For the Anniversary of March 25: Jan's 'The Plea of the Evenstar' , art by Bandwench and Alan Lee.

[mechtild]

~*~

~ detail from a manip by Bandwench.



It was marked on my kitchen calendar. March 25: "Fall of Sauron". The destruction of the Ring and the Tower of Barad-dûr, the rescue of Frodo and Sam, the 'eucatastrophe' from which the hopes of the Free Peoples rose out of the smoke and ash of the Dark Lord's ruin. Of course I would have to celebrate it. Jan-u-wine agreed. But I'd screencapped every bit of the film scenes. In image and verse we'd pored over the destruction and fall and the rescue by the Eagles and the recovery in Ithilien.

It was another, quieter but no less pivotal event that captured my imagination this year, jan-u-wine's too . Re-reading the draft of a letter Tolkien wrote in 1963 to Mrs. Eileen Elgar (who had questions about whether Frodo failed or not), the matter of Arwen's gift of the jewel and her passage to the Undying Lands caught my attention. I sent it on and it provided the catalyst for a new and beautiful piece of jan-u-wine poetry.

Many of you are familiar with Letter 246. Listen again to this section on Frodo's state, after the completion of his task, and how the new queen would come to his aid. The asterisked paragraph is Tolkien's accompanying footnote.

Frodo appears at first to have had no sense of guilt (III 224-5); he was restored to sanity and peace. But then he thought that he had given his life in sacrifice: he expected to die very soon. But he did not, and one can observe the disquiet growing in him. Arwen was the first to observe the signs, and gave him her jewel for comfort, and thought of a way of healing him.*

*It is not made explicit how she could arrange this. She could not of course just transfer her ticket on the boat like that! For any except those of Elvish race ‘sailing West’ was not permitted, and any exception required ‘authority’, and she was not in direct communication with the Valar, especially not since her choice to become ‘mortal’. What is meant is that it was Arwen who first thought of sending Frodo into the West, and put in a plea for him to Gandalf (direct or through Galadriel, or both), and she used her own renunciation of the right to go West as an argument. Her renunciation and suffering were related to and enmeshed with Frodo’s: both were parts of a plan for the regeneration of the state of Men. Her prayer might therefore be specially effective, and her plan have a certain equity of exchange. No doubt it was Gandalf who was the authority that accepted her plea. The Appendices show clearly that he was an emissary of the Valar, and virtually their plenipotentiary in accomplishing the plan against Sauron. He was also in special accord with Cirdan the Ship-master, who had surrendered to him his ring and so placed himself under Gandalf’s command. Since Gandalf himself went on the Ship there would be so to speak no trouble either at embarking or at the landing.

How sensitively, intelligently and beautifully jan-u-wine opens up this passage through the magic of her poetry.

The primary illustration for this piece is a manip Bandwench made several years ago, which she called "Prince Elijah". Although the source image was a photo of Elijah Wood, to my mind it was an image of Frodo, but Frodo no longer living in the Shire. To me it was Frodo as imagined across the Sea, dressed in foreign clothes (the Gaffer, surely, would not approve), yet clothes appropriate to one whom Gandalf called Bronwe athan Harthad, who was the King's friend, sung by minstrels, and hailed by armies. Bandwench had made the manip in an array of colour effects, but the one she did in 'gray scale' had the most magic for me, with its soft diffuse glow, revealing a bit of the inner light Gandalf had seen in Frodo as he recovered in Rivendell. I showed it to jan-u-wine and she, too, thought it was stunning, worthy of a poem.

For the additional images, jan-u-wine and I searched far and wide to find the images that spoke best to us for this piece. After much browsing, getting it down to a half-dozen possibles, it was jan-u-wine who found the Alan Lee picture that heads the poem. It is not a picture of Arwen, however, but a Welsh goddess or super-heroine named Rhiannon. She is associated with horses. It makes a splendid Arwen illustration, nonetheless. Jan-u-wine found the bottom illustration as well, another painting by Alan Lee. The little image (between the manip and the Lee) was made from a picture of an antique decorative tile.

I was thinking, re-reading this, how Tolkien must have considered self-sacrifice the greatest vehicle and magnifier of grace. Giving of himself, the giver receives. The greater the gift or sacrifice, the greater the redounding grace. Arwen gives Frodo her passage to the Undying Lands -- her inheritance, so to speak -- making Frodo her heir. Her gift is a boon to him, but, in giving it, she is ennobled. Similarly Frodo will give his inheritance to Sam. Receiving Frodo's worldly possessions, as well as a spiritual inheritance in the form of Frodo's story, is certainly a boon to Sam, but, at the same time, the giving ennobles Frodo that much more.

