My Poem of the Week: 'Shadow-Bride' by J. R. R. Tolkien

Poem of the week is officially back!

The year is turning; my monster event is winding down, and Innumerable Stars has commenced.  That, together with today's early autumn sunshine putting me in mind of The Fellowship of the Ring, has inspired me to share this lovely and slightly spooky short piece by the man himself.

Shadow-Bride

There was a man who dwelt alone,
as day and night went past
he sat as still as carven stone,
and yet no shadow cast.
The white owls perched upon his head
beneath the winter moon;
they wiped their beaks and thought him dead
under the stars of June.

There came a lady clad in grey
in the twilight shining:
one moment she would stand and stay,
her hair with flowers entwining.
He woke, as had he sprung of stone,
and broke the spell that bound him; 
he clasped her fast, both flesh and bone,
and wrapped her shadow round him.

There never more she walks her ways
by sun or moon or star;
she dwells below where neither days
nor any nights there are.
But once a year when caverns yawn
and hidden things awake,
they dance together then till dawn
and a single shadow make.