Once upon a Time is a poem consisting of three stanzas, written by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The poem tells a story about Goldberry, Tom, and the lintips.[1] It could probably be a reworking of the earlier An Evening in Tavrobel.[2]
It was first published in October 1965 within Winter's Tales for Children 1 (pp. 44–5), and in 1969 in the collection The Young Magicians (p. 255-6).
In 2013, the poem was published in Tolkien Studies: Volume 10 together with an introduction and comments by Kris Swank.
In 2014, it was included in the extended edition of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, edited by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull.
In 2024, it appeared in the first volume of The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, along with commentary by editors Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull.[3]
Poem excerpt
Once upon a day on the fields of May
There was snow in summer were the blossoms lay;
the buttercups tall sent up there light
in a steam of gold, and wide and white
there opened in the green grass-skies
the earth-stars with their steady eyes
watching the Sun climb up and down.
See also
References
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 689
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond (eds), The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Once upon a Time and An Evening in Tavrobel", p. 284
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull, Wayne G. Hammond (eds.), The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, "48. A Dream of Coming Home · A Memory of July in England · July ·Two Eves in Tavrobel · An Evening in Tavrobel· Once upon a Time (1916-64)"