Tolkien is Not Yeats

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Of course I can, Bill, although I do not see what there is to forgive about your thoughtful and articulate comments. I always enjoy reading your posts, and the above is no exception.

Whilst I may possibly have read more poetry than you have, your knowledge of philosophy clearly outstrips mine by a long chalk. I concede the point that there are certain objective criteria to which professional critics must adhere, but we are not professional critics here, and the impact that a poem has on those who read solely for pleasure taken in poetic expression is not governed by our appreciation of these qualities (at least not at the first reading). Tolkien's poetry, particularly The Last Ark, to which I refer constantly due to the profound effect it has on me, both in Quenya and English, is often so achingly beautiful that it brings me to the verge of tears, just as does Yeats' An Irish Airman Forsees his Death, quoted above.

I am currently reading for the first time The Lays of Beleriand (HoME III), in which are given the major versions of Tolkien's two most ambitious poetic projects, The Lay of the Children of Húrin in the old English alliterative meter, and the Lay of Leithian in octosyllabic couplets! I have written a little poetry myself, although not of a very high quality, and I am amazed at the enormity of the task that Tolkien set himself in choosing these incredibly demanding meters for his epics. Whilst he often fails in the earlier versions I see no reason to disagree with Christopher Tolkien's opinion that these have

...a sad prominence in the list of [my father's] works that might have been.

I would be very interested in taking a discussion of poetry and philosophical theories of beauty and expression to PM or email if you are not averse to such an enterprise. I certainly concur in my appreciation of sonnets (Shakespeare's Sonnet XVIII is still one of my favourite pieces of poetry), yet I feel that the likes of Wilfred Owen (whose words form the link in my signature), Lewis Carroll and J.R.R. Tolkien also deserve their place. Perhaps it is my own inability to reproduce the quality of their work that leads me to be so cautious about comparing them. I feel that I am unqualified to comment on their work, which is why I often rant when others with less knowledge than I blithely jump in with completely uninformed opinions on the subject, apparently based on their non-reading of the works in question. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread", as the saying goes. I do not believe that you are this sort of person, and I would esteem it a privilege to correspond with you on this issue.

For the moment, however, I must regretfully let this subject drop, as I have commitments on Estelyn's Revenge of the Entish Bow roleplay. Please can you all try to think very carefully about how much you really know about poetry before announcing so confidently your opinions upon it. Some of us find too much comparison and analysis to be a besmirchment of beautiful works, and I am reminded often of Gandalf's words to Saruman: "...he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."

I advise you all to read more poetry. It is one of the purest and most sublime forms of artistic expression, and does wonders for one's own writing style. I hope that you follow this advice, and enjoy the process as thoroughly as I do.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:55 AM December 10, 2003: Message edited by: The Squatter of Amon Rûdh ]