Why Do You Wish To Enter The Wood?

by: Saoirse C.

Why do you wish to enter the wood?
Only fools go in,
and none come out.

Only those who wish to die,
who no longer deem the world
to be fit,
and children who cry,
for mothers, at monsters, and
demons all,
venture into the wood.

There is no fame,
glory does not exist,
greed is useless,
pride is left behind
in the wood.

Nightmares are born,
Dreams are lost,
Hope resides,
Fear chases
within the wood.

The trees sway in the whispers,
the whispers of those lost in their souls,
souls twisted by the words of the mind,
the wood is their home.

The critters,
brought by those before you,
fallen from their pockets,
are the cruelties of mankind,
scurrying throughout
the wood.

Will you still go into the wood?

~~ * ~~

Aegnor and Andreth

by Briony L.

The agony of Aegnor and Andreth was shared,
to be sundered by seas of sorrow and time.
Aegnor and Andreth, their anguish in love,
the Elda and Adan, the Elf and Man.
One minute they mingled, a moth and flame,
the next was dark as night in Thangorodrim.
Their love flourished, a lonely flower
in the North in an Age of neglect and anger.
Yet he did not marry the mortal, even so they mingled in love
with caresses, cuddles, and kisses. They gazed
into each other’s eyes and saw there
their future and fate fulfilled—their love
would last not long, nor linger through Ages
save in a song. Their sorrow was decided
when leaves fell from boughs. Not like Lúthien and Beren
would fare their fate; they would fall in death.
By the lake they lay with linkèd hands
in Taur-nu-Fuin, the terrible forest.
The stars stretched across the straits above
and shone sickly shadows on the lovers.
Andreth was mortal as all Men are
and her life and love would leave Aegnor
alone and aching through the Ages. His lover said:
‘Elda, we Edain age and go grey,
we crease and curve and crack with the years.
Will you greatly grieve or give me a hand
when my body breaks? Or will you bolt, ashamed?
My death will be dark for you, dearest Aegnor.’
‘Andreth,’ said Aegnor, ‘my Adan, I love you
yet our love cannot last. The lust of war
bids me battle. You are no Beren, nor I Lúthien—
our fates are sundered by the fathomless Sea.
I must leave you, my Adan, and love you no more.
I fear that death will be my fate on the battlefield.’

Andreth was alone and angry with her fate.
In her friend she confided, Finrod the brother
of Aegnor. He listened to her anguish and comforted her.
He said: ‘Aegnor loved you and only left you
in greatest need. He girded his sword and
his flame flitted away, fast on the wind;
battle beckoned, his blade hungry
for Morgoth’s minions to massacre justly.
His love for you will last through the long Ages
though his spirit will be sundered from your soul and body
and dwell in the dark until the Days are ended.’
Her dearest died defending Beleriand,
while she lingered on lone and loveless in the North.
Destiny decreed their different fates.

~~ * ~~