Grains of Wheat by Eruanna
Larner · 15 February 2006 · Chapter 8: Writing Out of Doors
Oh, how dear a moment caught, and the foreshadowing that he will follow the gulls and find the blessing that must accompany the loss which is freely given. So glad you posted this.
Author's reply
Thanks Larner. I really appreciate your comments, because I wasn't sure about this one... But reading your comment, I think maybe it came out well after all. I'm very glad you enjoyed it! Blessings, Eruanna
Larner · 15 February 2006 · Chapter 6: Hymn of the Departing Elves
And is it the Elves or two lost Hobbits who sing this hymn, I find myself wondering. I'd use "islands" rather than "isles" in the last line, but that's just me.
Author's reply
It could be either, really. Looking back on this, I suppose there is something rather Frodo-like about it, perhaps. :) But really, when is Frodo *not* involved, with me? ;) Also thanks for the constructive crit! I'll have to think about that one... Blessings, Eruanna
Larner · 15 February 2006 · Chapter 5: The Running Stream
The reasoning of a heart wounded by rejection, making rationalizations she will soon wonder at.
Author's reply
Oh yes. We do tend to think rather strangely when we are in dark moods. Thankfully, she'll soon be brought out into the light again...
Larner · 15 February 2006 · Chapter 4: Love
You had to do it--make me cry. No, I, too, wasn't surprised to learn one finger was missing from that hand. And I can certainly see Frodo coming to a place he once loved to counsel the one he loved as a daughter himself.
Author's reply
I didn't mean to make you cry, I promise! Though I hope at least they were good tears, and touched by no bitterness, as Tolkien would say. I'm glad you enjoyed this, and thank you for the lovely comment! Blessings, Eruanna
Armariel · 11 February 2006 · Chapter 8: Writing Out of Doors
Very lovely and poetic and wistful, sounds very Frodo, somehow. Strange, when I read this I'd already had a similar idea for a poem in my head, although I wasn't sure yet whose pov it would be from. Maybe it will come out sooner or later, who knows! Can't rush an egg into hatching though, can we?;) Good to see a little something more from you! hugs Armariel~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thanks! You know, we seem to think along the same lines fairly often. ;) And that's a good thing. I would love to see your poem! Unfortunately, I don't know if there will be much from me in the near future: my muse is really dried up these days. But we shall see... Thanks for all your support and encouragement! Hugs and blessings, Eruanna
Larner · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Mount Doom
A beautiful version of the Rohirric lay. Beautifully written and true to its genre.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you think it came off well! Blessings, Eruanna
Armariel · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Mount Doom
oh me oh my......that is some wonderfully wicked word-wielding! Vivid verbal virtuosity! Brilliant! Pssst--I haven't fallen off the face of the earth either...yet...my music muse has got me by the hair of the head, that's all...she WON'T let up! I haven't had much time for reading or writing lately BUT it's good to see you back once more!!! ~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thank you dear! And that's some wonderfully wicked alliteration you've got going there. ;) I know what you mean about the muses. Lately, my muse has been more stuck in the Star Wars universe (horrors, right?), but reading Beowulf can be very inspiring. :) Hopefully this will jump-start my LOTR muse again... Thank you again for the lovely comment!
cher · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Mount Doom
I haven't read that type of poetry since high school, in English Literature class, and it brought back memories, as well as being worthy of the tale it tells. Wonderfully done!!!
Author's reply
Thank you very much! I'm glad I could bring up some (hopefully) good memories! Blessings, Eruanna
jwdisney · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Mount Doom
I love this! It reads beautifully in the Rohirric style (or at least how I imagine it), and reminds me of some of JRRT's unfinished tales & HOME work. You really captured the spirit of those moments. Thanks for writing it!!
Author's reply
Wow, thank you! I just love the HoME, especially 'Sauron Defeated,' and I suppose this was inspired by the scenes with Frodo and Sam in Meduseld, where the lay is sung again. Unfortunately, that didn't make it into the final version of ROTK, but it's still a beautiful scene. I'm very glad you like this poem! Blessings, Eruanna
Dreamflower · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 4: Love
This is just incredibly beautiful. My dear, you are a marvelous poet!
Author's reply
*blush* Thank you dear! I'm glad you think so. ;) Blessings, Eruanna
Dreamflower · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Mount Doom
Flawless. I've attempted this style from time to time myself and *it is NOT easy*! I don't think I have ever succeeded. You did it magnificently, and I can easily imagine this being declaimed by a Rohirric skald at a feast in Meduseld, honoring the kinsman of their beloved Holdwine! I think that JRRT himself would appreciate the effort put into this.
