Finduilas

I knew my spirit could not take me higher
And yet I burned when I embraced your light.
That’s when I gave my heart up to the fire

And when my soul ignited on that pyre
I rose up like a phoenix; reached for flight -
I knew my spirit could not take me higher.

I never understood about desire
Until I saw you were both dark and bright.
That’s when I gave my heart up to the fire

For in your eyes was all that I require
And in that moment, as with second sight
I knew my spirit could not take me higher

I should have known that cruel fate would conspire
to take you from the arms of your true knight.
That’s when I gave my heart up to the fire.

I never understood about desire
Until you left me nothing but the night.
I knew my spirit could not take me higher.
That’s when I gave my heart up to the fire

 


I didn't mean to write this poem, except as an exercise. I wanted to work with the terzanelle form, playing with sound and repetition, but I was soon drawn into the stricter structure of the villanelle - Denethor's voice wanted me to use a form as formal as Gondor.

I am not sure I am convinced in my own heart that Denethor ever felt, or indeed was capable of feeling anything this strongly. So, this was quite an exercise for me.

I don't think it is an accident I wrote a poem he would have written to address her loss, not to celebrate having her love. "Finduilas" is written after her death (and with an edge of prophecy)

This piece is a villanelle . It was written for the Denethor's Poetry challenge at Henneth Annun where you can find my work under the name fileg.


This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for private enjoyment, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.

 

April 2003    
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