Now. Read, look, enjoy, and let your hearts be lifted to know that the hobbit who lost so much and gave so much also received.






~*~

The Plea of the Evenstar


An Entreatment of the Lord Mithrandir (Minas Tirith, Summer, 3019)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Of late, my Lord,
I have cause to know

what
it might mean to be mortal.

In joy and
sorrow

I have come to understand
the Gift of Men.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Prince
we have named him,

clothing him
in raiment

like to the Elder days.

Pearls of fair ivory
adorn his tunic,

gems,
blue as Mirrormere,

shine

upon the very hem
of his coat.


About his neck,
where lately dwelt evil,

pigeon-blood rubies,
bound by starr'd mithril,

depend.


Is it with such
weak finery

we honour him,
my Lord?

Is it with such poor stuff
we commend

his sacrifice,

this.......

Prince
of the West?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pale, like a grey-clad
Sea,

the light which falls

softly
about him.


Sorrowfully,
it has not the strength
you had hoped,

my Lord.

It fades.

He fades.

Beneath the burden
of bitter-found

truth,

beneath the harsh

resonance
of remember'd

desire and sharp-toothed regret,

he fades,

the small

moments
of his life

fleeing
towards

a lonely ending.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And shall he die,
thus,

my Lord,
this small one

who has given

and been

and borne
so much?

Are we shamedly
content

to farewell
him

so?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


By your leave, my Lord.

There is but one
small portion

of that which I was
remaining,

one gift I might
yet bestow.

By your leave, my Lord.

By......your......leave.

In this,

the wondrous summer of
our hope fulfilled,

in this,
my own autumn,

I implore you:

grant that
he should

know
himself rightly,

cleansed and whole.


Upon a deserving brow
bind the signet of life,

unblemished.

Let him depart
from grey sorrow

in my place.

All this,
with my mortal heart,

I entreat you,

I enjoin you, my Lord:

make of him a
Prince,

A Prince

of the Uttermost
West.

Images:

'Prince Elijah' by Bandwench.
'Magic Ship', from a decorative antique tile.
'Rhiannon' by Alan Lee.
'The Grey Ship of the Elves' by Alan Lee.

Previous Tolkien entry:

~ Happy 120th Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien, with jan-u-wine's 'On the Greatness and Littleness of Being', posted 01/03/12.

Other Links:

~ All entries featuring jan-u-wine's poems.

Comments

[bagma.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful and moving poem! Thank you for sharing it.:)

I never saw Bandwench's magnificent manip before, but I agree with you: I see Frodo here, not Elijah. Either way, she did an amazing work.

[aussiepeach.livejournal.com]

Both poem and manip are exquisite. A Prince indeed.

[shirebound]

Ohhhh, that poem brings me to tears. What love, what perception, what determination to see a worthy soul valued and healed.

[rakshi.livejournal.com]

As always, utterly exquisite and deeply moving.

You both grace our lives with your presence and your talent.

Love....

[ambree40.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful tribute to Frodo and to Arwen Undomiel. Thank you both so much. Jan_u_wine’s poem brought me to tears, as happens so often when I’m reading her poems.
You chose some wonderful illustrations from Alan Lee, and the “Prince Elijah” manip from Bandwench shows Frodo’s damaged soul so well.
It’s interesting that you refer to “the inner light Gandalf had seen in Frodo as he recovered in Rivendell”. That passage was also in my mind when I thought of a celebratory LJ post for today. I decided on film images of Frodo’s awakening in the Houses of Healing. ‘He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can.' Whether intentional or not, for me that film scene resonated strongly with Gandalf’s words in Rivendell.

[antane.livejournal.com]

Happy Day! Well, of course, another masterpiece as expected! Le hannon, both of you dears! So true that the magnitude of Frodo's sacrifice should have an equal reward. I love the whole poem, but the ending the most. Another great work of art is The Last Ship by Tim Kirk. I think of it being Frodo (and think I've read it is Frodo) but lately I've been wondering if it was Sam, who would be on the last ship, not Frodo. And more moving it would be if it was Sam, who despite his fear of boats and water, is standing so high up to get his first glimpse of the treasure there waiting for him.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

[belleferret.livejournal.com]

Ah that poem makes me weep. Such a moving plea from Arwen to Gandalf, how could he not grant her request.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful way to celebrate the day. Thank you for gathering these wonderful images to accompany Jan's touching and lyrical poem.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful and moving poem. The pictures are perfect. I see Frodo, not Elijah in the first one, too.

