In the willow-meads of Tasarinan I walked in the Spring. was the first line in a poem that was sung by Treebeard on February 29 in the year 3019 of the late Third Age[1] as he took Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took through Fangorn Forest to Wellinghall at the foot of Methedras. During this walk, Treebeard told the Shire-hobbits of his "broad days" back in the First Age when forests were more extensive. After some silence, he chanted a song. After finishing the song, Treebeard walked on through the silent woods.[2]
Poem[]
In the willow-meads of Tasarinan I walked in the Spring.
Ah! the sight and the smell of the Spring in Nan-tasarion!
And I said that was good.
I wandered in Summer in the elm-woods of Ossiriand.
Ah! the light and the music in the Summer by the Seven Rivers of Ossir!
And I thought that was best.
To the beeches of Neldoreth I came in the Autumn.
Ah! the gold and the red and the sighing of leaves in the Autumn in Taur-na-neldor!
It was more than my desire.
To the pine-trees upon the highland of Dorthonion I climbed in the Winter.
Ah! the wind and the whiteness and the black branches of Winter upon Orod-na-Thôn!
My voice went up and sang in the sky.
And now all those lands lie under the wave,
And I walk in Ambarona, in Tauremorna, in Aldalómë,
In my own land, in the country of Fangorn,
Where the roots are long,
And the years lie thicker than the leaves
In Tauremornalómë.
Background[]
Donald Swann wrote music for this song, which can be found in the book The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle;[3] it is also found on the accompanying CD of the latest version.
References[]
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers, Book III, Ch. IV: "Treebeard"
- ↑ The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle, "In the Willow-meads of Tasarinan"