“Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you.May the stars shine upon your faces!”
“Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you.May the stars shine upon your faces!”
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"the Elves of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the trees and the grass do not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament them: deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago."
"Men multiply and the Firstborn decrease, and the two kindreds are estranged."
"Men multiply and the Firstborn decrease, and the two kindreds are estranged."
The Elves, or Firstborn, were the first of the Eruhini
to awaken. Born under the stars before the ascension of the
Moon and the Sun,they retain a special love for light and
an inner spirit endowed with unique gifts.They call
themselves the Quendi, or "Speakers", for they were the
first to utter words and, even now, no race understands
language and song like the Firstborn. Fair and fine
featured, brilliant and proud, immortal and strong, tall
and agile, they are the most blessed of the Free Peoples.
Yet despite their gifts, they are a cursed race—one
burdened by the Hand of Fate.
Like the other Free Peoples, such as Men and Dwarves,
the Elves have many branches and many figures of note.
Their tale is one of long migrations, prideful wars, and
grand achievements. It includes many players.
Elven History
The divisions and sub-divisions of the various Elven kindreds are complex,and at times even convoluted.In this section the basic migrations and divisions will be described ,as well as the actual kindreds as they existed in the Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth
Moon first rose, the Elves awoke under the stars on the
shores of Cuivienen, a large bay in the inland sea of Helcar
in eastern Middle-earth. They lived in the twilight lands,
far from the light of Valinor, for many years before one
of the Valar—Orome the Hunter—discovered them.
The Valar loved Eru's new born creations and wished to
bring them to the light of Aman, the Undying Lands, to
save them from Morgoth and the evil that he was already
bringing into Middle-earth. Morgoth, the greatest of the
Valar who had turned away from his brethren before the
beginning of creation, now hated the Elves because they
were cherished by the others. He sent out his shadowy
servants and captured many of them in the darkness.
Unable to create life himself, he tortured and perverted
the Elves he imprisoned, and from this corrupt stock bred
Orcs.
The First Sundering
It was at the summons of the Valar that the Elves first
divided. Initially, they were afraid to leave their home
under the stars, but three of their kind journeyed to
Valinor with Orome to see for themselves the glory of the
Undying Lands.These were Ingwë Ingweron, Finwë Ñoldóran, and Elu Thingol, who
later became Kings. When they returned, filled with the
light of Aman, many of the Elves heeded their stirring
words and followed the Vala Huntsman west.
But not all the Elves wished to leave their native land.
Some had come to love the starlight of Middle-earth and
chose to stay behind. Those Elves who declined to follow
the Valar became known as the Avari (Q."Unwilling"), and they became the lesser East-Elves. They were by far the most plentiful of the Elves and, despite harassment by the Black Enemy, spread through eastern as well as much of southern Middle-earth. Those who followed the summons of the Valar and
undertook the Great Journey westward to Aman became
known as the Eldar. And yet, still some lingered along the
road or turned back, or were lost. But those Elves who
completed the long and difficult journey were made
greater by their stay in the Undying Lands, and forever
after their descendants held the pure light of Aman in their
eyes.
The Great Journey
The Eldar were those who made the great journey to
live in the blessed land of Aman. There were three
kindreds: the Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri. The Eldar
came to the Uttermost West via an unusual mode of
transportation: the island Tol Eressea which, moved by
the power of the sea-Vala Ulmo, made two trips from
Middle-earth to the Undying Lands. The first carried the
Vanyar and Noldor; the second carried the Teleri (Q.
"Hindmost") who had lingered on the long road and
missed the first island voyage.
The Teleri themselves did not remain undivided, however.