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

I remember when Bandwench did that beautiful manip of Prince Elijah. It's great to see it once again.

I enjoyed reading the excerpt from Tolkien and your thoughts about it. Jan's poem is perfect.

Thanks to you all.

[lapshalice.livejournal.com]

Please, sorry for my english!
Such a poignant poem and so fair. Like Frodo´s story. I seldom read LOTR poems in english and very seldom like them, but this is really moving. Frodo - Arwen theme is very dear to me: her sacrifice and plea for him, his attitude to her (as you have said moment in Rivendell (and other his knightly moments) is beautiful).

March, 25. Such a strange day. Day of victory and their worst suffering. So strange and so spesial.

Thank you very much!
Alice.

[verangel.livejournal.com]

"I was thinking, re-reading this, how Tolkien must have considered self-sacrifice the greatest vehicle and magnifier of grace. Giving of himself, the giver receives. The greater the gift or sacrifice, the greater the redounding grace. Arwen gives Frodo her passage to the Undying Lands -- her inheritance, so to speak -- making Frodo her heir. Her gift is a boon to him, but, in giving it, is ennobled. Similarly Frodo will give his inheritance to Sam. Receiving Frodo's worldly possessions, as well as a spiritual inheritance in the form of Frodo's story, is certainly a boon to Sam, but, at the same time, the giving ennobles Frodo that much more."

*teared up* Beautifuly reasoned and broken down. Can't you imagine how honored Tolkien was to know that people worried over the fate of Frodo. He did suffer and sacrifice so much with a pure heart. He touched Arwen's soul and through this absolultely magnificent poem, beseached that Frodo would replace her. Be honored and allowed the possibility to heal and have dignity restored to a troubled inner soul.

beneath the harsh

resonance
of remember'd

desire and sharp-toothed regret,

he fades,

the small

moments
of his life

fleeing
towards

a lonely ending.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And shall he die,
thus,

my Lord,
this small one

who has given

and been

and borne
so much?

Are we shamedly
content

to farewell
him

so?

These words would cut into the heart of one such as Gandalf who had a special bond with Frodo. He would accept this gracious and selfless gift to Frodo. They took care of each other. In the appendecies the indication is that Sam would be accorded a place on a ship to join Frodo. I wonder about that in thinking of Arwen's place being given to Frodo.

I love when you two do this. The picture by Bandwench is stunning, absolutely stunning. So much in those eyes. A wounded prince, one very humbled and deserving.
Love you both tons xoxoxoxo hugs v

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Oh, such an exquisite poem! This may be the finest of the poems I have read of Jan's yet. Every word is perfect. Such a brilliant entreaty--so hard driven, from truths so bitterly won, and heart so full of love to a heart equally so full, which will well in gratitude with the armament of words she bestows on him to wield fiercely against any of the higher powers that would oppose him. How great must have been Gandalf's admiration for this queen of two peoples upon receiving this entreaty.

I love how Jan illustrates the majesty of Arwen's intellect and wisdom that Tolkien outlines in that letter, along with the great compassion she is most known for. I love her unusual use of the words, "depends", "farewell", and "remaining". Without stumping or distancing the reader, it gives the sense of an alien use of the language to befit Elven difference and antiquity. Just gorgeous.

And what a complementary frame you fashion for Jan's jewel. I agree that is Frodo in Bandwench's lovely manip and not Elijah. And that pic of Alan Lee's is so perfect for the Arwen speaking here--that face does speak those words as she rides along Belfalas. It's so wonderful that it's Alan Lee's and he made it to illustrate another character and it's so perfect here. Such a beautiful piece you wove together.

I do love the Letters so. I poured over them when I was 17 and again after the film brought me back to the trilogy 22 years later. I don't remember that passage and I don't know why it didn't stick with me--it tells us so much about Arwen and so deepens her character. It's definitely time for a reread for me. That passage sure cries out for fanfic embroidery, and Jan and you gave us such a fittingly lovely one.

You know, it makes me think that maybe this is the passage that inspired Boyens, Walsh, and PJ to add the unfortunate plot twist of Arwen's fate being tied to the ring, but how poorly they plopped it onto their canvas, deciding it needed no blotting. Tolkien's outline here deserved such better treatment, as did the grand work they themselves wrought--I'm glad you and Jan fixed that.

Lovely--thank you both and I hope you had a happy Tolkien reading Day.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

the poem and that manip just wring my heart and bring me to tears.

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

Your words moved me to tears.