-=- Poem -=-

The storyteller says 'I heard this poem long ago from a traveling bard, is'

The storyteller says 'quite long so forgive me if I forget a strophe or two.'

The storyteller clears his throat.

The storyteller says 'I'll tell you the fate'

The storyteller says 'of Men of old'

The storyteller says 'who sailed for lands afar.'

The storyteller says 'I'll tell you a tale,'

The storyteller says 'of one among'

The storyteller says 'who saw fair Eldamar.'

The storyteller says 'A mariner of yore was he,'

The storyteller says 'a pilot who won fame.'

The storyteller says 'From Numenor he sailed abroad,'

The storyteller says 'bold Radorac his name.'

The storyteller says 'Into dark days was born this Man,'

The storyteller says 'before the World was changed,'

The storyteller says 'and for the King did he forswore.'

The storyteller says 'And from the Gods estranged.'

The storyteller says 'A Fleet was built of mighty ships;'

The storyteller says 'its number darked the sea;'

The storyteller says 'their masts were as a tall forest,'

The storyteller says 'and sails a'panoply.'

The storyteller gulps down some beer.

The storyteller says 'The fleet set sail upon the sea,'

The storyteller says 'their masts now rot beneath.'

The storyteller says 'More of their fate is told elsewhere,'

The storyteller says 'in the Akallabeth.'

The storyteller says 'No more was heard, 'nary a word'

The storyteller says 'Of those lands that are hidden;'

The storyteller says 'except the sight of elven sails'

The storyteller says 'whose coming was unbidden.'

The storyteller says 'From such a ship did one morn step,'

The storyteller says 'upon a misty pier;'

The storyteller says 'Old Radorac, his limbs did crack;'

The storyteller says 'an Aged pioneer.'

The storyteller says 'He came by ways to my wood-door,'

The storyteller says 'and tarried here awhile.'

The storyteller says 'And as the gleam of stars came out,'

The storyteller says 'spoke of the Lonely Isle.'

The storyteller takes a breath.

The storyteller says 'Of its dark cliffs and foaming sea'

The storyteller says 'the gulls do wheel about.'

The storyteller says 'Of silver lamps which light the way'

The storyteller says 'from towers tall and stout.'

The storyteller says 'Also he spoke of other coasts,'

The storyteller says 'where still the elves did dwell.'

The storyteller says 'Whose strands are strewn with gems of pearl;'

The storyteller says 'of opal and fair shell.'

The storyteller says 'Beside the sea, Swanhaven stands'

The storyteller says 'with arch of living stone;'

The storyteller says 'and lamplit quays shine on the seas'

The storyteller says 'Which wash the elvenhome.'

The storyteller says 'And shining bright into the night'

The storyteller says 'Tall Tirion the Fair,'

The storyteller says 'Up on the Hill whose air was still,'

The storyteller says 'he climbed by crystal stair.'

The storyteller says 'To the White Tree within a court;'

The storyteller says 'beside a pool of gold,'

The storyteller says 'And saw aloft the Mindon tall'

The storyteller says 'a wonder to behold!'

The storyteller says 'And in those lands above the strands,'

The storyteller says 'forgiven for his ire.'

The storyteller says 'A ring he forged in Tirion'

The storyteller says 'Of gold and blue sapphire.'

The storyteller thinks till it hurts.

The storyteller says 'Of other things did he doth speak,'

The storyteller says 'as light crept through the door'

The storyteller says 'But never mentioned how he came,'

The storyteller says 'to venture from that shore.'

The storyteller says '"Away! Away! It dawns the Day!"'

The storyteller says 'The sun rose 'cross the hill.'

The storyteller says '"To make amends in these green lands,'

The storyteller says 'For wrongs that haunt me still."'

The storyteller says 'And so he left and faraway,'

The storyteller says 'he battles forces dire;'

The storyteller says 'with sword and song and healing hand;'

The storyteller says 'and ring of blue sapphire.'

The storyteller says 'So ends the fate of Men of old'

The storyteller says 'and tales of things that were.'

The storyteller says 'From Eldamar came Radorac,'

The storyteller says 'the ancient Mariner.'