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The Dark Night of the Soul  by Ellisande 7 Review(s)
Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/26/2007
Good grief! Could you write more perfect lines!

I adore these... they are so profound.

Haunt me.... you are haunting me with your words.... And now I am in tears!

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/26/2007
I don't have the words to convey how beautiful and hideously sad this is...

Who am I to believe that I could keep a star
locked in mine own dark heart?

My heart weeps for Denethor - his bright Finduilas and his own disparagement.

And then, brave heart though he knew it not, to think himself selfish and ungrateful... how could he!

Absolutely excellent, heart-rending chapter... I am disconsolate.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/26/2007
Oh my goodness... this makes me want to break into tears... I love the crossouts! Perfect.. I don't know why... but they bespeak such sorrow nd grief...

annmarwalkReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 8/3/2004
Who am I to believe that I could keep a star
locked in mine own dark heart,
or catch the dancing sea-foam’s gleam from ocean’s far


Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.

Ann

NerdanelReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/3/2004
What a lovely sonnet! It conveys deep emotion and feeling. I can sense Denethor's distress. And I usually don't like fics or poetry about Denethor, but this is excellent. These are my favourite lines:

"But haunt me if you will in dreams of pain
and cover me in scars that will not fade.
Not gentle be, but break my heart again
if I should break the promise I have made."

Because they seem to capture the character of Denethor. He is not one that would be easy on himself. He doesn't want pity. He wants her memory to make it even harder for him to bear, because he is the type of man that would want that. He wants hardship and pain, in a sort of intense, masochistic way. You have captured his spirit perfectly, in this poem.

Nerdanel

NerdanelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/3/2004
Hi, Ellisande,

This poem gives me chills. I can truly see Denethor sitting at his desk, writing this, after Finduilas' death. These are my favourite lines:

"Who am I to believe that I could keep a star
locked in mine own dark heart,
or catch the dancing sea-foam’s gleam from ocean’s far?
Who am I to believe that I could keep a star?
The storm’s tempestuous soul will tolerate no bar,
but fly or break apart.
Who am I to believe that I could keep a star
locked in mine own dark heart?"

It sounds like a line from Tennyson or Blake. Beautiful, and chilling.

Nerdanel

LindorienReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/3/2004
I'm going to put some serious time into studying what you did here. But the short version of my review is that its so damned good, I wish I'd thought of the idea first. I know its sad, but I did get more than one definite chuckle over all the strike outs. and his changes. So good to see you hear ellisande. I'm off to wonder why I wasn't even half this talented when I was your age. Lindorien

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