Sarn Ford companion poem...

[Mirimaran]

Hi all,

Since Greg honored me by naming one of his summer photo competition entries after my poem, "Sarn Ford", I thought I would post the companion poem, which is of a more personal nature, to remind us of those who are left behind...

Ranger...

Ranger, Ranger, where have you gone?
Where is my Ranger who leaves me alone
to stand in moonlight to weep and despair
Ranger, my Ranger, where are you, where?

His sword is shattered, his banner is lost
he stood his ground and paid the cost
no shield to bear him, no spear to lay low
his arrows lay broken beside his bow.

My eyes, once happy, are blinded by tears
as I face the long and lonely years
that I will spend with love as a stranger
to bear this life without my Ranger.

The banks on which we once played
where our love lingered and stayed
now bear witness to my sorrow
for me, there is no tomorrow.

To the Bridge I go and stare down
at the Brandywine, slow and brown
and let grief steal my heart
one last breath and I depart.

Death be not a stranger!
Take me to my Ranger!
Wash me down to the Sea
Death be my steed and carry me!

The water took me, my breath rushed away
Cold water held me, my thoughts began to stray
as Death met me, my heart's final beat
His arms held me, my love's final feat...

I awoke on the shores of the Brandywine
bathed in the warm sunshine
and cried that I still drew breath
and despaired that I did not know Death.

But then my tears stopped, and my cries were quelled
for in my trembling hand I held
that of my Ranger, so close to me now, and yet so far
the silver glimmer of his Ranger star...

Years pass now, some fast, some slow
our child came, and strong did he grow
and his name, your name, his father no stranger
you live on, my Beloved Ranger...

Mirimaran/Ken Rankin

[Greg]

*sigh*

[Mirimaran]

Dreamy, eh?

[kaelln]

"His sword is shattered, his banner is lost
he stood his ground and paid the cost
no shield to bear him, no spear to lay low
his arrows lay broken beside his bow."

Reminds me of Boromir's last stand, one of the saddest and most moving redemption scenes in literature. Well done, my friend!

[Mirimaran]

Many thanks my friend! Boromir's passing is sad indeed, my wife and I just picked up the remastered Bakshi LOTR the other day on DVD, and to see the look on Aragorn's face when he realizes that there is no hope for the fallen Boromir, it is heartwrenching. That is one of the many reasons why LOTR is such a good novel, it is fantasy but firmly grounded in reality, and humanity.

[Elegost]

Very good! It would be nice if someone could sing this poems and put them to music.