Written for Marigold’s Challenge #31, which was to write something about Bilbo.
Included in the envelope with Bilbo’s ring, Will and other documents was this poem.
My Greatest Adventure
My greatest adventure came not at night In the glow of the trolls’ campfire light Neither does Rivendell come even close To the time of my life I value the most
Outwitting gollums and strange magic rings Are small and trite next to much grander things Sneaking past goblins and vanquishing foes Could not even curl the hair on my toes
It came not when Eagles swooped from the sky As goblins and wolves tried to claw at my thigh Nor did it come when a man turned to bear And lobs in trees slung my friends in midair
Fleeing from Mirkwood on river-bound barrel Does not even earn but two lines in this carol And neither does Smaug with his pile of jewels And certainly not those war-happy fools
Hold anything up to my greatest treasure That came to me in my years of leisure It came not with promise of jewels or of gold Nor anything else of which I’ve just told
Your promise was humble, fragile but true Held in the eyes of the purest bright blue All you could offer were simple delights Long summer rambles and warm autumn nights
Digging in dirt for the seeds of a bloom Hiding while I sought through every room Staying up late to listen to stories Of a crazy hobbit’s unusual glories
Trailing behind me through the market square And pouring honey all over my hair Giving me gifts for no other reason Than wanting to mark the changing season
Not even grief could dampen your spirit You sing with love for all who can hear it Hearing you laugh and seeing you smile Will always make my heart glow a long while
If there’s still any doubt I’ll say it plain In all of my travels I never did gain A treasure so dear to me, for it is true My greatest adventure has always been you
GF 8/2/06
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