Have you seen.......?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Here's another old thread that has resurfaced from the depths of the Books forum! Now we are placing topics like this, which are not actually discussions of Tolkien's books, on the Novices and Newcomers forum, so I'm moving this thread there.

[Meela]

I've seen elves, faeries, ghosts, witches, moving trees (what are ents known as outside Tolkien?), and all sorts of creatures of the forest, whatever they may be.

I can't recall any "swift shimmers" as such, but definitely movements or flashes. There are still a few elves left in the forests.

[Lyta_Underhill]

I always love discussions like this one, and I feel compelled to throw in the fact that I have seen Ents, about six years ago, in a wood outside Atlanta. I wasn't looking for them and it had been about 7 years since I had read LOTR. It had quite faded from my conscious brain at the time and I remember no sparks that would have brought it back to the forefront; but there was no other way I could describe what I saw.

Now I live on 120 acres of woodland and hills, and I hear the trees talk all the time (can't understand them, though). My backyard hackberry used to talk all the time, but unfortunately, it was struck by lightning and high winds and fell in two pieces last year. The cedars in the cemetery are constantly babbling; I am not sure if they're trying to tell me something or not, but I always say "Hi!" when I pass. I'm sure there are those who would pass off tree sounds as the play of wind in swaying branches or the glints in the forest as mere reflections of sunlight, but it is more satisfying to look at them without the filter of rationalization. It is more interesting to leave the analytical functions behind and simply see things without judging them. Why did I judge my visitors to be Ents? Well, I didn't, until I tried to describe them to someone else after the fact. Therein lies one of the eternal problems of Man--how to relate experience in words.

Cheers!
Lyta

[Alphaelin]

Lyta,

Ents in the Deep South! Maybe I can meet one at last!!

Now I'm wondering what Entish sounds like with a Southern accent

[Lush]

The trees, for some reason, only get really talkative around me when I'm coming back late from some shady shindig.

Hardy har har.

Actually, I seriously do believe that the trees are able to communicate, and have moods, just like any other living beings. The Druids must have had something right.

Or maybe I really am that shady in combination with having read a lot of Tolkien.

[Theron Bugtussle]

Southern Ents would sound like, "Hoom hom! I ain't gonna be hasty...turn round, I want a look at y'all. Hey, y'all sho' 'nuff look like orc young'uns to me!"

This is kind of a wierd topic to me, but it reminded me of something I read about the Lord's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

Luke 19: 37-40 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. [emphasis added]

[Elianna]

Ahhhh...sweet oblivion to the real world. How I love it. And dread when I must return to my non-existant "life".

When I feel this way I too often remember Puddleglum's words:

Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself...Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones...And that's a funny thing, when you think about it. We're just babies making up a game if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world that licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.

The play-world does lick the real world hollow, and the made-up things do seem so much more important than the real things...

How can you miss something you've never seen? I do so long for Elves, and it's another of Lewis' arguments that God wouldn't have made us with a longing that can't be fulfilled.

Personally, I've resently decided that elves are angels. And in one of Paul's episle's he says that people have entertained, like given food and/or lodging to, angels without knowing it.

I still cling to the hope that someday I'll see my elf. Who knows, maybe my guardian angel has pointy ears...

One time I was wondering around a patch of trees near my house and came upon a hole through some bushes that looked so magical, so entrancing. My heart started beating harder. I tried so hard to stifle the hope that it was some gateway to Middle-earth. Obviously, since I'm writing this it didn't work, but still...
...Still round the corner there may wait a hidden door or secret gate
And though I pass them by today tomorrow I may come this way
And take the hidden pathes that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun...

[Laitoste]

Exactly Elianna! You hit the nail on the head! Since we apparently *can't* have a world with elves, hobbits, etc., might as well imagine it. And I'd rather have those imaginings than real life any day. Although I'm still holding out for a secret passageway myself