"The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say." † ~ the shire (for carolyn) i watched him set off for the wooded shire where light arising threads the green with gold his ginger hair in sharp relief, his bold advances all kindred spirits inspire embracing all who fellowship desire all creatures great and small in stories told the trees and vines of his cathedral mold newfound kinship in life's ascending choir each day's adventures fill his wandering soul bare feet caressing every mossy stone exploring every valley, every knoll with each of them now welcomed as his own for each becomes a portion of his whole to mark the breadth and depth his home has grown ~ through bright gloss of this morning, best friends go where laughter echoes in the hollowed trees where bright leaves whisper in the gentle breeze the secret stories only heart friends know they find the places awe and wonder grow and seek out every mystery they please collecting each with childlike trust and ease accepting all this landscape can bestow and lo! they are the lords of this domain when understanding comes and rests and stays and wisdom is the measure of their gain : arise, align with the ancient of days as through the quiet comes a knowing plain to raise their voices in a song of praise rjh 1may2026 ~ † JRR Tolkien, "The Road Goes Ever On" The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle. George Allen and Unwin, 1968. https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Road_Goes_Ever_On_(song) content and styles inspired by carolyn, 'the silas quartet' (Ballads/Stories) https://suno.com/playlist/316a174f-1d8f-4e5a-9618-c23cfe5988ec songs: Silas https://suno.com/song/1c42f643-4978-4a8a-ba62-849e225cbfed Silas & the Green Stones https://suno.com/song/fd973a77-1759-47c8-b8ea-66f78909cc2e Silas & The Lost Fawn https://suno.com/song/0e937d3c-9819-4594-ad8a-6335db43ba21 Silas & the Bear https://suno.com/song/69de3738-7910-4947-b01a-3b462d0bef68 illustration: Tim Kirk, "Frodo Meditates" https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Category:Images_by_Tim_Kirk#/media/File:Tim_Kirk_-_Frodo_Meditates.jpg
