Let's just start by saying - I am no poet! I used to have a bit of talent for making things rhyme (I once made an entire history oral presentation completely in rhyme). But on saying that, I'm actually rather proud of some of the poems I've written that have been inspired by JRRT's works.

Many of these, I wrote when I was thirteen. I had to study "The Hobbit" in year 8 English, and since my teacher than year seemed to enjoy poetry, many of the questions in the study guide involved writing poems. One such question had the first verse of "The Stone Troll" written out, and asked us to write a similar verse about a scene from "The Hobbit". I ended up writing two poems, both several verses long!

Now that I have sufficiently bored you, onto the poems...

- Pervinca

This poem is about the meeting between Bilbo Baggins and Gollum - a very important meeting in my opinion! Unfortunately, at the time I wrote it, I was not aware of the finer rhyming details of Sam's poem "The Stone Troll", but I suppose it still works :)

He of the Ring

Sat he of the Ring, alone in the dark,
A-rowing about, until he heard, "Hark."
  For there came a Bilbo Baggins 
     And he now held the Precious
        Vicious! Suspicious!
With a bite much worse than his bark,
     Gollum wanted his Precious.

"Come here," said Gollum, to the young hobbit.
"Come near," said he, for he planned to rob it.
  So the young hobbit moved closer
     And in the dark they riddled.
        Nibbled! Fiddled!
     Though the whole time, Gollum wanted to throb it,
For a long time they riddled.

They riddled of eggs, of wind and of fish,
Then after a while, Bilbo had his wish.
  Poor Gollum answered a riddle wrong,
     And he now had to lead him.
        Feed him! Breed him!
     Gollum's promise, had him trapped in a dish,
The promise made to lead him.

But he of the Ring, he now had a plan,
To lead Bilbo out, and kill him by hand.
  But Bilbo Baggins had the Precious,
     And Gollum couldn't see him.
        Be him! Free him!
     Dwarf, wizard, elf, hobbit and man,
Everyone couldn't see him.

So Bilbo Baggins, escaped with a leap.
The Precious he held was now his to keep.
  Gollum alone, in hatred he cried:
     "Thief, thief, Baggins! We hates it!"
        Fates it! Crates it!
     The last Bilbo heard, from within the deep:
"Thief, for ever we hates it!"

By the time I wrote this one, I had figured out more of the rhyming pattern (though I hadn't quite perfected it). This time, Bilbo meets Smaug the Magnificent.

Furry Little Thief

Down he scrambled, a furry little thief,
Long way from home, and far above heath.
  Down tunnel he went, down a long vent,
     To steal from a dragon's hoard.
        Lord! Board!
     Being eaten alive was his fear chief
While taking a dragon's hoard.

Heart pounded loudly, but soft were his feet.
As he came near the end, he felt the heat.
  Through lust and greed, Smaug longed for a feed,
     And hobbit would do him nicely.
        Twicely! Thricely!
     It had been long since Smaug tasted fresh meat,
And hobbit would suit him nicely.

The room that he entered was filled with light.
He looked all around and got quite a fright.
  On treasure piled high, the dragon did lie,
     And faked that he was asleep.
        A-deep! A-peep!
     T'was Smaug the Great, a magnificent sight.
He faked that he was asleep.

A bright light from Smaug's eyes pierced Bilbo's place,
But a magic ring kept hidden his face.
  Even dragon sight, with wonderous light,
     Could not see Bilbo Baggins.
        Dragons! Flagons!
     So Smaug the Great could only see space,
Where stood a Bilbo Baggins.

"So, thief you come," said Smaug to his burglar.
Though even with Ring, Bilbo dared not move further.
  "Pray, what is your name?" asked Smaug, quite game,
     But he got no straight answer.
        Prancer! Dancer!
     So Bilbo riddled, not caring whether
Smaug wanted a straight answer.

Said Bilbo, "Farewell", then ran quickly out.
But out of Smaug's nose flame leapt with a spout.
  With hair and feet singed, poor Bilbo cringed,
     And thought that he'd said too much.
        Such! Clutch!
     But when the dwarves saw him, O did they shout,
Even though he'd said too much

Those who have read my story "To the Bottle I Go" may recognise this one. As is obvious from the title, this is a poem about Bilbo, composed by Peregrin Took, Samwise Gamgee and Meriadoc Brandybuck.

Underhill, in sweet Bag-End
Lived long Bilbo, dear Elf-friend.
He wandered far to distant lands
With a treasure hunting, dwarvish band.

Why wander from his cosy hole
To become supper for hungry trolls?
But his adventure did not end there
He made his way to Rivendell fair.

Over mountains and through goblins’ caves
He was left behind and all seemed grave
But there he found a magic ring
And much would come from that dratted thing!

Goblins, spiders, wolves and dragons!
Keep away from Old Mad Baggins!
Keep away your son and daughter
Lest they hear more than they oughta!

Wizards, dwarves, treasure and elves!
These all belong in books on shelves.
And in the Shire it can be seen
There’s only one Dragon, and it’s Green!