There were three groups, led by the brothers Olwë
and Elu Thingol, and another Teler, Lenwë. When they reached
the Anduin Vales, Lenwe and his people turned away
from the journey and remained in Middle-earth. They
became the Nandor and vanished from the histories for
many years. West of the Blue Mountains, Elwe (one of the
original ambassadors to the Undying Lands) encountered
Melian the Maia and fell into a trance of love. While he
was lost, most of his kindred (but not all) went over the
sea with Olwe's people.Elwe at last awoke and founded
a realm in Beleriand with his Maia wife Melian.As ruler
of Doriath he went by the name Elu Thingol (S."King
Greycloak"). His people were known as the Sindar. The
rest of the Teleri achieved the West; there they dwelt on
the isle of Tol Eressea ,in sight of Valinor. The Maia Gaerys
taught them the art of shipbuilding, and they were ever
after the greatest shipwrights and sailors in all Arda. They
sailed to the coast of Aman where they built the beautiful
city and wharves of Alqualondë.
The Teleri were considered the fairest singers in all
Middle-earth (rivalling the Vanyar) and called themselves
the Lindar.
Nandor
The Nandor (Q."Those who turn back"), though
technically of the Teleri and so the Eldar, are an exception,
since they never travelled to the Undying Lands and so
did not see the light of the Trees. Therefore, they were
referred to as Moriquendi (Q."Dark Elves"). Some
eventually went on to settle in Ossiriand, but most
remained east of the Misty Mountains, spreading through
the forested lands there. These later came under the
rulership of the Sinda King Thranduil in Mirkwood and Galadriel in Lothlórien.
Of Tirion and the Vanyar
Fairest of the Eldar, and known as the Fair Elves, the
Vanyar were the most beloved by the Valar. They were the
first of the three kindreds to set forth on the Great Journey
and the first to arrive in the Undying Lands, led by their
King, Ingwë Ingweron. Together with the Noldor, they built and
lived for a long time in the fair city of Tirion upon Túna. Sometime
later, however, they moved further westward through the
gap in the Pelori (Q."Mountains of Defense"), and there
they made their permanent home.
Only once did the Vanyar ever depart Valinor: to aid
the Ainur in battle against the Black Enemy in the War of Wrath. When the evil
Vala was at last defeated, the Fair Elves marched back to
their home in victory. There is no record of any Vanya
ever again leaving the Blessed Land.
Of Feanor and the Noldor
The Second Kindred of the Calaquendi, both in numbers and order of arrival in Aman, the Noldor were also
called the Deep Elves. Finwë Ñoldóran was their King. They were
the most skilled of the immortals in crafts and lore, the
most fiery of spirit, proud and curious. It was the Noldo
Feanor who made the Silmarils and, because of his
unwillingness to surrender them, doomed his kindred to
a hopeless war against Morgoth to recover the stolen
gems, and later to exile from Aman. When the Black
Enemy took the Silmarils and fled with them to Middle-Earth,
the Noldor attempted to pursue him over the water by
stealing the great vessels of the Teleri. The Teleri resisted,
and the Noldor, in their desperation, slew a great many of
the defending shipbuilders to win the boats. Great was the
anger of the Valar that Elf would slay Elf. A storm
swallowed many of the stolen ships, and the surviving
Noldor came to the wastes of Araman only to be met by
the Vala Mandos, who doomed them to exile from Aman
forever for their hideous crime - the Kinslaying of
Alqualonde. The Noldor had seen the light of the Two
Trees, but lived out their days in Middle-earth as exiles.
It is sadly ironic that Feanor's grandson Celebrimbor
was seduced by Morgoth's servant Sauron as Feanor
was corrupted by the evil Vala's deceptive words. Twice
did the Noldor put all of Middle-earth in peril because of
their insatiable desire for knowledge.
Of Doriath and the Sindar
Sindar
Ruled by Lenwë, the Nandor dwelt many years in the
woods along the Anduin. Some spread to the river's
mouths and lived there beside the sea. Others passed by
the Ered Nimrais and then came north again, settling in
the wide lands of Eriador. These latter Nandor enjoyed
peace until the third era of Morgoth's captivity, when at
last the fell beasts of the Black Enemy departed their lairs
and ravaged the lands. Then, led by Lenwe's son Danitharo, the Eriadoran Nandor fled into Beleriand. There
they were welcomed by Thingol and his Sindar. The
Eriadoran Nandor intermarried with their hosts and
ceased to retain a separate cultural identity.
