Hope's Endurance

Disclaimer – Lord of the Rings is owned by J.R.R. Tolkien, his family, New Line cinema, etc . I have written this poem for my own enjoyment.

A gift for Antane (who asked nicely for it - hope it lives up to your expectations).

Also for Celeritas whose review of ‘Hope and Light' inspired the content.

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Summary: As Aragorn fights to save the lives of the two hobbits rescued from Mordor, Sam 'talks some sense' to Frodo.

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Oh Mister Frodo

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Oh Mister Frodo please don’t go

Your guilt and pain are great I know

But can’t you hear old Strider’s plea?

He must behold you safe and free

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My dearest Sam it is too much

For cursed am I with dreadful touch

And I can only hear It sing

This foul lament of Sauron’s Ring

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But Mister Frodo Its undone

That Thing’s destroyed and you have won

The right to live a Hobbit life

Happy, safe and free of strife

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  My Sam it comes at dreadful cost

My soul despairs, all Joy is lost

What life can there be now for me?

Despair and guilt won’t set me free

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No Mister Frodo can’t you see?

Always you can depend on me

This guilt you feel is just plain wrong!

As I’ve been saying all along

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My dearest Sam my truest Friend!

Your loyalty does comfort lend

Do I deserve such blessed trust

For all my wrongs can that be just?

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  Oh Mister Frodo please don’t say

Such things about yourself that way!

You’ve never wronged, you never could

Your Sam would tell you if you should!

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My Sam you are the only Light

To brighten life’s unhappy sight

But Darkness too holds me in sway

I cannot chase my pain away

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Then Mister Frodo if you must

Go now and as you have my trust

I’ll follow you to certain end

For I can’t live without my Friend!

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No Sam! You must not say such things!

What of the Joy your presence brings

To all your friends and family?

Do not abandon them for me!

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No Mister Frodo! If you leave

Your poor unhappy Sam will grieve

And Darkness too will claim my soul

My ruin be its only goal

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But Sam your Rosie she will weep

Without your love her heart will sleep

Forever in a Joyless dream

An empty place her life will seem

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Mister Frodo I won’t deny

The thought of that could make me cry!

But if I stay and you depart

I’ll still be losing half my heart!

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Dear Sam it seems you cannot win

A true dilemma you are in

Your anguish is an ache to see

When you have done so much for me

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Then Mister Frodo will you stay?

And find that Joy in each new day

Can heal your wounds if you allow

Your friends and Sam will show you how!

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My dearest Sam you ask a lot

My life may be forever fraught

By evil dreams of evil deeds

That in my heart their poison breeds

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Oh Mister Frodo don’t despair

Look in your heart. Your Sam is there!

And I will hold the curse at bay

That tries to take its beat away!

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My dearest Sam! Beloved Friend!

You stood by me at bitter end

And saw my moment of disgrace

As Ring on finger I did place

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Mister Frodo that wasn’t you

Just a shadow I never knew

That Thing could never sully such

A dear one that I love so much

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But Sam if I should choose to live

Do you think others could forgive

My betrayal? Or shall I hide

The shameful truth of greed and pride?

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Now, Mister Frodo you withstood

Lasted longer than others could

The pull of evil, greed and terror

That no one could defy forever

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My Sam you are so good to me

Perhaps I can a glimmer see

Of Hope if you forever stand

And hold my shameful, sorry hand

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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

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Oh dearest Sam! I can’t refuse

I’ll stay beside you if you choose

To walk amongst the living yet

Rejoin my kin, despair forget

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Then Mister Frodo let’s go home!

Old Strider’s pleas our minds still roam

And we must set his heart at ease

Now follow me, Sir, if you please

Disclaimer – Lord of the Rings is owned by J.R.R. Tolkien, his family, New Line cinema, etc . I have written this poem for my own enjoyment.

For Antane (whose cheeky persuasion could rival a Took‘s) and all those who left such lovely reviews for 'Oh Mister Frodo'.

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Summary: En route to the Grey Havens, Sam realises his Master can no longer delay the inevitable.

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My Dearest Sam

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My dearest Sam forgive me please

There is no way your pain to ease

For Middle Earth I now must leave

I fear your heart will surely grieve

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Oh Mister Frodo no! I pray

That I misheard what you did say

We’re seeing that Mister Bilbo sails

That’s what our journey there entails!

