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seraiWritten in response to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ringprov Challenge #15.
Title: Snow
Rating: G
Archiving: Please email me.
Disclaimer: All credit for Middle Earth and its extraordinary characters, locations and situations go to the blessed Professor Tolkien. I don't make a dime off this, nor would I wish to.
Snow
by Serai
Once on a time, a long time ago,
there was a hobbit afraid of the snow.
He was happy with sunlight, he delighted in rain,
but each year he was fearful when Winter came.
He'd hide in the smial, he'd hide in the shed,
and burrow under the covers when he was in bed.
His da called him ninny, said it's all fol-de-rol.
"If you don't stop this nonsense, you'll be no use at all!"
"But it's all so white, like a shroud of the dead!"
"Now who put this foolishness into your head?
"Snow comes to the ground to give it a rest,
for it too needs to sleep, and you know that is best."
But the lad was still fearful, uncertain was he.
'til one day he was sitting out under a tree.
And who should come by, but old Gandalf the Grey,
who asked most politely, "What ails you today?"
The lad said, "I'm frightened, Winter's coming back here,
and with it the cold, and the snow that I fear."
"Ah," said the wizard, "I understand that."
And he stood for a moment, then took off his hat.
He looked out at the Shire, then up at the sun,
and the lad thought with sadness, He's going to make fun.
But the wizard sat down, and patted his hand,
saying, "It's like death, isn't it, when snow covers the land?"
Then the lad's eyes did brighten, and he said, "Yes, that's it!
It frightens me awfully, though Da says I'm a git."
"Your Da should not say that, you're more right than you know,
for it's only through trouble that we even have snow."
And he told the young lad a very old tale
of when the world was first made, midst battles and travail.
"If the Dark One had not been so bent on harm,
there'd be no ice or snow, and we'd always be warm.
But that does not mean you should hide in your fear,
for Winter is only a part of the year.
Each year Spring prevails, and Winter will flee,
and the warmth will return. Just you wait, and you'll see."
The lad was still doubtful, his face very grave.
And the wizard thought, How can I help him be brave?
He said, "I can see that you still feel some doubt,
But perhaps I can help to drive it all out."
Then Gandalf bent down and gestured him near,
whispering some words into his little ear.
The lad listened closely, his eyes wide and bright,
for the words seemed themselves to be woven of light.
They rippled and sparkled, like stars through a tree:
No bannen, loss, no milui enni!
The light of the words drove the fear from his heart.
They called back the sun, and made shadows depart.
Then the wizard laid a finger aside of his nose
and his eyes, they fair twinkled, and his left eyebrow rose.
"It's a most ancient spell of the Elves against snow,
and thus a great secret, which none other may know."
The lad nodded gladly, and gave the old man a grin,
squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin.
"My thanks, Mr. Gandalf, for your kind trust in me,
I give you my word none will hear it from me."
They shook hands on the bargain, and the lad bowed most low.
And he waved to the wizard, who then watched him go.
The hobbit proved true, for he never did tell,
so the Elven-words served him for long years, and well.
And the wizard? Well, he just put on his hat,
and turned back to the road.
And as they say, that is that.
*****
"Is there really such a person as Gandalf, sir?"
"Indeed there is. He's as real as you or I."
That brought on a thoughtful pause. "Do you think I might meet him some day?"
Frodo smiled. "I'm sure you will, Sam. I'm sure you will."
ringprov Challenge #15.Title: Snow
Rating: G
Archiving: Please email me.
Disclaimer: All credit for Middle Earth and its extraordinary characters, locations and situations go to the blessed Professor Tolkien. I don't make a dime off this, nor would I wish to.
Snow
by Serai
Once on a time, a long time ago,
there was a hobbit afraid of the snow.
He was happy with sunlight, he delighted in rain,
but each year he was fearful when Winter came.
He'd hide in the smial, he'd hide in the shed,
and burrow under the covers when he was in bed.
His da called him ninny, said it's all fol-de-rol.
"If you don't stop this nonsense, you'll be no use at all!"
"But it's all so white, like a shroud of the dead!"
"Now who put this foolishness into your head?
"Snow comes to the ground to give it a rest,
for it too needs to sleep, and you know that is best."
