2. A Collection of Sindarin Tanka
Cîr vith vi gírbann.
Celebros sui gilraen
Lim vi fin gî·morn.
Rínnathach an nin ennas,
Rínnathach athra aer?
ooo
Translation:
Remembrance
Grey ships (are) in the harbour.
Silver spray like a net of jewels
(Is) sparkling in your dark hair.
Will you remember me there,
will you remember on the other side of the ocean?
ooo
A/N:
"rínna" is not recorded as a verb, but "rín" means "memory, remembrance", so I was very daring and decided that "rínna" might well be the form of the verb. It could also be a strong verb, then it would be "rín" and the correct form of the future tense would be "rínithach".
The theme of the tanka is the sense of loss undoubtedly experienced by those of the Eldar that remained in Middle-earth while their loved ones passed away over the sea to Aman.
Olthad o'Laur
Pullim matho 'laur
Ir in-yrn edlodhier.
Si oltham o 'laur
Aníram ratho in·'ail
- Dan darim na-'rui Edhil.
ooo
Translation:
To Dream of Light
We could touch light
When the trees flowered.
Today we dream of light
- but we remain only the people of the stars.
ooo
A/N:
can, to be able to - "puli", "pul-" is referenced in the Hiswelókë dictionary as Neo-Sindarin
reach - "ratho", "ratha-" is also referenced as Neo-Sindarin in the Hiswelókë dictionary; derived from Quenya "rakta"
only - "na-erui" is also Neo-Sindarin (na + erui); I took poetic license and allowed the sounds to flow together.
This tanka reflects the loss of the light of the Two Trees to Melkor and Ungoliant.
Mithlond
Mithlond mi i-lum.
Amman in-chîr reviet,
No and, and andrann?
Ti reviet na Aman.
Na-erui ely darim.
ooo
Translation:
Grey Havens
Mithlond in the twilight.
Where did the ships sail to,
A long, long time ago?
They sailed to Aman.
Only dreams remain.
ooo
A/N: This is a tanka is intended to appear as the a tanka written by one of the last persons in Fourth Age Middle-earth who still know enough Sindarin to write poetry... the Elves are gone...
Lith
Lalaith nîn góras
An edrainn ú-rínnannen.
Meleth nîn góras
An lalaith sui lith gwannen.
Darim in Eä raen.
ooo
Translation:
Ashes
My smile belongs
To forgotten centuries.
My love belongs
To a smile passed away like dust.
I remain imprisoned in Eä.
ooo
A/N:
This tanka may refer either to an Elvish spouse grieving for a mortal husband/wife (yes! AU!). It can also be read as a Noldor still remaining in exile in Middle-earth grieving for his/her love who returned either only in fëa or also in body to Aman.
Meril
Rovail en·ithil
Tûgat in ûl e·meril.
Flâd gîn morn flâd nîn.
Na·vathad nîn echadas
Elodhio meril gîn.
ooo
Translation:
Rose
Wings of moonlight
Carry the scent of roses.
Your skin hot against my skin.
My touch makes
Your rose bloom.
Níniël
Meneg en gelyn
Siriar na aear.
Dan ú-bant aer.
Meneg în bant en·nîn nîn.
Pannathar in·aear.
ooo
Translation:
Tearful
Thousands of rivers
Flow down to the sea.
But the sea is never full.
Thousand years are filled with my tears.
They will fill the sea.
ooo
A/N: Based on an ancient Chinese proverb: "Thousands and thousands of rivers flow down to the sea, but the sea will never be filled. And even if men could turn stone to gold, they wouldnever be content."
Aerlinn
Ortho flâd nîn an ethir
Nîn, born na faug gîn
Minno ydyn nîn thurin
Awartho ni, si a 'n-uir.
ooo
Translation:
Hymn
Drink the wine.
Raise my skin to your lips
Heated with thirst.
Enter my secret depths.
Give yourself to me, now and always.
Mi i·vôr
Im ereb mi vôrn
Ir caim haill gódat enni.
Cuil na-erui ôl.
Ir i·hûl mabas i·lith,
Ú-nad daritha o·ni.
ooo
Translation:
In the Darkness
I am alone in the darkness
When invisible hands reach for me.
Life is but a dream.
When the wind carries the dust away,
Nothing will remain of me.
ooo
A/N:
hall - is really "veiled"; that was as close to "invisible" as I got
na-erui - is Neo-Sindarin according to Hiswelókë
mabo - to take (carry away) is Neo-Sindarin according to David Salo
ú-nad - "not a thing"; a construction of my very own
This tanka refers to Gil-galad's death on the plains of Dagorlad, where he was (probably) reduced to ashes by Sauron's fire.
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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed these poems.
Yours
JunoMagic
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
