A Sense of History: Straight Road
The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."
For B2MEM 2018 Day 3 - a poem. Aegnor remembers his fate in the Battle of Sudden Flame.
Format: double dribble, inverted.
Findis was looking at me, disturbed. Was I dead?
I had been dead. I remember the rushing flame –
Stronger than any of Ulmo’s waves came terror.
I remember my fear. I, Fell Fire!
I fell to the fire. Nerwen!
My twin, my dearest one –
But no longer, for
Here I lie.
Aicanáro Arafinwion –
Reborn.
A
New life
Awaits me here.
“Where are my scars?”
Findis stirs. “What scars, Nephew?”
“I was burned. The fire – Gundor –“
“Who is this Gundor, Aicanáro? You live.”
“Gundor was my friend.” I weep hot tears.
“Tell me of him, Nephew. Tell me of your friend.”
“Gundor was an Atan. He…buried me.” Findis embraces me.