It has been a long while since I have felt inspired to write anything new, which saddens me. The recent photos here do take some inspiration and creativity, yet that work is largely done by the creators (small and capital “C”) of my photographic subjects, and I, largely, merely capture and reflect their work.

I am serious when I label my photo subject category on this blog “Art Thief,” because a great deal of thievery is involved 😉 In truth, on a fundamental level, all art and creativity is a sort of thievery or borrowing or, in Tolkien’s word, a sub-creation under God’s creation, with even our harmful creations a mere marring and twisting of God’s intitial creation of the world as good.

At any rate, having not written for a while, I decided to dust off my Lord of the Rings ringbearer sonnets for another go round on the new Dassler Effect. All of these need work, but I am happy-ish with this pair of imagined speeches to Frodo at key points in the the saga, which I have just been tinkering with.

Bilbo to Frodo After the Council of Elrond
My dear Frodo, I did not ever dream
To be my heir would mean so dark a road.
But adventures never come as it seems
They ought, only at our bidding. A load
Unsought will seldom await our choosing.
But with the load the Unseen Giver also gives
Graces and beauty to soothe the losing
Of homely things. So, take now as you leave
Fair mithril for without, and for within
Fair memories of sunlit days and friends,
Of glorious Elder Days, of Elves and Men
In darkness fighting for a brighter end.
Despair not. If night falls, the stars stills wheel.
Whisper still, “A Elbereth Gilthoniel! ”

Galadriel to Frodo Upon the Road to the Grey Havens
Dear Elf-friend well met here under these trees
That bloom in part because of sorrow borne
By you, and from the love and toil of he
Who, gentle, bore you up, who soon will mourn
That you will not savor the fruits of joy
Which bloom in field and hearth since Elven-home
Has stretched to bless the Shire. For pain alloys
Each joy you feel, vicariously alone.
But, know, your pain has brought you close to me.
You feel the holy ache we feel who knew
Undying light beyond the Sundering Seas.
You will be healed. The shoot of Melkor’s fall
Will die, and Iluvatar be All in All.