Although the Sindar were more noble than the Avari,
they were yet Moriquendi, never having reached the
shores of Aman. Their homeland was the realm of Doriath
in Beleriand, ruled by Thingol and Melian. The Sindar
gained great wisdom under the tutelage of Melian the
Maia and her husband, who was counted a Calaquende,
and so they became known as the Grey Elves. They spoke
Sindarin, and originated Runes, or Cirth, for the keeping
of records. With the fall of Beleriand, the surviving Sindar
migrated eastward, some remaining in , while
others travelled to live with the Noldor in Eregion or east
of the Misty Mountains in Lorien and Mirkwood.
Elven Nature
Before delving into the details of Elven physiology, it is
perhaps worthwhile to comment on the sociology of this
powerful race, and how they are sometimes erroneously
perceived.
Though the mists of time may eventually blur understanding of the nature of the Firstborn, it remains clear
during this period that they were not simply a collection
of ethereal beings who lived in utopian societies where
there were no laws, no social structures or other such
mundane organizational boundaries. Indeed, it seems that
only the Silvan Elves (and to a lesser extent, a number of
the Moriquende Teleri) even desired this sort of existence,
who in fact generally lived in realms ruled by Sinda or Elda
Kings, as was typical of Elven hierarchies. The Sindar
dwelt in kingdoms as well, but it was the Noldor more
than any other kindred who sought order and design in all
facets of their lives. They possessed governments (usually
monarchies) and frequently elaborate guilds and brotherhoods. Families tended to rule not only realms but the
guilds within them in a dynastic fashion.
Familial and dynastic divisions
There existed two different hierarchies among the
Elven peoples: that of geographical location, and that of
family or kindred. The accompanying chart should help
to clarify the distinctions of the divisions.
The Calaquendi (Q."Light Elves") travelled to the
Undying Lands and witnessed the radiance of Aman, and
the light of the Two Trees. Their kindred includes all
descendants, for the light permeated the very being of the
Firstborn and left with them an internal brilliance which
they carried with them forever. Sometimes, a visible aura
shone about a Light Elf.
The Moriquendi (Q."Dark Elves") never made the
journey to Aman, or stopped along the way, failing to
achieve their destination. Of the Dark Elves, the Sindar
("Grey Ones") started toward the Undying Lands and
travelled as far as the western shores of Middle-earth
before halting. They lived in Doriath under King Thingol
(Elwe) and the Maia Melian.Thus they achieved greater
wisdom and understanding than most Moriquendi, yet
did not personally witness the Light as did the Calaquendi.
Their essence was neither dark nor light; they were the
Elves of Twilight.
Paralleling this geographic distinction is that of race.
All of the Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri were considered
Eldar (Q."People of the Stars") even though some Teler
groups did not complete the journey (specifically the
Sindar and Nandor). Those Elves who were not Eldar
were, by definition, Avari.
Language
When the Firstborn awoke on the shores of Cuivienen,
with them awoke language in Middle-earth. It is the
Elves—or,appropriately, the Quendi (Q."Speakers") as
they called themselves—who taught all other races and
creatures language, each after its fashion. When the Eldar
went West, however, they encountered the Valinorean
Tongue of Aman, and adopted it for their own. Indeed,
this may have occurred as early as the return of Ingwe,
Elwe, and Finwe from Aman with Orome the Vala. This
became the pure tongue Quenya. The many Silvan tribes
still in Middle-earth, though influenced by Quenya initially, diverged and changed with the flows of the world,
and the original Elven-speech became fractured and
rusticated by myriad dialects. By the Second and Third
Ages, the Silvan and Eldarin tongues had become so
divergent that the two had no common ground. Where
Silvan Elves lived with Sindar or Noldor, they invariably
learned Sindarin and used it except when exclusively
among their own kind. The Silvan Elves of Lorien, for
example, spoke Sindarin, but with an accent, harkening to
their Greenwood Silvan origins.
The Sindar knew Quenya, but adapted it for their own
use, creating a language less formal and more practical for
everyday writing and conversation - a language that became known as Sindarin. Thingol banned the
use of Quenya among his people after the Kinslaying of
Alqualonde, and with the passing of the years even the
Noldor came to use Sindarin as their common tongue,
reserving Quenya as a formal, ritualistic
language.
