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."
Stars burn. Silver dew fashioned into ecstatic flame
From liquid turns to a star that has a name.
In stars, signs and portents earn their fame.
In the Kindler's burning hands, stars never wane.
Stars stand. Bright challenges to darkest hate
Over sea and land, rising early, setting late,
We understand though long they may wait
Stars are planned to foretell evil's fate.
Varda shines. Her hair of darkest night,
Like deepest wines, sets sparks all alight.
She made signs, symbols burning bright
Silver refined, a Tree's dew taking flight.