Until we stand there at the shore
I will not know what words may come
Or how I'll say farewell to one
Who held my hope when I was numb,
Who bore me when I could not stand
Across a dark and hopeless waste
And never turned away from me
Whatever evil thing we faced.
I'll weep, I know. Well, who would not?
You were my friend when friends were few,
Could I have picked from all who'd lived,
I'd find no better friend than you.
This journey cannot yet be yours
Though I will hope someday to see
A sail upon the shining waves
To bring dear Samwise there to me.
For now, I cannot bid you go,
Too many things now bind you here,
So I will weep, and so will you,
Yet there is beauty in our tears,
For we have seen the darkest things
That ever faced those doomed to die
Yet came alive back home and found
Our hearts are soft enough to cry.
-Neneithel
When flames dance on the winter hearth and we are safe and snug
With supper on the table and some mulled wine in the jug,
When winter storms are only sounds to blow and rage outside
From such a safety we can think of how we nearly died.
Our tears will fall for Boromir and Th�oden and all
Who stood as friends when darkness came and for our sake did fall,
But smiles will come between the tears then laughter in a while
For much has come before our eyes to give us cause to smile.
And under all the memories and hidden in the tears
Is something that took months to show, although it grew for years,
That you and I, dear Peregrin, are true to one another
By blood related, by chance friends, by dedication, brothers.
-Neneithel
