| Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien | |
| Hengest | |
|---|---|
| Poem Information | |
| Written | Probably around April of 1930 |
| Published | The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Subject(s) | Hengest, Finn and Hengest |
Hengest is a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien about Hengest, one of the two legendary leaders of the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain in the 5th century AD[1]. The poem was possibly written around April of 1930, when Tolkien gave his earliest lecture on Finn and Hengest. The poem was published for the first time as entry 118 in The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien.[2]
First stanza
O mighty sun, who hath thee now in thrall?
The wind is keen and snow is over all,
the sea is frozen and the waves stand still,
and ships are idle, and my heart is chill.[2]
Etymology
Hengest is a name in Old English meaning "stallion".[3]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "I. The Cottage of Lost Play": "Notes and Commentary", pp. 23-4
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull, Wayne G. Hammond (eds.), The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, "118. Hengest (c. 1930)"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", in Parma Eldalamberon XV (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), "Early Runic Documents", p. 91