Peter Kenny (also known as Fortinbras Proudfoot and “Australia’s Biggest Tolkien Fan”) is the head of the Brisbane Tolkien Fellowship and the founder of the Fortinbras Proudfoot Esq. Foundation, an organisation which helps promote children’s literacy through reading. His passion for this cause, coupled with his love of Tolkien’s writings, has led him to pen many of his own poems. And with Tolkien Reading Day just two days away, this is the perfect time to share some of these pieces with fellow Tolkien fans.
“I am proud of [this first poem] because Ruth Lacon painted two pictures based on it for me,” Peter said of his first poem, “Morning Star, Evening Star.” “The paintings hang in my lounge room at home.”
“Morning Star, Evening Star”
In an age long, long ago,
Wandering through an Elven wood,
A lone warrior did espy
A maiden beautiful to behold.
As dark as the shadows was her hair,
And bright starlight shone in her eyes;
Golden flowers were on her cloak
And blue as the sky was her dress.
An Elven Princess was this maiden,
The “Morning Star” of her people.
Hopelessly in love he did fall,
This mortal man her heart did win.
But her father, the Elven Lord,
On their new found love he did frown.
To be betrothed to his daughter,
This mortal man seemed not worthy,
With his people scattered and few,
And his heritage dispossessed.
A high price was set by the Lord
To win his only daughter’s love.
He set a task to undertake
That seemed difficult to achieve.
With faith, wisdom and steadfast love,
The Princess gave her lover strength.
Against the Dark Lord,
He would succeed,
Against the darkness,
The tide would turn.
The Princess chose a mortal life,
To remain with the one she loved.
After enduring many trials,
In peace they lived for many years.
In this Age, not long ago,
Wandering through an Elven wood,
A lone warrior did espy,
A maiden beautiful to behold.
As dark as the shadows was her hair,
And Elven light shone in her eyes.
Silver and blue coloured her cloak
And gems like stars were on her brow.
An Elven Princess was this maiden,
The “Evening Star” of her people.
Hopelessly in love he did fall,
This mortal man her heart did win.
***
Regarding this next poem, “Mushrooms,” Peter explains, “I often use this poem in my presentations and hand out copies of it to the audience. Then I ask them to recite it. It is always enjoyed and sounds great as a group recitation with individuals reading the first line of each verse.”
“Mushrooms”
Dark…Night!
Four hobbit lads set out.
The air it made them shiver,
The moon was just a sliver.
Sneak…Quiet!
There was no one about.
They crept along the hedgerow,
Staying quiet and keeping low.
Hoo…Hoot!
A strange noise in the night.
An old owl in a tree top,
Had startled them to a stop.
Look…See!
Lights shining through the trees.
The farmer’s house was alight,
But their goal was now in sight.
Go…Quick!
So little time to pick.
There were mushrooms all around.
The youngsters grabbed all they found.
Bark!… Bark!
The farm dogs were awake.
Four Hobbit lads took to flight,
Running quickly through the night.
Run!… Run!
This wasn’t so much fun.
Racing frightened down the lane,
Safely home they hoped to gain.
Hip!… Hooray!
“We whistled all the way.
Found the mushrooms in the park,
And bravely walked in the dark.
Nothing frightened us at all!”
Well, that’s the story they told to all.
***
“The third is one of my most recent efforts, called “The Last Ship into the West.” When I wrote this one I posted it on facebook and a local artist immediately offered to paint a picture based on it,” Peter explained. “Another painting now in my lounge room.”
“The Last Ship Into the West”
On the headland she stood alone gazing out to the western sea.
As white as light was her dress, her hair as dark as night.
As I came and stood by her side, no recognition did she show.
Her gaze now turned intently, to the harbour far below.
A great white ship was sailing, to the distant west beyond.
She knew it was the last, the last ship into the west.
The ship, it sailed towards the setting sun,
Which laid a golden stream to sail.
We both watched that final ship sail towards the west
And into the golden orb it slowly disappeared.
It was then she raised both her arms as the sun turned all to gold,
And suddenly from the west a great wind began to blow.
Her raven hair streamed out behind, her dress was now all gold,
Sleeves and folds of her dress rose like wings caught in flight.
For a fleeting moment it seemed to appear
That she would simply fly away.
When she lowered down her arms, the wind it died away,
The sun sank into the sea and all about was calm.
Towards me she turned, with strands of hair covering all her face.
When I brushed them aside I saw elven light in her eyes.
A crystal tear on her cheek, sparkled in day’s last light.
Softly with my fingertips I gently wiped it away.
On her lovely lips a sweet smile appeared,
And then she kissed my fingertips.
As we turned our backs to the sea, she clasped my hand in hers.
And in the fading light, a fair green land before us lay.
In the distance small houses were lighting up for the coming night.
Arm in arm we walked towards our new found home.
A place where we could dream together,
Of a future now full of peace and hope.
***
“Last year I went on The Hobbit Premiere Tour in NZ, with Red Carpet Tours. There were 108 people on that tour and it was a memorable experience. When I returned from the tour, I wrote a poem about it.”
“Adventure Under Southern Skies”
They came from many lands,
They came to seek adventure;
Adventure under southern skies.
They met one night to make the plans they needed;
Planning carefully for the days ahead,
Of their great adventure.
The road that they followed
Came to a special township
Where all the houses had round doors;
There the travellers enjoyed a pleasant stay
They took away memories to be shared,
Of this great adventure.
Travelling down the road,
They saw mighty volcanoes,
Including the mountain of Doom;
It was here they followed others’ footsteps,
Seeking for hidden places that are famed,
In a great adventure.
The road finally led
To the Premiere City,
And thousands were gathering there;
They’d come to see a great event happen,
A Celebration never to forget;
The biggest event
In our recent memory,
For the smallest of people,
People we admire,
In a story we love;
About an adventure.
They came from many lands,
They came to seek adventure;
Adventure under southern skies.
Their great journey continued many days,
And memories they took home to be shared
Of their great adventure.
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