A few kind words in parting

[alatar]

You get once last chance to be on stage, and then...whoof! I thought that, when my last bit of time came before being boxed up, I'd take the opportunity to share my love of Tolkien's words with my family and friends. Not being particular religious, instead of having someone else spout other things, I want to fill up those closing moments with something beautiful, something hopeful, something personal.

I have some ideas, but before I share them, I just wanted to read your thoughts: If you were to have some part of Tolkien's works read at your funeral, what would it be?

[Mnemosyne]

Like any subcreator, I'd have to go with the scene from "Leaf by Niggle" when the protagonist finds his own life's work perfected and in the flesh. Gives me goosebumps every time.

Bilbo's Last Song would come in as a close second, though.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

"In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! We are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory."

Since I have expressly stated that I want no funeral, it's academic, but that's what I'd pick.

[LadyBrooke]

There's so many good quotes:

From LotR:

"You cannot be always torn in two. You will have to be one and whole, for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do."

"And that will keep you as busy and as happy as anyone can be, as long as your part of the Story goes on."

"Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."

"And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise."

There are a lot of good one in the Silmarillion, too but I would feel odd using them. They're all rather Kingly.

Off Topic: alatar, when I first saw the title I nearly feel off of my seat. I thought it meant you were leaving the Barrow-Downs.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

[Sam] "Don't the great tales never end?"
"No, they never end as tales," said Frodo. "But the people
in them come, and go when their part's ended. "

Rather positive in tone, in essence, rather like
Aragorn's dying comments to Arwen. Which makes all
the odder Arwen's depression over Aragorn's dying
(given the precedents of Luthien/Beren and Tuor/Idril).
She should have recalled her family history.

[Morthoron]

Ummm...Al, you're not planning on kicking the bucket anytime soon, are you?

[Boromir88]

Three people to recite Boromir's lament. Surpised?

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

"O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor.
But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?"

Possibly a bit more of the same song.

[alatar]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will post my quotes sometime soon when my books and I occupy the same time and space.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Ummm...Al, you're not planning on kicking the bucket anytime soon, are you?

I can't even find a bucket, let alone kick one.

Anyway, what got me started on this thinking was a funeral I attended recently. The religious leader, presiding over one part of the ordeal, spoke a bunch of words that I found neither inspiring or coherent (and add theological to the list, but that could just be me). I just thought that, when my time came, I could have something ready that would be better, more fitting, and have more to say about who I was.

Which is another issue. When my father passed, his minister presided and spoke, and as I listened, I realized that the guy didn't know my father. Sure, he used the right name, and even made passing mention to the caveat that my father hadn't been much into churchin', but from that he extrapolated a whole lot.

And sure, my father was dead, so what did he care? This was more for his wife, as this is what she wanted/needed/requested.

I found my father's brief military funeral more moving, as I knew that he would have liked it.

So, instead of leaving my last scene to someone else, I just thought that I'd prepare some of the script now.

And who *couldn't* do with a good dosing of Tolkien?

[LadyBrooke]

Oh I'm sure around here if I had Tolkien read at my funeral people would be calling me a Satanist or something. Can't wait to move away from here.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Alatar, your father's funeral reminds me all too much of my Dad's, which was just over 5 years ago. My brothers and "stepmother" would have said nothing about Dad's life and what was most important to him. They didn't even understand why I felt it important that someone who knew and loved Dad get up and say something about him at all, since they apparently believed the occasion was all about them. It's a sad thing when a man has three sons and two of his daughters wind up being the sons he never had....

[LadyBrooke]

I guess I'm lucky then. Every funeral I've been to focused more on the person than anything else. I can't imagine a funeral that wasn't focused on the person.

[Dimturiel]

Hmm, I've given some thought to this topic...I see that one of the first examples given here was Aragorn's parting speech too Arwen. Indeed, that would have been my first choice too. I also think Bilbo's poem from Many Partings would do quite nicely, especially this bit:

Now far ahead the road has gone,/ Let others follow it who can/ Let them a journey new begin/ But I at last with weary feet/ Shall turn towards the lighted inn/ My evening rest and sleep to meet

. Also, the entire I sit beside the fire and think poem would be very appropriate for the occasion. Another choice would be Sam's song in the tower of Cirith Ungol.

[Mithalwen]

Unsuprisingly many of my favourites - Bilbo's last song and the grey havens, O Lorien have been mentioned already and I read once of the funeral of a 13year old boy killed in an accident and his father read the last few pages of the LOTR which he had left unfinished at the time of his death . The poignancy of that has me in floods at the mere idea even several years on. But though I love the sea I hate sailing so I am not sure I wouldn't rather have the end of "The house at Pooh Corner" and be played out to "Always look on the bright side of life" . Birthday and Christmas gifts prove that my alleged nearest and dearest have no idea what I like so if I weren't of the "put me out with the rubbish" school of funerals I would have to specify which is a bit egotistical.... but if egotism is the order of the day (and if at your funeral why not? ) How about "mourn not overmuch..mighty was the fallen.. meet was her ending."

Unless I die overseas I should like my bones to lie in the Woodland Burial ground where my mother is(and we made her funeral a good mix with the comfort of the BCP funeral sentences and favourite hymns and the personal - "Good night Sweetheart was played before the postlude"). I should like an elvish beech to mark my grave and this on it's plaque.

"Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar!
Nai elyë hiruva! Namárië!"

[Inziladun]

I've always been moved by Théoden's words to Merry on the Pelannor.

"My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed."

That's what I'd prefer should I go out 'in action'.

On a lighter note, I could throw them for a loop and have played a recording of myself in a Gollum-voice howling "Preciousssss!.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Sam's song "In western lands" has appropriate lines that I love dearly:

Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Dimturiel

Also, the entire I sit beside the fire and think poem would be very appropriate for the occasion. Another choice would be Sam's song in the tower of Cirith Ungol.

Actually, when my great grandfather died a bit more than ten years ago, my aunt sang the song in his memorial party. I don't think he knew Tolkien, but she loves LotR and she thought the lyrics very appropriate (my great grandfather was quite old when he died, I think he made it to 94 or something like that). And as for the melody, a Finnish theatre performed a piece of LotR in 1989 (?) and they composed several of the songs, so that's where she got it from. I was quite young then but I remember the occasion.