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.