The Tengwar were the first written
letters ever devised, invented by the Noldo
LoremasterRúmil of Tirion. The pure version
of the Tengwar was known and used
only in the Undying Lands. Feanor later
adapted and revised this alphabet, and
the Feanorean Tengwar attained much
more widespread use, both in the Undying Lands and in Middle-earth. Both of
these written alphabets were cursive,
meaning that they were designed to be
joined, written in flowing strokes as with
a pen. They were somewhat impractical
for engraving, but the Great Smiths in
Eregion—and Sauron himself—were up
to the task. Sauron's inscription inside
the One Ring was engraved in cursive
Tengwar.
Much later the Sinda MinstrelDaeron of Doriath
invented the runes called the Certhas
Daeron ("Cirth"or"Letters"of Daeron).
These were much more angular and suited
to stonework. The Dwarves of Moria particularly loved
this writingstyle and adopted it as their own.
Religion
Religion in any organized sense was unknown to the
Elves, especially the Eldar, who knew the Valar more as
esteemed and revered teachers than actual deities. Virtually all Elves worshiped EruIluvatar (Q."The One") as
the creator of all things: the earth, the Valar, Elves, and
Men (Dwarves, created by Aulë, are thought of differently, although they were adopted by Eru). In this way they saw themselves on equal, though
perhaps different, standing with all other beings. Worship
of Eru was very informal, however, involving no specific
temple or other structure more elaborate than an open
garden. The Elves worshipped Eru for the beauty of his
creation. They celebrated the light of the stars or the
sound of falling water, the sweetness of fruit or the
luminescence of gems from deep within the earth. With
song they rejoiced in the magnificence of Eä, for music
was the Essence of Arda.
This is not to say that the Elven societies were devoid
of ritual. In a world where oaths were not empty promises
but calls to the Valar themselves, ritual played an important role. With song and chant the Elves wielded the
Essence, weaving spells of great power and subtlety.
Within the guilds and other groups, there was a great deal
of ceremony, and among the Noldor social formalities
were often observed with an impassioned zeal.
Elven communities, like any community, required economic support; again, they were not idyllic communities
where there was no need for work. Elves gardened, mined,
built, cooked, and generally labored even as did mortals in
their society. It is true, though, that the Elves had different
mental capabilities, and even the most odious labor did
not weigh on them at all. Perhaps it was because of their
ability to "walk as if in a waking dream" which gave them
a reputation of being free of care and responsibility.
Physical characteristics
Although basically similar in appearance to mortal
Men in many ways, Elves had several important, if subtle,
differences.
As a race, they were taller than most Men (save the high
Edain) though tending to be more slender and lithe. The
males ranged in height from 6' to 6'10" (the tallest Elves, such as Thingol or Turgon however were taller than 9'), and in weight
from 160 to 250 pounds, respectively. The women of the
Elves were usually between 5'10" and 6'4", and were also
slim. Although to some this race might have appeared
fragile, Elves were generally just as strong as any mannish
warrior. The Elda lords, in fact, were muscular of build
and unquestionably the most physically powerful individuals in Middle-earth.
Elves possessed less body hair than humans, and Elven
men had no facial hair as a rule (although elven men grew beards when they entered their final cycles of life). Highly resistant to
extremes of natural heat and cold, their clothing was worn
for decoration, camouflage, or perhaps modesty. With their fine features and perfect, unmarred skin, Elves were invariably more handsome in appearance than their mortal brethren. Their senses were extremely keen, especially sight and hearing. Elves were able to see on a clear starlit night as well as if it were full daylight. In what a Man would have called "pitch blackness", an Elf could still see a few feet.The Quendian ears were only slightly pointed and more leaf-shaped than Human.
Some of the Elves, especially the Eldar, could hear into each other's
minds without the necessity of speech, and all Elves could
discern sounds that humans could not.
