wordy! But I love The Hobbit, it’s such a merry, bouncy story, so much fun to read.
And oooooooooh no, you can keep the rain, thank you very much! 😀
Lovely post Jane, “The Hobbit” was one of my favorite books from childhood too! You’ve peaked my interest with it here and I may have to reread it. What a fun rollicking poem from the elves–it sure brightens all, thanks!
One of my favorites to re-visit as well!
Oh yes. It’s been a long time since I’ve read The Hobbit. I may have to pick it up before going to England–and the elves’ song would be perfect for one of my memorized poems that I’m tucking along (but don’t have to pack).
Oh, it certainly would! I would love to go back to England – I visited London way back in 2009, but there’s so much of that beautiful country I still haven’t seen.
Beautiful post! This resembles what I am sharing as well on the moon reciting a poem to loved ones! We are twinsies this week. 🙂
Hurray for kindred spirits!
I love Tolkien and have re-read The Hobbit many times, always makes me feel so, so good. Thanks for a merry post, Jane!
Oh, me too! There’s just something so comforting about returning to Middle Earth.
Such a joyful celebration of home!
A very Hobbit-y song! 🙂
Here’s to celebrating those everyday treasures and an incipient homecoming. It’s tempting not to roam today with a forecast of heavy rain, dropping temperatures, and then ice. Thanks for highlighting this piece of poetry from The Hobbit.
Yikes! Well, you could always be a snowbird and roam to and from your seasonal homes. 😉
Love the repetition in this, and the value both of roaming and going home again!
Me too! I love to travel, but I am also a homebody who’s lived most her life in the same city. Wherever I roam, there’s no place like home!
Thank you for this! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
You’re very welcome!
Thanks for singing this into my eyes. You make me want to read The Hobbit again!
I like to reread it every few years, it’s just like new every time! And so much better than the movies. 😉
Perhaps your enticingly light little excerpt will encourage me to read farther than Chapter 1 for the first time since 6th grade. : ) Thanks, Jane!
This post makes my heart smile! Thanks, Jane. (& thanks for the fleeting memory of a middle school me with a pillow stuffed in my tunic, playing Bombur in the school play. Ha!)
It’s fun to travel but it’s even better to come home. I remember that with your poem.
“in the gloaming” — I love that phrase. Hope you are warm by the fire today!
Appreciations for setting the stage for cosy feelings Jane. Your post has brought a lot of warm memories to readers, me included.