Author's reply
*blushes furiously* Well, I can tell you that it *was* quite difficult. But the compound words are such fun! ;) I just love the Old English way of expressing things, and that style of giving metaphorical names to things. How I would love to be able to sit in Meduseld and hear the real lay! Thank you very much for your kind comment! I'm flattered that you enjoyed this. Blessings, Eruanna
Armariel · 30 May 2005 · Chapter 6: Hymn of the Departing Elves
Good use of Elf-voice here, and of rhyme and meter and imagery without being too predictable. To be truthful, however, I like your poems and stories about hobbits best *g* Just partial to the little folk, I suppose...lol b&c, Armariel~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thank you for being truthful, dear! I always appreciate that. And to be honest, I love my hobbits best, too. ;) The Elves are high and beautiful and utterly beyond our reach, but sometimes I feel the need to reach toward that unreachable beauty anyway. And yet, most times when I do, I find it is Frodo who is the living embodiment of that beauty. So it always comes back to hobbits, in the end. Again, thanks for the kind and constructive comments! And I'll try to have something hobbity for you soon. ;) Blessings, Eruanna
Brenda G. · 30 May 2005 · Chapter 6: Hymn of the Departing Elves
This is lovely, haunting, memorable. I felt very elvish while reading it!
Author's reply
Wow, thank you! :) I'm glad I could get something of the Elvish feeling across, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) Blessings, Eruanna
Nerdanel · 30 May 2005 · Chapter 6: Hymn of the Departing Elves
This is a lovely poem. The rhyme and meter are mostly consistent, and it flows very well. It is a perfect song, one that they would sing to the one who made the stars. Nice Job. It is good poetry.
Author's reply
Thanks so much for the kind review! I did struggle a bit with meter, as it's something I've really had to teach myself, and I'm still learning a lot. But I'm glad you think it came out well. :) Again, thanks for taking the time to review! Blessings, Eruanna
Armariel · 4 May 2005 · Chapter 5: The Running Stream
Ohhhhh very dark and sad indeed......sounds almost like something I might write in my darker moods...when joy seems a candle that burns with a lovely soft light but can be whisked out with the merest breath, leaving everything dark and cold without a way to light it again....and if it IS lit again, is it ever really the same? Well, maybe.....could be.... Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning...(I forget which scripture that is) blessings & cheer Armariel~~~{~@
Author's reply
Oh dear. I hope I didn't depress you terribly! Actually, I wasn't even in a dark mood when I wrote this. If you want to know the real secret, we had to write poems for English class a while back about Ophelia, so I wrote this and claimed it was about her. ;) I just changed the first line to 'the White Lady of Denmark'. But I had Eowyn in mind the whole time. I'm dreadfully sneaky like that. :D Your image of the candle is astonishingly beautiful: it sounds almost like a poem itself. And no, I don't guess it would ever be the same if it were lit again: as Frodo might say, not the same, but something more, and greater. :) Well, I looked up that scripture, because it was driving me crazy that I couldn't remember it. ;) It's Psalm 30:5, and the whole psalm is wonderfully beautiful. "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness" And of course that is exactly what happened for Eowyn: her candle was lit again, and she found that it was not the same, but greater and even more blessed. Hum, perhaps I should write a sequel. ;) Blessings, Eruanna
Saoirse · 2 May 2005 · Chapter 4: Love
O... my goodness! How lovely! 'Then wondering I took his hand and marveled not to find that there were only four fingers with my own five entwined.' I just *love* poetry, and this was simply beautiful. Just wonderful job with this here.
Author's reply
I almost can't claim credit for this one, because it literally came in a flash of inspiration and demanded to be written down. ;) I'm so glad you enjoyed this, and thank you for such a kind review! Blessings, Eruanna
Armariel · 1 May 2005 · Chapter 4: Love
Beautiful...very William Blake, could be a Song of Innocence maybe? :D See there, your muse isn't gone...my best friend just the other day said hers was nearly gone too, and today she showed me some beautiful art she made, she quite outdid herself.....guess there's a lesson of some sort there? I'm waiting for mine to reappear also *g* blessings & cheer Armariel~~~{~@ ~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thank you dear! :) I've discovered lately that my muse has a bad habit of popping up when I really need to be working on papers and studying for final exams. *sigh* I certainly hope yours reappears soon! ;) Blessings, Eruanna
shirebound · 1 May 2005 · Chapter 4: Love
I'm all weepy! This is absolutely beautiful. I especially love this... Deep love it is that takes the weight that others fear to bear, and lights anew the darkened sky and makes all sorrows fair.