But the lad was still fearful, uncertain was he.
'til one day he was sitting out under a tree.
And who should come by, but old Gandalf the Grey,
who asked most politely, "What ails you today?"
The lad said, "I'm frightened, Winter's coming back here,
and with it the cold, and the snow that I fear."
"Ah," said the wizard, "I understand that."
And he stood for a moment, then took off his hat.
He looked out at the Shire, then up at the sun,
and the lad thought with sadness, He's going to make fun.
But the wizard sat down, and patted his hand,
saying, "It's like death, isn't it, when snow covers the land?"
Then the lad's eyes did brighten, and he said, "Yes, that's it!
It frightens me awfully, though Da says I'm a git."
"Your Da should not say that, you're more right than you know,
for it's only through trouble that we even have snow."
And he told the young lad a very old tale
of when the world was first made, midst battles and travail.
"If the Dark One had not been so bent on harm,
there'd be no ice or snow, and we'd always be warm.
But that does not mean you should hide in your fear,
for Winter is only a part of the year.
Each year Spring prevails, and Winter will flee,
and the warmth will return. Just you wait, and you'll see."
The lad was still doubtful, his face very grave.
And the wizard thought, How can I help him be brave?
He said, "I can see that you still feel some doubt,
But perhaps I can help to drive it all out."
Then Gandalf bent down and gestured him near,
whispering some words into his little ear.
The lad listened closely, his eyes wide and bright,
for the words seemed themselves to be woven of light.
They rippled and sparkled, like stars through a tree:
No bannen, loss, no milui enni!
The light of the words drove the fear from his heart.
They called back the sun, and made shadows depart.
Then the wizard laid a finger aside of his nose
and his eyes, they fair twinkled, and his left eyebrow rose.
"It's a most ancient spell of the Elves against snow,
and thus a great secret, which none other may know."
The lad nodded gladly, and gave the old man a grin,
squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin.
"My thanks, Mr. Gandalf, for your kind trust in me,
I give you my word none will hear it from me."
They shook hands on the bargain, and the lad bowed most low.
And he waved to the wizard, who then watched him go.
The hobbit proved true, for he never did tell,
so the Elven-words served him for long years, and well.
And the wizard? Well, he just put on his hat,
and turned back to the road.
And as they say, that is that.
*****
"Is there really such a person as Gandalf, sir?"
"Indeed there is. He's as real as you or I."
That brought on a thoughtful pause. "Do you think I might meet him some day?"
Frodo smiled. "I'm sure you will, Sam. I'm sure you will."
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lovely!
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 02:55 am (UTC)I just love it!!! It gives me the feeling of the Cow and Moon poem, wrapping our childhood with Frodos just lovely dear!!!
{{{Serai}}}
Goldilocks
Re: lovely!
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 03:53 am (UTC)It wasn't until I was about a third of the way through it that I realized the piece was forming in that Dr. Seuss rhyme scheme. But I think it's rather cool, and I wish I could do some Seuss-style drawings to go with it. :)
no subject
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 03:19 am (UTC)Since I put the fics on ringprov up on an archive, and you have the archive notice - are you all right with that? Just so I know...
Thanks, Danachan! I'm glad you like it. :)
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 03:23 am (UTC)I'm so happy I found your community. I've been fairly blocked lately, and was surprised how quickly that idea jarred loose. Perhaps I should go through the journal and try my hand at some others. It may help chip the block away. :)
I guess this means I'm just looking forward to seeing more. *grins*
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 03:34 am (UTC)And if you do go back through and see what else inspiration you might get (which I am fully behind, I'll have you know), the community rules are rather easy when it comes to posting stories if you've come in after the creation of the community - that is, you can still post the stories in the community so we're given a chance to enjoy.
*grins*
Yeah, and I'm glad that ringprov helped a bit - that's what we're here for, after all!
Re: I guess this means I'm just looking forward to seeing more. *grins*
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 05:37 am (UTC)Re: I guess this means I'm just looking forward to seeing more. *grins*
Date: Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2003 09:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2003 10:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 07:38 pm (UTC)I'm glad you like it! Don't try to do poems very often, but this one came out well.
no subject
Date: Thursday, May 28th, 2009 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 03:02 pm (UTC)