Too long Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien
““I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew: Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew. Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the Sea, And by the strand of Ilmarin there grew a Golden Tree. Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone, In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion. There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years, While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven-tears. O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor. But if of ships I now would sing, what ship would come to me, What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?””
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Lament of Lórien, The Silmarillion, 1977
The speaker mourns exile and longs for a ship to return home, using vivid natural imagery to convey yearning and loss.
In simple terms: Longing for home and a way back.
Key Takeaway
Seek connection to roots.
Themes
exile
longing
home
journey
nature
Mood
melancholic
reflective
hopeful
Type
poetic
mythic
lamentation
When to use this quote
- wandering exile
- creative inspiration
- personal loss
- spiritual yearning
Key Concepts
mythology
nostalgia
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “home” mean to you?
- How can you create a personal “ship” to bridge distance?
A Different Perspective
The poetic language may obscure practical steps to resolve longing.