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My dearest Sam that is not so

The time has come for me to go

Depart these lands or I will fall

Defeated by Its dying call

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But Mister Frodo that can’t be

It’s not the future that I see

Your Sam can keep that Thing at bay

And make you well so you can stay!

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Oh my poor Sam but that belief

Is false for there is no relief

On this side of the Sund’ring Sea

That is enough to comfort me

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Please Mister Frodo don’t depart!

Don’t leave me here with half my heart

What Joy will I have without you

There must be something I can do

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There is my Sam, I think you know

‘Tis time for you to let me go

And though the tears upon your cheek

Are bitter, I must comfort seek

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But Mr Frodo I’ll despair

Without your glowing presence there

In Bag End’s rooms under the Hill

Your loss will break my very will

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Oh Sam! Your will is firm and strong

But it has carried me too long

And I must set it free at last

Not weigh it down with evils past

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Now, Mister Frodo you’re no weight

For me to hold it’s not too late

To change your mind and stay with me

With Rosie and your family

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Oh Sam I wish that that were true

That kin and friends could help me through

We fought to set the Shire free

And it has been saved, but not for me

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Mister Frodo it makes me sad

To know you’ll never be as glad

Again with me and Bag End too

Such happiness you there once knew!

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My Sam! This sorrow breaks my heart

But still I fear that we must part

For one more Anniversary

Will surely mean the End for me

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Mister Frodo I know it’s true

I thought your Sam could see you through

But it appears that I did fail

If we go there and you must sail

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Oh no! Dear Sam you have not failed

Your courage meant that we prevailed

Alas! That now that precious thing

Cannot help me defeat the Ring

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Oh Mister Frodo how I hate

That Thing that Sauron did create!

For even though Its form is gone

Its poison in you lingers on

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My dearest Sam your words are true

So please accept what I must do

Far distant shores they wait for me

My Shire life is not to be

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Go Mister Frodo if you must

To keep you here would not be just

But dare I sail away with you?

If Rosie’s here? What shall I do?

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No my Sam I cannot let

You sail then live with harsh regret

In Elven lands for what you left

Behind, your heart would be bereft

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All right then Mister Frodo, Sir

I know the pain her loss would stir

Would be much for my heart to bear

Though just as great your loss lies there

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Dear Sam you have the purest soul

Its brightness in your future role

As Mayor will ever enhance

The lives of those in Shire lands

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Mister Frodo I don’t much care

For future roles when you're not there

But if you fade your Sam will know

It’s ’cos I couldn’t let you go

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My Sam you show such love for me!

This willingness to set me free

Will also be an aid, for you

Cannot be always torn in two

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Oh Mister Frodo I can’t say

That this has been a happy day!

But if the Elves your pain can clear

Then it’s not fair to hold you here

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Beloved Sam do not lose heart

A gift to you I now impart

Though many years you here prevail

To Valinor you too may sail

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Oh Mister Frodo is it true

That I will once again see you?

The years ’til then a curse would be!

Were it not for our family

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Yes dearest Sam you may rejoice

In Rose and kin until the Voice

Of haunting Sea you must obey

For it shall come to you one day

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Then Mister Frodo here I’ll wait

Your loving Sam accepts his Fate

I’ll live my life in Shire long

Until I hear the gulls' sweet song

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My Sam please live it long and well

And when you join me you can tell

Of all the joys that you here knew

Enough for me, enough for you

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Oh Frodo your dear face I’ll miss

But I’ll look forward to the bliss

Reunion once again will bring

Oh how my soul will surely sing!

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Goodbye my Sam, my heart’s true kin

My journey now I shall begin

But I will wait forever more

For you to sail to Elven shore

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Goodbye my Frodo please take care

I know you’ll find your healing there

And when I see your dearest smile

I’ll know the wait was worth the while!

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Author’s Note: I know that one stanza is slightly out of meter, but it was for the sake of a GTL (Genuine Tolkien Line - thanks for that abbreviation Celeritas!).

Also, I never had any intention of writing about the Grey Havens because it’s a very depressing topic (which may have affected my ability to do it justice). And when I finish Hope’s Endurance, I’ll never write of it again. This will be no more than four chapters in length and will have happy moments as well as tearful ones.

