Elves becoming rustic folk

[Elianna]

Saw this poem and thought of this thread. I'll skip the first stanza for space and copyright reasons.

Heritage
By James Still

…I cannot leave. I cannot go away.

Being of these hills, being one with the fox
Stealing into the shadows, one with the new-born foal,
The lumbering ox drawing green beech logs to mill,
One with the destined feet of man climbing and descending
And one with death rising to bloom again, I cannot go.
Being of these hills, I cannot pass beyond. (sic italized)

This can be applied to the elves in a way. Because the elves had been so close to nature while living in Middle-earth, they became too attached to leave. Then because they could not leave, they became even closer to nature (oh the victious cycle!), and therefore became a "rustic folk."

[burrahobbit]

I fail to see how a poem by Joe Random Fella applies to the conception of Tolkien's Elves, or how living in Aman makes one any less close to nature.

[Alchisiel]

Well then ask why the poem is relevant, don't just dismiss someone's post as useless.

So Elianna, why do you think this poem is relevant to the topic we're discussing?

[Boromir88]

Elianna,

This can be applied to the elves in a way. Because the elves had been so close to nature while living in Middle-earth, they became too attached to leave. Then because they could not leave, they became even closer to nature (oh the victious cycle!), and therefore became a "rustic folk."

I feel as if that is a rather factual observation. Here is a quote from Lothlorien.

"Some there are among us who sing that the Shadow will draw back, and peace shall come again. Yet I do not believe that the world about us will ever again be as it was of old, or the light of the Sun as it was aforetime. For the Elves, I fear, it will prove at best a truce, in which they pass to the Sea unhindered and leave the Middle-earth for ever. Alas for Lothlorien that I love! It would be a poor life in a land where no mallorn grew. But if there are mallorn-trees beyond the Great Sea, none have reported it."

First off, silly Haldir, in believing that living in Valinor would be a poor life. I say smack him! Anyway, I think this just goes to show Haldir has fallen in love so much with them "mallorn trees," that he actually speaks badly of Valinor, saying "it would be a poor life to live." Again, silly Haldir.

[Elianna]

Burrahobbit:

I never said living in Aman would make one less close to nature. The Elves became closer to the nature of Middle-earth, and did not wish to leave it. I suppose the relavance of my post was to provide a reasoning on why the Elves would choose to stay and dwindle from their former glory.

[HerenIstarion]

Um. Er. Cough..cough...

Me and my long tongue. In cooperation, we have put ourselves into trouble before this. Yet we can't stand aside. I hope you'll forgive my meddling in your affairs at the outset, and let me make a little bit of commentary:

Dear Elianna and Alchisiel, and all who are not yet acquainted with burrahobbit (since he was absent for a long while), you should not get offended at his laconic remarks (often to the point, mind you), as, I believe, they are not expressions of hostility of arrogance, but merely style, or mode of expression he assumed and which fits him well. As I've said, they are often to the point, besides, short does not imply rude or offensive, them being three distinct words

With that, I suggest we could all move on on amicable terms

PS. You're welcome to throw rotten vegetables at yours truly, for interfering, of course

[drigel]

Second off, silly Haldir - where do you think mallorn trees originated>? hehe
I would say that the elves that chose to stay in ME used free will, no?

[Mithalwen]

I don't want to reopen wounds but I think the poem, does raise a relevant point.
For the Noldorin exiles, going to Valinor is going home, for the Silvan elves it is not. However wonderful it is, it is not home - Legolas even seems to regard Galadriel's message as "speaking of his death". I think there is a strong sense of the importance of "home" in Tolkien's work. So much of the tragedy is in the displacement of individuals and peoples. Look at the deep desire of the dwarves to return to their ancient homes in Moria and Erebor and the continuing nostalgia among the dunedain for Numenor. The premature decline and death of Finduilas (mother of Faramir and Boromir) is linked in part to her displacement from Dol Amroth and there are many other examples.

I have been lucky enough to travel around much of the world and have lived abroad and may do so again - but the idea of severing my ties permanently with the UK and in particular the rather beautiful area where I grew up and to which I have returned, somewhat horrific - even though I spend a lot of time plotting escape.