Before Akallabêth

By Cliff Lake

 

Before Akallabêth

 

The manuscript, an ancient tongue,

The balance of nature is hung.

The hourglass, the sands run thin,

The warning unheard in machine din.

 

In candlelight the message clears:

A tale of absent light for years.

When monsters reared and trees were felled,

Arda betrayed, the light was quelled.

 

An iron crown, a ring in stone,

The Faithful weep, wander alone.

Jewels by the mighty dark worn,

Twisted heart kindled, blood oath sworn.

 

Who can move within the unlight?

Who can undarken the dead night?

Who makes claim with stolen right?

What vengeance mars jewels burning bright?

 

The trees are wounded, their light is gone,

Within the jewels their light lives on.

But lies live in their maker’s breast,

Away from Aman he now pressed.

 

Jealousy, greed, and now revenge,

So much on other skill now depends.

Their kin, the water folk defy,

There by the Sea their bodies lie.

 

From dark to darkness exiles fled,

From dark to darkness were they led.

Jeweler and leader, his predicted fall,

For in his heart was darkest of all.

 

Exiled and abandoned to dread,

Into much more sorrow sped.

Without the gods they sought to reign,

But who can rule over the slain?

 

Now is the fair Valinor hid,

Now comes regret of what many did.

Though there be glory in pure skill,

Pride is not above blood spilled.

 

Much of this tale is yet unsaid,

Much of sorrow yet untread.

Though there is also heroic deed,

Little glory is where pride leads.

 

When kin are slain and light be gone,

What price has vengeance to pass on?

That all should see your final worth,

And share in darkness in Middle Earth.

 

Sun and moon are yet to rise,

Only stars light darkened skies.

This then is the fate they chose,

And the way to Aman has been closed.

 

Cliff Lake 12/20/2025

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2025

 

*All thanks, all gratitude to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien for the inspiration and guidance through the mystery.

Location: Oxford, UK

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