I hope that it brings some pleasure to you, regardless of the subject matter. Now, I’m off to phone the Samaritans…(wee joke).

Disclaimer – Lord of the Rings is owned by J.R.R. Tolkien, his family, New Line cinema, etc . I have written this poem for my own enjoyment.

Credit again to www.Tuckborough.net.

For the cheeky American imp.

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Summary: Separated by the Sundering Sea, Sam and Frodo's thoughts are as one, nonetheless.

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Across the Great Divide

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Dear Mister Frodo are you well?

I wish I knew but I can’t tell

No way to know if you’ve been healed

Your Fate from me remains concealed

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Dear Sam I wish that you could know

The evil hurts that plagued me so

And tried to tear my soul apart

Are slowly fading from my heart

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Dear Mister Frodo Bag End feels

So strange without your Baggins heels

Walking along its homely halls

No Baggins now between its walls

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Dear Sam my most beloved Friend

And now true Master of Bag End

You are the only blessed heir

That I would see ensconced in there

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Dear Mister Frodo you should see

The beauty of the Mallorn tree

That’s growing on the Party Field

It seems the Shire has truly healed

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Dear Sam has Mallorn tree bloomed yet?

Let every hobbit not forget

The goodness that your hands have sown

With Elven gift that was your own

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Dear Mister Frodo you were right!

I’m Mayor now! Oh what a sight!

So many feasts I now attend

Advice to Shirriffs I must lend

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Dear Sam you must be Mayor now

I wish that I could see just how

Your common sense and steady hand

Keep hobbits safe throughout the land

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Dear Mister Frodo Pip-lad’s one

So many Gamgee feet now run

In dear Bag End’s now crowded hall

I fear it’s getting far too small!

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Dear Sam I have some news to tell

Dear Bilbo was not very well

His death has left me quite bereft

His pocket watch all I have left

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Dear Mister Frodo I have been

To Minas Anor and I’ve seen

The good things that your love and toil

Have brought to Minas Tirith’s soil

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Dear Sam Gandalf is on his way

To brighten up my lonely day

With Fireworks and all the Elves

Have come to see it for themselves

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Dear Mister Frodo how I hope

You’re not alone and that you cope

Without your Sam to care for you

I’m sure the Elves their best will do

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Dear Sam I now feel much improved

The Elves are kind and I am soothed

Enough by all their efforts here

That loneliness I need not fear

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Dear Mister Frodo I still read

To little ’uns of every deed

That you and Mister Bilbo took

Such care to write in the Red Book

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Dear Sam I hope you read aloud

To Gamgee children, make them proud

Of their dear Sam-dad’s bravery

When you took such good care of me

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Dear Mister Frodo Ellie’s wed

A steady hobbit named Fastred

And on that day my Rosie cried

You’d think her favourite aunt had died!

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Dear Sam my hair is truly grey!

How odd to see it look that way

I never thought I could survive

After the Quest, but here I thrive

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Dear Mister Frodo can you guess?

Goldilocks wed a Took, no less!

I hope her hobbit sense can make

A difference there and no mistake!

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Dear Sam have all the children grown?

Now wed with children of their own?

How empty now the Hill must be

Without their songs and cries of glee

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Dear Mister Frodo it’s unfair

That scent of Sea upon the air

Always it seems to call to me

But I can’t leave my sweet Rosie

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Dear Sam it will not be too long

‘Til you hear gulls’ bittersweet song

Sund’ring Sea keeps you yet at bay

Though it will welcome you one day

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Dear Mister Frodo it’s the end

Of Mayorship for your old Friend

I need to be with my Rosie

And all our dearest family

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Dear Sam although my heart is light

Completely freed from Sauron’s blight

And Valinor a wondrous place

I cannot wait to see your face

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Oh Mister Frodo Rosie’s gone!

Your Sam is left here all alone

I can’t believe I’ll never see

Her smile again shining on me

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Dear Sam oh how I feel your pain!

But you’ll be happy once again

Your ship awaits, its Elven oars

Will see you safe to Elven shores

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Dear Mister Frodo Ellie took

Safekeeping of the old Red Book

I’ll miss my lads, and lasses too

As I set off to sail to you

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Dear Sam your boat it sails to me!

I sense your journey over Sea

And soon our hearts will reunite

Your dear face soon my soul delight

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Oh Mister Frodo I feel sick!

