Blog > Elvish Poetry > Elvish Poem: I Naergon 'nidh Rohirrim

Elvish Poem: I Naergon 'nidh Rohirrim

Lament for the Rochirrim
Original English by J. R. R. Tolkien

Mi van si i roc ar i rohon? Mi van i rom i ialla?
Mi van i thôl ar i angrenhammad1 ar i finnel valu i ‘linga?
Mi van i gam erin lain en-gannel ar i naur garan i gala2?
Mi van i ehuil ar i iavas ar i iaw dond i ‘ala?
Gwanner sui ross erin orod sui cwest min lô;
In oer pennar min Annûn adel in emen na dhae.
Man ovratha i osp e-dawar fern lahol?
Egor thiratha in în hiriol uin Aear nandol?

Where now is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harp-string, and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning?
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?

Reconstructions:

1. Angrenhammad
I put together the words “angren” – “iron” and “hammad” – “clothing”.
2. Cala-
Reconstructed from “calad”.

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