Well I have dug out my hobbit book.
Having told someone I was re reading it, she sent me this poem.
I thought it was worth posting as it means something different to each person that reads it,
and when they read it, age, stage in life…
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“I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen
Of meadow flowers and butterflies
In summers that have beenOf yellow leaves and gossamer
In autumns that there were
With morning mist and silver sun
And wind upon my hairI sit beside the fire and think
Of how the world will be
When winter comes without a spring
That I shall ever seeFor still there are so many things
That I have never seen
In every wood in every spring
There is a different greenI sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago
And people that will see a world
That I shall never knowBut all the while I sit and think
Of times there were before
I listen for returning feet
And voices at the door”
― J.R.R. Tolkien
thanks Chelle 🙂
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sensuousamberville 
omg Tolkein – amazing words – wouldn’t expect any less. A person reminiscing on their life…so sad but beautiful – thank you Amb for posting xxx
it really caught me. Think I may post more of his. 🙂
I guess the poet was a very adventurous person once and now that he is old, he misses that time. He yearns for one last adventure. Really beautiful. Thank you Amber for sharing it with us ❤ 🙂
I haven’t read his bio, I am not sure if he was adventurous in a physical way, his mind sure was though.
But if referring to the poem as not being a memoir, oh fun, analyzing poems to see what else you can see in them. I really like
“I sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago
And people that will see a world
That I shall never know
campfire thoughts, melancholy even the ice age perhaps. 🙂
I thought it was beautiful as well.
Thank you Amber for posting this thought-provoking poem. I hadn’t read it in such a long time and reading it again when I am …ummmm…..a year or two older…..*gglz*…..well, it still holds such deep meanings. Oh, have to dash, I think i hear voices at my door! 🙂
it was great. thanks for the share. 🙂
So glad to have found you via Katie and Mumsy. Love your blog.. You have an amazing way with words. I am a huge fan of Tolkien, the poem is beautiful. I saw the Hobbit too, took my 9 yr old. We loved it. She just finished reading the book. Happy to be following you…
Well thank you mummy. oh great a mumsy and a mummy. 🙂 well you can’t have too many of those.
I started the book again. I think it will be different this go around.
Ohh … I read though this … and instantly to my mind I thought of something. But I went on to finish is quickly, so I know now its from Mr. Tolkein, and likely alludes the our Mr. Baggins and friends he waits to see … and take his journey with.
Then I read everyone’s comments … a lot enjoy his writings… and rightly so.
Then I went back and read this slowly … in my head … I am the poet … speaking about my Ireland.
Ireland, interesting. It does stir one. It is, to me, a good campfire poem, the things thought of at the fire, the end of day, recouping those thoughts, but also the thoughts perhaps at the waning years of life, letting it run through your head again with fondness, the adventures relived.
🙂
Nods … as you said in your post …some will interpret differently based on their years in life … or circumstance. I find the latter of your thoughts more what I see too … the winter of one’s years.
But 2 lines also give me other thoughts too … so many different ways to look at it.
First one …
And people that will see a world
That I shall never know
This one makes me smile actually. It makes me feel like even after I am gone … the world will carry on. And that is a good thing, as my daughter will still be there.
Second one …
I listen for returning feet
And voices at the door
And this one, because when I am gone, and sitting where the child cannot come just yet, another will come to visit … Orla.
ahhh, nods. or even grandchildren 🙂
little feet, returning. looking for Irish snacks from Grandma.
potato chips… *nods wisely* not green ones though. 😉
Ohhh noooooo….some green chips are good yum yum. I made kale chips one day …OMG it was soooooooo good.
I sense depression.
Tolkien suffered from bouts of depression, so it would come through in his poems when written with such emotion.