Elvish Song in Rivendell

From Tolkien Gateway
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
The name Rivendell refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Rivendell (disambiguation).

The Elvish song in Rivendell is a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien, probably dating from the early 1930s. Apparently, the poem was at some point intended by Tolkien to be included in the chapter "A Short Rest" from The Hobbit, following the passage: "The [the elves] went into another song as ridiculous as the one I have written down in full." It exists in two versions, one untitled and titled. The latter (supposedly the latest) was published for the first time by Douglas A. Anderson in The Annotated Hobbit: Revised and Expanded Edition (2002).

Excerpt (first stanza)[edit | edit source]

Come home, come home, ye merry folk!
The sun is sinking, and the oak
   In gloom has wrapped his feet.
Come home! The shades of evening loom
Beneath the hills, and palely bloom
   Night-flowers white and sweet.