Rating: G
Summary: A poem

I: LIKE INSPIRING ILÚVATAR

The following came from the writings of Iorhael the Belovéd, known in his own land as Frodo Baggins, taken from his home on the Blesséd Isle after he had accepted the Gift of Mortals. Most of his later writings were in Quenya, but many of his earlier ones were written in his native tongue.

I was beyond all hope, in toils and dangers,
in places I had never thought to come,
where nothing could be found of any grace,
with one who’d always followed where I’d lead.
I’d brought us far from any hope of home.
Yet burden gone, my heart once more felt safe.  

Á laita Ilúvatar! Eru Ilúvatar! Eru i or ilyë mahalmar eä tennoio!

I cannot say that anywhere was safe,
but friendship urged me on from fiery dangers.
My spirit filled with thoughts of distant home;
and I was sure my final time had come.
Down the fiery path I let him lead,
blessed at the last with only friendship’s grace.

Á laita Ilúvatar! Eru Ilúvatar! Eru i or ilyë mahalmar eä tennoio!

Weary, worn and wounded, devoid of grace,
facing death, I somehow yet felt safe.
How could I have known where my steps would lead?
How could I have pictured all the dangers?
I wished that I had never let him come,
to bring him here to death so far from home.

Á laita Ilúvatar! Eru Ilúvatar! Eru i or ilyë mahalmar eä tennoio!

But in his company I feel that I am home.
How did I deserve his friendship’s grace?
We wait for death, but death it does not come.
We waken in a bright and fresh world, safe,
alive, past all the snares and dangers!
Who can know where this new age will lead?

Á laita Ilúvatar! Eru Ilúvatar! Eru i or ilyë mahalmar eä tennoio!

But I soon find I can no longer lead
the life that I once had in my dear home.
Even there had come harsh snares and dangers,
and all my life seems harsh and lacking grace.
I thought that I had kept my homeland safe--
but all is grey and joy had not come.

Á laita Ilúvatar! Eru Ilúvatar! Eru i or ilyë mahalmar eä tennoio!

But then a message came: the time had come,
that I might take the hidden paths that lead
to Havens where a grey ship is kept safe.
A ship to bear me far away from home--
Dare I go and take the offered grace?
Shall I leave my world behind with all its dangers?

Á laita Ilúvatar! Eru Ilúvatar! Eru i or ilyë mahalmar eä tennoio!

But now at last to harbor safe I’ve come, and no more dangers.
Who knew that here my road would lead: to this fair home I’ve gained by Eru’s grace?

Á laita Ilúvatar! Eru Ilúvatar! Eru i or ilyë mahalmar eä tennoio!

[AUTHOR’S NOTES: This poem is written as a modified sestina, a poem in which six words are used as the last word of each line, in a specific order, with two last lines using all six words. I modified it by adding the refrain. Since I do not know anything about Elven languages, the refrain is cobbled together. I took the word “Laitë” from the hymn of praise to the Ringbearers in Cormallen, and the latter part from Cirion’s Oath as quoted in Unfinished Tales. It should say:
"Praise Iluvatar! The One Iluvatar! The One who is above all thrones forever!” If you are an expert, and I have got it wrong, I’d appreciate any correction you might care to make.

EDIT: Thanks to Fiondil, I have edited “Laitë” to "Á laita", which he was kind enough to point out to me was a more correct Quenyan form of the word in this usage. 

The six words I chose come from the second verse of the hymn “Amazing Grace”:

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

Somehow that verse seems very appropriate to Frodo. ]