Welcome back to the Daily Poem, a podcast from Goldberry Studios. I'm Sean Johnson, and today is

Friday, October 25th, 2004. October 25th is an auspicious day because on this day, in the year

3,018 of the Third Age, 1418 by Shire Reckoning, the Council of Elrond convened in Rivendale to decide the fate of the one ring of power.

So, fair warning, if you're not a Tolkien fan, you can put your fingers in your ears for this one.

Because we're nerden out today.

The Council of Elrond is, of course, a central and climactic event in the first part of the

Lord of the Rings saga, the Fellowship of the Ring. In fact, it is really, it marks the transition

point between books one and two. it really is the center of the

fellowship of the ring. And though the Lord of the Rings and all of Tolkien's works are

full of poems, there is a high concentration of poetry at this point in the Fellowship of the Ring.

In fact, several poems are recited in the Council itself, including a lyrical prophecy that has come to Boromir and Faramir,

his brother, in multiple dreams. And he recites that for the council. It ends with the lines

for a sealder's bane shall waken and the half-link forth shall stand, which is of course is why he's

struck by the presence of hobbits at the council. He realizes things are unfolding as this dream

suggested they would. And then most notoriously, the inscription upon the one ring is recited by

Gandalf in the black speech of Mordor.

One ring to rule them all.

One ring to find them.

One ring to bring them all.

And in the darkness bind them.

But today's poem is not either of those.

Today's poem is Council of Elrond adjacent.

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