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~*~
Happy 120th Birthday!
I am so grateful this man lived and created such wonders for so many to enjoy and cherish. And I love the photo below. It's from the cover of Tom Shippey's fine Author of the Century. The mood, the look of the sea, the time of day -- this is very much the way I picture the end of "The Grey Havens", Sam standing on the shore, looking long at the grey shifting sea over which Frodo has gone.
What Tolkien wrote, even if categorized 'Fantasy', always had the ring of 'been there, done that', from the external settings to the deepest experiences of the characters. He'd stood by the sea, he'd known irreparable loss. And turned it into unforgettable art.
Jan-u-wine, inspired by the photograph below, has written a beautiful tribute to the Professor for his birthday. It is posted below the image.
On the Greatness and Littleness of Being
Perhaps,
upon this shore,
a leaden dog
was lost,
perhaps
these waves
bore
the sway and chime
of a Ring-bearer's Sea Bell.
Perhaps,
upon a glimmer'd even-tide,
a swan-prow'd ship
ran out
amongst these rocks....
Perhaps mer-men
and their fish-tailed maids
cavorted here.
Perhaps..........
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He is a
Big Person,
this man.
Yet,
ever so greatly *small*,
inside,
his heart and artist's
fingers
filling the mind's vast
sky with the unending stars,
yet
bending,
to pluck,
with fragile deliberation,
a single, storied
shell
from the sun-gilded Sea.
He knows of littleness
and greatness,
this man.
He knows.
His face is worn now,
worn by all that is life:
the joys,
the sorrows,
the things he may touch
and those which he never
shall.
Ah.
Weary,
the eyes which have known
the ever-widening circles of the world,
weary
and
wise.
Full of loves known and yearnings
unfulfilled,
beyond time,
beyond place,
beyond Wood or Sea,
Mountain
or Shore,
beyond words
or pastel'd brush-strokes......
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Birthdays and blessings.
The former, upon this day,
within the echoing shell
of these hours,
yours.
The latter, through the beauty
of your being,
from the grand music
of your pencil,
ours.
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of your pencil,
ours.
Ohhhhh. This photo and poem are perfection for this very special day.
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Thank you!
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What Tolkien wrote, even if categorized 'Fantasy', always had the ring of 'been there, done that', from the external settings to the deepest experiences of the characters.
CS Lewis wrote in his review of The Hobbit that everything in it seems so 'ripe and friendly and so true'. We seem to know, or recognise, this world we've fallen into, somehow. This world of bucolic villages, desolate moors, misty mountains and mysterious ruins. Middle-earth seems extraordinarily familiar ... created as it was from Tolkien's rich treasury of knowledge of ancient British and European mythology.
He'd stood by the sea, he'd known irreparable loss. And turned it into unforgettable art.
Yes. :)
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Isn't that precisely the case?
Hi, Pearl. I've been at work and am only now reading your comment. You know this material and its author so well (and his literary friends), I know this day is meaningful for you, too.
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"The Professor."
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"from the grand music
of your pencil,
ours."
What a wonderful birthday post!
*raises glass*
Thanks a lot, ladies!
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What a wonderful phrase. Perfect. Thank you and Jan for the lovely post.
I did toast him at 9 pm with the water bottle I had on hand.
Happy birthday, Professor, and thank you!
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unfulfilled beyond time,
beyond place,
beyond Wood or Sea,
Mountain
or Shore,
beyond words"
Just a small part of so much beauty. Its a lovely pensive sort of peice that fits this picture and the pensive look that is Tolkien at that moment. I love the sea. There is nothing more majestic to me than the smell, sight, feel or sound of the ocean. It is powerful and in Tolkien's world has the power to seperate elves, a wizard, men, and mostly two hearts forever joined in friendship and love in our beautiful little hobbits. What a mind, heart and soul.
hugs you both. You almost always leave me thinking and misty eyed. xoxoxoxoxo love v
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Thank you so much. Your own love and passion for beauty is apparent. The Professor surely was a unifying force. I think that was, in part, his purpose: to show, through the power of his words, that people of all sorts could and should selflessly work together for the salvation of all
(and his love of the Sea, his own Sea-longing, makes him all the more special!)
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I was reminded of “Leaf by Niggle”. Tolkien may have picked a single shell, as Niggle painted a single leaf, but in the end: “Before him stood the Tree, his Tree, finished. ..... He gazed at the Tree, and slowly he lifted his arms and opened them wide. ‘It’s a gift!’ he said.”
And what a gift he left behind. Thank you both for this wonderful tribute to a great man.
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(funny you should speak of "Leaf" (or perhaps not so funny!). It has been much in discussion around the writerly house of late. In writing this poem, i did endeavor to flavor it with an overview of the Professor, while keeping it compact (a feat, for me!)
I am ever thankful to the Professor, the beautiful word-smythe that he was.....
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Happy Birthday indeed! *hugs to all three of you*
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
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Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
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(and congratulations on your wins at MEFA!)
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Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
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Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
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'
jan