Beside the fire

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. 

This is a quote from The Fellowship of the Ring (the first part of The Lord of the Rings) by J.R.R. Tolkien (found on p. 271-272). It's a song that is sung by a character in the book. When I read it, it really moved me. It was a strange feeling, because now I am not remembering - I am experiencing things that I will remember later. It made me think about how I have to remember to enjoy my stay here to the full, so that the memories that I revisit in the dark winter (beside the fire) will be bright and beautiful.

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