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Hope's Endurance  by Kara's Aunty 8 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/12/2008
Oh, my dear!! You have really outdone yourself! This is so wonderful. *hugs and more hugs*

Mister Frodo I’ll keep it well

Your wounds and pain will soon dispel

I’ll trim the fears and clip the doom

And soon inside you Joy will bloom

I love this whole thing but that's my favorite! Spoken just as the gardener he was - nuturer of flowers and plants and his dearly beloved master's heart. I wish it was indeed true - that Sam's love was able to heal such deep wounds, but only Divine Love could do that. But I love that this shows once more that if there's anything more stubborn than a Baggins, it's a Gamgee looking after a Baggins. Truly was Frodo loved back from the brink and it gave Love a chance to work in the West. What a masterpiece!

Namarie, God bless, Your Scottish cousin :)


Author Reply: Hello Aunty Anne!

I am truly thrilled that you like it so much. Especially as I dreamt about you last night (actually, it was a review from you in response to 'Oh Mr Frodo' I dreamt about)! The dream-review went something like this:

Hello Aunty,
I've seen the poem I asked for. I had thought to see Sam telling Frodo how exactly he'd save him, like the cooking he would do for him. I'm a bit disappointed, to tell you the truth.

Namarie, Aunty Anne

A real nightmare, eh? I woke up thinking...well you don't want to know what I woke up thinking. Suffice to say I was sweating buckets!

But you like it!! Oh the sweet, heady Joy! (The enormous sigh of relief!). I'd actually posted it last night (2300 hours GMT), but there's obviously a time difference between the west coast of Scotland and your own fair land so you may have been sleeping.

Of course, this poem is only one of a number of interpretations that many thousands of people may have of that struggle. It would be interesting to read someone else's. The same events from a different perspective can sometimes seem like a fresh tale. Maybe someone will post their own version. But until that time, this will do.

I am glad you enjoyed it (and am still blushing from your lovely comments). It delights me to know it made you happy!

All the best,


Aunty Maureen :)

Eléon GamgeeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/12/2008
Oh, gosh! I love this!! It makes me sad and happy and...Oh, precious Sam!! ::hugs Frodo and Sam immensely:: I miss them both so much now!!

Author Reply: Greetings Eléon!

Your review is just a treat to read. I'm delighted that it provoked such a response!

Give Frodo and Sam a hug for me too, for they seem to have wandered off...

Thanks again!


Maureen :)

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/12/2008
Just delightful!

Author Reply: Hello Linda!

I thought I'd replied to your review, but apparently not, so please excuse my tardiness!

Thank you for your lovely words. You are delightful too, for sending a sweet review. (It was just pure luck that last sentance rhymed!).

Thanks again!

Maureen :)

eilujReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/11/2008
I loved Sam in this. He had an argument to counter everything Frodo said.

Author Reply: Hello eiluj,

Yes, good old Sam. He knows exactly how to talk his Frodo round and make him see sense (thank goodness).

Thanks very much for the review - I'm glad you liked my Sam!


Maureen :)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/11/2008
I, too, have seen the debate there at the gates of death. Poor Frodo--outnumbered! And that done solely in love of him!

Very nice, Aunty!

Author Reply: Hello Larner,

Poor Frodo really didn't have a chance - what with Strider's kingly 'magic' and Sam's sheer stubborness!

But thank goodness they 'ganged up' on him or Middle Earth would have been an emptier place!

Thanks (as always) for your kind words.

Maureen :)

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/11/2008
Although I very much doubt hobbits would use a word like 'sin', you really are a marvelous poet. The love between these two is so obvious.

Look in your heart. Your Sam is there!

Awwwww. :)

Author Reply: Hello Shirebound,

Thank you very much for your (very) flattering words. Marvellous poet? (blushes).

I think Sam and Frodo shared such a great bond that it defied Death itself - at least it did directly after Sauron's fall. Imagining what they would say to each other when Strider was trying to save them was not too difficult (I expect most of us can imagine that fairly well!) - finding 'rhyming' words to use (and still have the poem make sense) was more of a challenge!

I'd have to (respectfully) disagree with you about 'sin' though - It's not perfect, but I think it more likely to be used by a hobbit than some words I've seen used (e.g. - 'sure' instead of 'of course'/'certainly'; 'mad' instead of 'angry'; 'pretty' instead of 'quite'/'very'; 'couple' instead of 'couple of' - all far too modern for Shirefolk). :)

Let me say 'thank you' again for your lovely review. It's always a treat to hear from you.

All the best,

Maureen :)

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/11/2008
Holy-- [not translated from the Westron].

That was astonishingly good--I am a bit of a sucker for dialogue poems and this worked out very well.

For me the most powerful part was the bits where Sam says the poetic equivalent of, "Fine, then, I'm coming with you" and Frodo immediately balks. That really is the way to get Frodo to do anything at this point.

But if I stay and you depart

I’ll still be losing half my heart!


*sniffle*

Thanks so much!

Author Reply: Hello Celeritas,

I'm blushing at your (truly) fabulous review. I hadn't intended to post anything for a few days but your review of 'His dear, bleved...' made a very good point and Antane asked me earlier this evening if I could expand on it.

So, actually, perhaps I should thank YOU!

Sam is a bit of a crafty devil when it comes to his Frodo - he knows exactly which buttons to press.

Thanks again, both for the review AND the idea!


Maureen :)

RhyselleReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/11/2008
Oh, I love this even more than the first one! Lovely, lovely work!

Author Reply: Hello Rhyselle,

thanks very much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it so much and am currently smiling fit to burst!

Thanks :)

Maureen :)

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