An Elven-maid there was of old, <br />A shining star by day. <br />Her mantle white was hemmed with gold, <br />Her shoes of silver-grey. <br /> <br />A star was bound upon her brows, <br />A light was on her hair <br />As sun upon the golden boughs <br />In Lorien the fair. <br /> <br />Her hair was long, her limbs were white, <br />And fair she was and free; <br />And in the wind she went as light <br />As leaf of linden-tree. <br /> <br />Beside the falls of Nimrodel, <br />By water clear and cool, <br />Her voice as falling silver fell <br />Into the shining pool. <br /> <br />Where now she wanders none can tell, <br />In sunlight or in shade; <br />For lost of yore was Nimrodel <br />And in the mountains strayed. <br /> <br />The elven-ships in haven grey <br />Beneath the mountain-lee <br />Awaited her for many a day <br />Beside the roaring sea. <br /> <br />A wind by night in Northern lands <br />Arose, and loud it cried, <br />And drove the ship from elven-strands <br />Across the steaming tide. <br /> <br />When dawn came dim the land was lost, <br />The mountains sinking grey <br />Beyond the heaving waves that tossed <br />Their plumes of blinding spray. <br /> <br />Amroth beheld the fading shore <br />Now low beyond the swell, <br />And cursed the faithless ship that bore <br />Him far from Nimrodel. <br /> <br />Of old he was an Elven-king, <br />A lord of tree and glen, <br />When golden were the boughs in spring <br />In fair Lothlorien. <br /> <br />From helm to sea they saw him leap, <br />As arrow from the string, <br />And dive into the water deep, <br />As mew upon the wing. <br /> <br />The wind was in his flowing hair, <br />The foam about him shone; <br />Afar they saw him strong and fair <br />Go riding like a swan. <br /> <br />But from the West has come no word, <br />And on the Hither Shore <br />No tidings Elven-folk have heard <br />Of Amroth evermore.<br /><br />John Ronald Reuel Tolkien<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/nimrodel/
