The Journey of the Ringbearer

Since it is September 22, which is known by all nerds as the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, I thought I would share a poem I wrote many years ago on the story of the Lord of the Rings.  I based it on the movie adaption, since Sam loses Frodo more often in that version, compared to the book.

This poem is dedicated to those people who are true friends, who "stick with you through thick and thin to the bitter end".  May we all care about others more deeply and faithfully, even when it costs us everything.


The Journey of the Ringbearer (or The Trials of Master Samwise)

A birthday party starts it all            
     A ring that’s left behind
Two hobbits set out from their home    
     Who knows what they will find?
“Don’t you lose him” Gandalf’s warning    
     Once more ringing loud and low
But now the cornfield’s empty -       
     Where did Frodo go?

Fear and shadow in the memory        
     Light and laughter now drive out
They have made it - but no Gandalf    
     Pippin’s welcomed with a shout
Pippin’s “Sure I know a Baggins!”        
     Frodo knows he can’t allow
He runs to Pippin, trips, and falls -     
     Where is Frodo now?

Fear and horror now before them        
     Ringed around by ancient stones
The wraiths of doom have not gone far    
     In great pain Frodo groans
Elven light and hurried whispers        
     Strider looking very grim
Now Frodo has been rode away -     
     Where are they taking him?

    All united once again            
    The journey’s just begun
    A council to decide the way        
    They’re joined then, one by one:
    Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin,            
    Aragorn, Legolas,
    Gandalf, Gimli, Boromir            
    All gather to the task

And now the Fellowship sets out        
     O’er rock and stream and hill
But road is watched and mountain blocked  
     The mines with dangers fill
Trapped, fighting goblins, then much worse  
     A fell horror comes on
And finally they make it out -         
     But where has Gandalf gone?

The Elven woods now left behind        
     The mighty river flows
Past ancient kings to Rauros falls        
     Their watery path goes
But even here they don’t feel safe        
     Shadow one more draws near
Now Aragorn is wondering, where’s    
     Frodo and Boromir?

    Two there were who first began        
    And now just two go on
    To end the quest; the rest now to        
    Their own paths have been drawn
    And through the rocks of Emen Muil    
    Now Frodo and Sam go
    What now lies ahead of them?        
    The dangers, who can know?

Through bog and marshes dark and foul     
     The two now become three
The Black Gates, though, they can’t get through  
     An oliphaunt they see
Heneth Anun, Osgiliath,            
     Yet Faramir says “no”
Dread Nazgul wings beating the air -    
     Where did Frodo go?

Now finally upon their way            
     To Mordor Gollum leads
And through his mask of treachery     
     The watching Samwise heeds
Past Minas Morgul, then up stairs        
     So hard and high and long
“Go home” and Sam sits weeping        
      Where has Frodo gone?

With Gollum now Frodo goes on        
     In tunnel he is led
Sam comes and drives off spider foul    
     But thinks that Frodo’s dead
Now he must carry on the quest        
     He hears some orc talk grim
Frodo’s captured and is not dead!        
     Where have they taken him?

    Through gate and stairs and past orc guards  
    Now nothing makes Sam stop
    Nor hinder him from getting         
    To his master at the top
    Then they escape disguised as orcs    
    And into Mordor go
    Across the plains of Gorgoroth        
    They journey sad and slow

They struggle on and without hope    
     Of seeing home again
Sam carries Frodo up Mt. Doom        
     And Gollum shows up then
Frodo runs on, Sam follows him        
     Hears roar of fire below
But Sam sees Frodo disappear        
     Where did Frodo go?

    Gollum now has paid the price        
    The quest at last is done
    The eagles bear them swift away        
    The battle too is won
    All are united once again            
    Midst laughter, joy and tears
    Aragorn is crowned as king        
    Ended are all their fears

Now finally they return home        
     To tree and hole and field
But Frodo is still in much pain        
     Some wounds just can’t be healed
To havens grey they travel now        
     The wind blows sad and slow
Now far away the ship has sailed        
     Where did Frodo go?