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."
As the Quendi awoke To the eternal stars we gazed In light and belonging; in hope
The unknown world; in yet uncounted days Was tempered by starlight Though history would traverse through innumerable ways
Their lights did pierce the unending night As the shadows grew ever more Still the stars alone shone bright
And when at last we were found; in days of yore By Oromë the Vala bold We were named the Eldar; as stars forevermore
To Aman many did go; legends unforetold Carrying the stars with them As fair Valinor was ours to behold
The stars on high; eternal light Shall carry me forever home within the unknown night!