| Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien | |
| Wood-sunshine | |
|---|---|
| Poem Information | |
| Other names | Wealdielfa geláe |
| Written | July 1910 |
| Revised | Early 1914, 16 May 1914 |
| Published | The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Subject(s) | Non-legendarium poetry |
Wood-sunshine, or Wealdielfa geláe, is a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien in July[1] of 1910 when he was still at King Edward's School in Birmingham. It notably contains one of Tolkien's earliest references to "fairy things" and sprites,[1] as it is the first known work where Tolkien took "an interest in fairies".[2]
Final version excerpt
First version excerpt
Come sing ye light fairy things tripping so gay,
Like visions, like glinting reflections of joy
All fashion’d of radiance, careless of grief,
O’er this green and brown carpet; nor hasten away.
…
O! come to me! dance for me! Sprites of the wood,
O! come to me! Sing to me once ere ye fade![4]
Background
The earliest draft was written on a page containing The Sirens Feast. Tolkien rewrote the poem not too long afterwards. Tolkien revised the poem again in 1914, creating three textually identical manuscripts with the first being done on a copy of The Dale-lands and the second being done on 11 May. The third manuscript had the words Wood-Elves Dance and Wealdielfa geláe added to the title.[3]
On 16 May of 1914, Tolkien rewrote the poem again.[5] Later, he made a typescript in early 1915,[3] eventually sending it to his friend Christopher Wiseman in April[3], who enjoyed reading it.[6]
On 25 April of 1915, Wiseman sent a letter to Tolkien, saying that Wood-sunshine was his second favorite after As Two Fair Trees.[3]
The Tolkien scholar John Garth theorized that the poem was influenced by the poetry of William Morris and Francis Thompson, a Catholic mystic.[4]
In 2024, the full poem was published for the first time in September as entry 4 in The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 19 (entry "July 1910")
- ↑ Tales from the Perilous Realm, "Introduction by Tom Shippey", p. ix
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull, Wayne G. Hammond (eds.), The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, "4. Wood-Sunshine (1910-14)"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 John Garth, Tolkien and the Great War, Part One: The immortal four, One: "Before"
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 52 (entry "16 May 1914")
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 1106 (entry "Wiseman, Christopher Luke")