Work Text:
where runs the water in the wood
where flow our fears, both ill and good
where fear can be a good at all
I'd seek the answer ere I fall
if not for war than what are swords
if not for peace, then what are words—
“Swords doesn’t really rhyme with words.”
“Hush, Celegorm! Have you not seen how Lord Tennyson—”
“Ah yes, your highfalutin Tennyson.”
“Get out.”
if not for peace, then what are words?
beyond the forest’s branch-bound eyes
beyond the inquiry of skies
what can I answer, but to ask—
“Macalaure.”
“Land’s sakes, Maitimo. What now?”
“Athair wants to know if your trunks are packed for the morning. I am sorry, to interrupt.”
“Can he spare me just half an hour?”
“Maglor—”
“Please?”
“I will do my best to persuade him, but a quarter of an hour may be all I can buy you.”
—but to ask
if both my first and last have passed
if love and harm walk hand and hand
inside my heart, I cannot stand
to bid them let me bide my time
in fear of hurt, or life sublime
Life sublime? A bad line.
in fear of hurt, or life sublime
to bid them let me bide my time
I’ll call this fear, a fear of mine
“Maglor Kanafinwe!”
“I’m coming!”
My name is Maglor and I write
All through the day and through the night
“Celegorm! We’re not supposed to be in here.”
“Shh. He’s downstairs with Athair, getting scolded.”
My name is Maglor and I write
All through the day and through the night
I write until my hands are red
I write until they wish I’m dead
And who are they? My brothers, sure
Who all my writing must endure
And singing too! And mournful looks
And silly notes in silly books
I like to think I’m pretty quick
At getting girls, like flames to wick
But really I have spots of ink
Upon my nose, and ink does stink
I sing a song so sweet and sad
It really drives my brothers mad
And when in trouble I do be
I whine, and call it poetry
“Celegorm, I’ll kill you!”
“Leave it. He’s just trying to provoke you.”
“Is he, Maitimo? I hadn’t noticed. Celegorm, you had better hide whatever you hold dear—”
“Ach, and the neighbors used to say that you had Mother’s easy temper.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”