I Sit Beside the Fire and Think by J. R. R. Tolkien

I Sit Beside the Fire and Think

by J. R. R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings; The Fellowship of the Ring)

I sit beside the fire and think

of all that I have seen

of meadow flowers and butterflies

In summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer

in autumns that there were,

with morning mist and silver sun

and wind upon my hair.

I sit beside the fire and think

of how the world will be

when winter comes without a spring

that I shall ever see.

For still there are so many things

that I have never seen:

in every wood in every spring

there is a different green.

I sit beside the fire and think

of people long ago

and people who will see a world

that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think

of times there were before, 

I listen for returning feet

and voices at the door.