Author's reply
Oh, don't cry! Though I confess, I got a little weepy myself just typing it. ;) Our dear Frodo does have a way of talking about himself without even realizing it. Here, he thinks he's just talking about the virtue of sacrificial love in general, and he is. But Elanor knows now that she's talking with someone who's made himself the very embodiment of that love. I'm so glad you liked this. I'm always honored by any comment from you. :) Blessings, Eruanna
Mum's the Word · 1 May 2005 · Chapter 4: Love
Too lovely for words! Blessings, Mum
Author's reply
*blush* Thank you dear! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Blessings, Eruanna
Larner · 26 April 2005 · Chapter 3: Songs in the Dark
What a reply from Frodo.
Author's reply
Thanks, I think. ;) I hope you don't think it's too dark! But he has just been whipped and beaten, after all. And I wanted to really show that he gave up everything willingly, and what that sacrifice was for: for lands long lost, and friends he thinks he will never see again, and all the beauty of the world he has left behind, symbolized in Lórien of the golden tree... Blessings, Eruanna
Larner · 26 April 2005 · Chapter 2: The Starlight on the Western Seas
Very gentle, and I find I can enjoy the imagery given here. Very much hope in Mordor found in spite of it seeming to have fled.
Author's reply
Thanks for the review! I confess I didn't actually have a specific setting in mind when I wrote this, so I'm finding now that it works in a lot of different interpretations. :) I agree with you, though: I think it works best as a piece about hope found in Mordor, especially in the trickle of water and Sam's star. I'm glad you enjoyed this! Blessings, Eruanna
Larner · 26 April 2005 · Chapter 1: Sam's Song
Yes, I can clearly imagine Sam making this poem. How lovely!
Author's reply
Thank you! It's refreshing to write something light and care-free for a change. :) Blessings, Eruanna
Nerdanel · 26 April 2005 · Chapter 3: Songs in the Dark
This was very nice. It is so sad, though, to see that all of Frodo's lovely memories will be swallowed up in fire and ash. Sam can still see that beauty, but Frodo cannot. Nice dichotomy between the two characters and their views. Sam's poem in the RotK is one of my favourite poems of all time. Frodo's poem was very sad, but I enjoyed it.
Author's reply
Thanks Nerdanel! Sam's song is also one of my very favorite poems. I've even sung it occasionally: it fits very nicely to the tune of 'Amazing Grace'. I hope Frodo's song didn't make you too sad! I mean, it *is* sad, of course, and I do believe that he sacrificed all those memories (though they were returned to him, I think, after the Ring was destroyed). But the important thing is that he did it willingly. I think he gave up his memories one by one, to keep the darkness at bay, because he believed that no matter what price he paid, it would be worth it. And Sam thought it would be worth anything if he could save Frodo. But Frodo knew that in order to save the Shire he would have to lose himself (he demonstrates an awareness of this as far back as the second chapter of FOTR). I think it's one of the great tragedies of LOTR that they couldn't both achieve their goals. Sorry for the long rant! I'm glad you enjoyed this! Blessings, Eruanna
Silvae · 26 April 2005 · Chapter 3: Songs in the Dark
This was womderful, you could really sense how Frodo and Sam had a different take on things. Beautifully written! Cheers, Dilvae
Author's reply
Thanks for the review! They do have very different views. Sam is always hopeful, even when he loses hope. And when he does find Frodo, he thinks he's saving him. But Frodo knows that he is giving himself up. When you're walking willingly to your own execution, there's not much place for hope. I think that's what's expressed so beautifully in their Elvish titles. I'm glad you liked this! Blessings, Eruanna
Armariel · 26 April 2005 · Chapter 3: Songs in the Dark
how sad and lovely...I can hardly tell the difference between your writing and JRRT's at times! Are you sure you're not related to him somehow? *g* Look forward to seeing more soon................ blessings & cheer, Armariel~~~{~@ http://delroz.bravepages.com/elves/dreamflower.html
Author's reply
*blushes* Thank you dear! I did try to match the meter and rhyme scheme of Sam's song, but I don't know about sounding like Tolkien! I can only try. I *wish* I were related to him, or had at least had the opportunity to meet him... Thank you so much for your encouraging comments! :) I will try to have more soon, but I think I need a new poetical muse. *sigh* Mine seems to have dried up. Blessings, Eruanna