The Tolkien Geek Reviews “The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien” (ed. Scull & Hammond, 2024)

[@gandalfolorin-kl3pj]

Melon Geek: A brilliant summary of this new gem. I will probably die before I get this set, as I've yet to own and read the HOME at this point. Our dear Professor was indeed one of a kind in his mastery of both prose and poetry. Great work. Namarie.

[@NickBR57]

I have it on order. Thanks for the preview!

[@pwmiles56]

So what's the principle of selection? Surely the Lewis Carroll poem is 'Jabberwocky', from Through the Looking-Glass? Quoting by memory: 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe All mimsy were the borogoves And the mome raths outgrabe

[@TolkienLorePodcast]

Might be; I only glanced at the appendix to get a sense of what it was and was going on memory lol.

[@MagusMarquillin]

Would love to hear Tolkien's version of this style. In fact I'm not sure I've heard anyone else try this - what's it called, Nonsense Poem? - despite it being so famous.

[@pwmiles56]

​@@MagusMarquillin Edward Lear was another, in fact the first "nonsense poet". Bear in mind, Freud had not yet lived. "The Dong with a Luminous Nose" (1877): When awful darkness and silence reign Over the great Gromboolian plain, Through the long, long wintry nights; - When the angry breakers roar As they beat on the rocky shore; - When Storm-clouds brood on the towering heights Of the Hills of the Chankly Bore: - Then, through the vast and gloomy dark, There moves what seems a fiery spark, A lonely spark with silvery rays Piercing the coal-black night, - A Meteor strange and bright: - Hither and thither the vision strays, A single lurid light. Slowly it wander, - pauses, - creeps, - Anon it sparkles, - flashes and leaps; And ever as onward it gleaming goes A light on the Bong-tree stems it throws. And those who watch at that midnight hour From Hall or Terrace, or lofty Tower, Cry, as the wild light passes along, - "The Dong! - the Dong! "The wandering Dong through the forest goes! "The Dong! the Dong! "The Dong with a luminous Nose!" Long years ago The Dong was happy and gay, Till he fell in love with a Jumbly Girl Who came to those shores one day. For the Jumblies came in a sieve, they did, - Landing at eve near the Zemmery Fidd Where the Oblong Oysters grow, And the rocks are smooth and gray. And all the woods and the valleys rang With the Chorus they daily and nightly sang, - "Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live; Their heads are green, and the hands are blue And they went to sea in a sieve. Happily, happily passed those days! While the cheerful Jumblies staid; They danced in circlets all night long, To the plaintive pipe of the lively Dong, In moonlight, shine, or shade. For day and night he was always there By the side of the Jumbly Girl so fair, With her sky-blue hands, and her sea-green hair. Till the morning came of that hateful day When the Jumblies sailed in their sieve away, And the Dong was left on the cruel shore Gazing - gazing for evermore, - Ever keeping his weary eyes on That pea-green sail on the far horizon, - Singing the Jumbly Chorus still As he sate all day on the grassy hill, - "Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live; Their heads are green, and the hands are blue And they went to sea in a sieve. But when the sun was low in the West, The Dong arose and said; - "What little sense I once possessed Has quite gone out of my head!" - And since that day he wanders still By lake and forest, marsh and hills, Singing - "O somewhere, in valley or plain "Might I find my Jumbly Girl again! "For ever I'll seek by lake and shore "Till I find my Jumbly Girl once more!" Playing a pipe with silvery squeaks, Since then his Jumbly Girl he seeks, And because by night he could not see, He gathered the bark of the Twangum Tree On the flowery plain that grows. And he wove him a wondrous Nose, - A Nose as strange as a Nose could be! Of vast proportions and painted red, And tied with cords to the back of his head. - In a hollow rounded space it ended With a luminous Lamp within suspended, All fenced about With a bandage stout To prevent the wind from blowing it out; - And with holes all round to send the light, In gleaming rays on the dismal night. And now each night, and all night long, Over those plains still roams the Dong; And above the wail of the Chimp and Snipe You may hear the squeak of his plaintive pipe While ever he seeks, but seeks in vain To meet with his Jumbly Girl again; Lonely and wild - all night he goes, - The Dong with a luminous Nose! And all who watch at the midnight hour, From Hall or Terrace, or lofty Tower, Cry, as they trace the Meteor bright, Moving along through the dreary night, - "This is the hour when forth he goes, "The Dong with a luminous Nose! "Yonder - over the plain he goes; "He goes! "He goes; "The Dong with a luminous Nose!"

[@MagusMarquillin]

I fell deeply in love reading the Lay of Leithian aloud, and would love to try more of his rhyming couplets - I think Sir Gawain and the Fall of Arthur do this. The ones in LOTR/Hobbit are more hit and miss with how well they connect with me, but I never commit the sacrilege of skipping them.

[@nordlyselsker]

Thanks for the review! $92 and free shipping to Norway at Amazon... Very tempting!

[@Relics_of_Arda]

0:18 Same! 😆

[@jayt9608]

The ebook looks to be $25 on the Kindle app currently. I would love to buy now, but I must wait.

[@markbertenshaw3977]

Hope you got a write-off against tax!

[@Peak_Aussieman]

Based and Poetry Pilled.

[@yohan9101]

Excellent video Mr Geek. This is a bit unrelated, but I wanted to try a lotr audiobook, I would love to hear any recommendations.

[@yohan9101]

@@ravenmad9225 I'll check it out, thank you!

[@SNWWRNNG]

Serkis if you like distinct (and movie-inspired) voices for the characters, Inglis for grandpa reading you a story, Dragash for background music and sounds. They're all great in their own way!

[@TolkienLorePodcast]

Christopher Lee’s Children of Hurin is excellent, if not LOTR. I actually haven’t tried any of the LOTR audio books lol

[@williammullikin2076]

at $100 it is way to expensive

[@Heike--]

Poems and songs, by far the worst part of reading Tolkien. He has a couple of bangers hidden in there, but no. The elvish songs are horrible, and "water hot is a noble *thing* was enough for me once. I skip the poems and songs like most readers.

[@SNWWRNNG]

You're lucky Elves aren't on KZbin

[@nordlyselsker]

"Water hot is a noble thing" is a silly bath song sung by a young hobbit. It would be weird if it were great poetry. I used to sing the German version of it in the bath when I was a child (with my own melody).