But one nice Elf knows just the trick

My poorly self to quickly fix

Gamgees and water just don’t mix!

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Author’s Note: Sorry about that last verse, I just couldn’t resist it! I’m sure that Sam’s journey on the Elven boat was nothing but smooth, but you know how fond he is of water…

I know there are several events and people not mentioned in this poem, but if I included every single thing about Sam’s life after Frodo’s departure, I’d still be writing this in a year’s time. So I hope you’ll be content with what’s here. ;)

Next: Final chapter. Reunion!

Disclaimer – Lord of the Rings is owned by J.R.R. Tolkien, his family, New Line cinema, etc . I have written this poem for my own enjoyment.

This poem is also dedicated to Antane and her rampaging plot bunnies.

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Summary: Well, the title says it all, doesn’t it?

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Reunion!

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Dearest Sam you are here at last!

My heart delights my Joy is vast

Your presence here in Valinor

Is all that I have waited for

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Oh Mister Frodo is it true

That I am now returned to you

I can’t believe my eyes m’dear

It’s just a lovely dream I fear

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‘Tis not a dream my dearest Sam

Believe your eyes for here I am

We stand together on this shore

Reunited for ever more

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Oh Mister Frodo what a gift

Your dear face does my spirits lift

You seem so happy and carefree

Just like you always used to be

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Oh Sam the poison that did dwell

Is gone, the Elves have made me well

The Valar banished all my pain

Their grace has made me smile again

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Oh Sir that does me good to hear!

I wish you’d never known such fear

But now it’s gone, there’s no more dread

That cursed Thing is finally dead!

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Sam that is not completely true

A part of It resides in you

But do not fear for you will find

It soon shall vanish from your mind

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Dear Mister Frodo I’m not scared

Whatever’s next your Sam’s prepared

As long as I can turn and see

Your glowing Light is next to me

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My Sam from this day on I swear

That ever will you find me there

And your own glowing golden Light

Will never stray far from my sight

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Oh Sir that makes your Sam rejoice

To know that your beloved voice

Shall always greet my every day

That helps to take my pain away

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Sam mine are not the only hands

To aid you in Undying Lands

Gandalf is here and all the Elves

Will want to see you for themselves

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Why Mister Frodo surely not

Oh what a fright your Sam just got!

All those grand Elves and Gandalf too

Have no doubt better things to do!

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My dear Sam you have still not learned!

Your place in Valinor is earned

They shall be honoured to assist

So your protests must now desist

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All right then Sir I’ll do my best

Because it is at your request

To have such folk my hurts extract!

The honour’s mine and that’s a fact

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Dear Sam it will not be too long

‘Til hurts have fled for you are strong

Soon you shall know the Valar’s grace

In this enchanted happy place

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Begging your pardon Frodo Sir

Their grace does now inside me stir

For I can now my Friend behold

In joyful arms his form enfold

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My Sam it is so good to hear

Your hobbit voice and willing cheer

Oh how I missed their happy sounds

Now they are here on Elven grounds!

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Dear Mister Frodo I can’t take

Another step and no mistake

This lovely place just can’t be real

Despite the sand my toes can feel

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Dear Sam it truly does exist

You saw yourself when parting mist

Allowed your boat to find the land

And step upon its silver sand

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Mister Frodo of course you’re right

You’ve long been blessed by its sweet sight

No wonder that you look so well

It’s done you good, your Sam can tell!

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Then follow me my dearest Friend

Allow this place your hurts to mend

Its many gifts will soon reveal

The Joy life’s sorrow can conceal

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I’ll follow you Sir all the way

And by your side I’ll always stay

For I’ve now found the missing part

Of Samwise Gamgee’s broken heart

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Author’s Note: That was the final poem of this series. It was tricky to write as I’m not very clued up on Valinor - or how exactly Frodo (or Sam) found healing there.

There was one word - ‘extract‘ - that I was reticent to have Sam use due to his ‘simple’ hobbit existence. But I justify it with the fact that he not only ‘learned his letters’, but that he (undoubtedly) read many books and was a Counsellor of the North Kingdom. He would have had a much more expanded vocabulary than the average because of these (and many other) reasons.

I hope you enjoyed it, regardless.

Kara’s Aunty ;)