You Cannot Pass!

 

“You cannot pass!” A myriad orcs stood still.
A silence fell and no-one spoke until
Gandalf next raised his voice. “I serve the flame
Of Anor, and the Secret Fire the same.
Dark fire avails you not, flame of Udûn!
Return back to the Shadow!” Yet that one
No answer made but stepped onto the bridge
Of Khazad-Dûm. Upon its topmost ridge
Spanning the gulf, Gandalf stood fast as stone.
The balrog’s darkness like two wings had grown
And in its hand a red sword leaping sprung.
Then lunging forwards the foul hellspawn swung
And Glamdring answered, glittering deadly white
As blade met blade. The balrog’s shattered quite
Into red, molten fragments. Like an oak
Firm rooted, standing there, the wizard spoke
And said again, “You cannot pass!” A bound,
The balrog leaped! Then with a hissing sound
Its whip snaked out to strike as with a cry
Gandalf raised up his staff to burn on high.
He smote the bridge. A sheet of blinding flame
Rose up, as with a roar the balrog came
And Gandalf’s wizard-staff fell from his hand
Broken in two. Still there did Gandalf stand
Upon the bridge as it broke into two
Dragging the balrog down, which screaming, threw
Whip-thongs around about the wizard’s knees.
As Gandalf felt the balrog’s weapon seize
Himself, dragging him back up to the brink
Of the abyss, before pulled down to sink
Into oblivion, he raised his head,
Cried, “Fly – you fools!” The last words he said
Before he fell. The fiendish flames went out.
Dread darkness falls as Gandalf’s final shout
Hung on the air. Faster than words might tell
What bridge remained collapsed to fall as well,
Becoming swallowed in the deep abyss
Whose depths unmeasured were thought bottomless.
When Aragorn called, the rest put aside tears,
Shook off disquiet and all anxious fears
That shackled them to watch. That scene they fled
Still grieving, as onwards Aragorn led.

---

Love original poetry? Visit Tolkien Tribute for more. 

---