My Poem of the Week: 'The Last Enchantment' by Mary Stewart

[narya_flame]

(I should really get back to posting these on a Monday...)

The Last Enchantment

Rest you here, enchanter, while the light fades,
Vision narrows, and the far
Sky-edge is gone with the sun.
Be content with the small spark
Of the coal, the smell
Of food, and the breath
Of frost beyond the shut door.
Home is here, and familiar things;
A cup, a wooden bowl, a blanket,
Prayer, a gift for the god, and sleep.
(And music, says the harp, And music.)
Rest here, enchanter, while the fire dies.
In a breath, in an eyelid's fall,
You will see them, the dreams;
The sword and the young king,
The white horse and the running water,
The lit lamp and the boy smiling.
Dreams, dreams, enchanter! Gone With the harp's echo when the strings
Fall mute; with the flame's shadow when the fire
Dies.
Be still, and listen.
Far on the black air
Blows the great wind, rises
The running tide, flows the clear river.
Listen, enchanter, hear
Through the black air and the singing air
The music . . .

Comments

[keiliss]

Oh my word, so many memories! Love this.

[narya_flame]

Same. It always makes me feel better.

[spiced_wine]

I absolutely adore this poem, it’s so magical and so ancient; I can’t even pick which part I love the most.

[narya_flame]

Yes - I think that's why I find it so comforting, the sense of magic in the seemingly ordinary, and the idea of the world going on.

[spiced_wine]

Yes! And it makes me think of Maglor (And music, says the harp, and music...

[narya_flame]

Years ago that came up as a prompt in B2MeM and I did actually begin a Maglor thing, which is currently paused - it's set after Auld Acquaintance, and I don't know enough about the background to it yet.

[hhimring]

Lagging behind with reactions--but I like this one a lot. I was very fond of that series (still am, really, except that due to circumstances I no longer own the books) and the poem works so well with it, as well as by itself .

[narya_flame]

I don't have my copies any more either, they seem to have been a casualty of a move at some point :( but her writing is wonderful.

[hhimring]

Lagging behind with reactions--but I like this one a lot. I was very fond of that series (still am, really, except that due to circumstances I no longer own the books) and the poem works so well with it, as well as by itself .