The Wind Was on the Withered Heath (Dwarves Song at Beorn's Hall) by J.R.R. Tolkien | a poem for Tolkien Reading Day
The selection below comes from Chapter 7, in which the dwarves and Bilbo are introduced to the mysterious Beorn by Gandalf as they are trekking their way across the land toward the Lonely Mountain. The group has enjoyed a hearty meal in Beorn's Hall, and post-meal, the dwarves commence discussing "dwarf-y" things and begin to tell tales. Presently, they begin to sing the verses below. Tolkien does not give a title and, indeed, intimates that this is not the extent of the dwarves' song, so I have just used the first line as a title.
I hope you enjoy my narration!
Music credit: Burial of the Light by ELVGames & PEGGU-SENSEI
The Wind Was on the Withered Heath (Dwarves Song at Beorn's Hall)
The wind was on the withered heath,
but in the forest stirred no leaf:
there shadows lay by night and day,
and dark things silent crept beneath.
The wind came down from mountains cold,
and like a tide it roared and rolled;
the branches groaned, the forest moaned,
and leaves were laid upon the mould.
The wind went on from West to East;
all movement in the forest ceased,
but shrill and harsh across the marsh
its whistling voices were released.
The grasses hissed, their tassels bent,
the reeds were rattling—on it went
o'er shaken pool under heavens cool
where racing clouds were torn and rent.
It passed the lonely Mountain bare
and swept above the dragon's lair:
there black and dark lay boulders stark
and flying smoke was in the air.
It left the world and took its flight
over the wide seas of the night.
the moon set sail upon the gale,
and stars were fanned to leaping light.
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