Narqelion

Narqelion ("Autumn") is a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien, being his first Elvish poem. The original manuscript has the dates of November 1915 to March 1916, which most likely refers to when it was composed.

Publication history

• Four lines of the poem were badly transcribed by Humphrey Carpenter in J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography.
• The complete poem was then published with an analysis by Paul Nolan Hyde in Mythlore 56 in 1988.
• The poem was then reprinted in Vinyar Tengwar, nr.6 and then in Vinyar Tengwar, nr.12 with translation by Paul Nolan Hyde and a synopsis by Jorge Quiñonez.
• Again it was published in 1990 in Parma Eldalamberon 9 (pp.6-32) with an exposition by Patrick H. Wynne and Christopher Gilson.
• Another publication was in Vinyar Tengwar, nr.40 with an analysis by Chris Gilson.

The Poem

Original

Translated by Chris Gilson

N·alalmino lalantila Ne·súme lasser pínea Ve sangar voro úmeai Oïkta rámavoite malinai. Ai lintulind(ov)a Lasselanta Piliningwe súyer nallar qanta Kuluvai ya karnevalinar V'ematte sinqi Eldamar. San rotser simpetalla pinqe, Súlimarya sildai, hiswa timpe San sirilla ter i·aldar: Lilta lie noldorinwa Ómalingwe lir' amaldar Sinqitalla laiqaninwa. N·alalmino hyá lanta lasse Torwa pior má tarasse: Tukalla sangar úmeai Oïkta rámavoite karneambarai. Ai lindórea Lasselanta Nierme mintya náre qanta.

From the elm-tree falling one by one small leaves were in the wind, like throngs ever large of yellow birds on the wing. Oh! Fall with its many swallows, the airs are so full of golden feathers, and orange-red ones too, that they call to mind the gems of Elven-home. Then pipes playing their thin music, slender columns of pearl, a dim rain at that time flowing though the trees: the dancing Gnome-folk sang a gentle tune with many voices, sparkling green and blue. From the elm-tree here a leaf falls, the dark-brown fruit in the hand of the hawthorn: attracting large throngs of red-breasted birds on the wing. Oh! with singing at dawn Fall reminds me that it is filled with grief.

See also

• Narquelion