Elves did not need sleep to rest their bodies as did Men
and Dwarves; instead, for a few hours each night, they
entered a sort of trance, a waking dream during which they
meditated upon the beauty of Ea or in which they recalled
happy times earlier in their long lives. Gimli the Dwarf
made this observation as the Fellowship of the Ring left
Lorien:
"...Elves may see things otherwise. Indeed I have heard
that for them memory is more like to the waking world
than to a dream. Not so for Dwarves."
Perhaps most remarkable was the fact that Elves did not
age or grow old, and their bodies were immune to all
disease and infection. They were virtually immortal,
unless slain in battle. Should an Elf be killed, his or her soul was
transported to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor where,
after a period of waiting, his/her body was reincarnated and was free to live in the Undying Lands—though forbidden
to return to Middle-earth until the end of the world.
Elves healed quickly, and theys howed no scars, although they could not regenerate severely damaged organs or bodyparts. They were born full twelve months after their begetting and could speak, walk, and dance by their first year though bodies matured through a longer adolescence than mortals, at an age between 50 and 100 they were considered fully grown-up.After a long period of youth or young adulthood they entered a second circle of life and appeared as ageless.Only in the depths of
their eyes could one perhaps feel a glimmering of the true
age of the greater Elves, and only those Elves upon whom
the weight of Middle-earth lay heavy. The lesser kindreds,
even after thousands of years, looked like beautiful,
carefree youths.At high Age Elves finally entered their third life-circle, they became more weary of the world and burdened by its sorrows, looking aged and old (usually in this stage males finally grew beards).
The most subtle of all the characteristics of the Elves
was the aura that bathed each of the Calaquendi. Those
who had seen the light of the Two Trees in Aman carried
with them a reflection of that splendor, like an afterglow
of that first illumination, now forever darkened through
the evil of Morgoth. This aura was not necessarily obvious, but the lesser beings of Middle-earth could sense it - a shimmer dancing on the edge of their vision.
Beards:
Elves used to have less body hair than mortals and usually did not grow beards , except for males in their third life-circle at a very high age.Cirdan the Shipwright, Mahtan, Beleg Cúthalion and Tinfang Gelion were the only known elves ever actually recorded to have had grown beards , but these were counted among some of the oldest elves, as well as they had aged more quickly due to great sorrow and burden.
Elves and Men
Although early in history the Wild Elves had been teachers and advisors to Men, only a few Men were considered true Elf-friends throughout history. Many of the Wild Men and Men of Darkness were suspicious, afraid or openly hostile towards the Elves who were known to them as White Furies, White Devils, White Demons and other monikers.
The Elven Kindreds
The Vanyar
The Vanyar had golden hair and ivory- ,silken-, ruddy or silvery skin, with eyes of
clear blue or violet. They were the tallest and most
beautiful of the Elves, beloved of the Valar. Ingwe was
their King, and as such he was King of all the Elves. Their
musical skills were unsurpassed, except perhaps by the
Lindar (Teleri) who learned the art of song from the Maia
Osse. The Vanyar spoke the Vanyarin dialect of Valinorean-Quenya, which was in fact the Elvish version of
Valarin, the mental language of the Valar.
The Noldor
In appearance, the Noldor had hair of dark brown to
raven-black or more rare copper-red, ivory-, silken-, reddish or sometimes dark skin, and dark brown or grey eyes—with
one exception: the children of Finwe, King of the Noldor,
and Indis the Fair. Their sons, Fingolfin and
Finarfin, both possessed hair of gold like their mother,
and the trait was passed to their offspring as well. This
included, of course, Galadriel (the daughter of Finarfin).
The Noldor were a noble and courageous race, who
behaved with dignity and heroism, even under their
Doom. Most of this kindred were of substantial build.
Some of the greatest warriors of the First Age were Noldo
lords, some of whom were able to hold their own in single
combat with a Balrog, a great demon of
Morgoth. Fingolfin was accounted the greatest warrior in all of Endor, surpassing all
the other Elves and Men.
Another one of the great Noldo warriors was Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower,
of the house of Finarfin, who lived in Elrond's House in
the Third Age. Below is an excerpt from The Red Book where Gandalf, in Rivendell, is explaining to Frodo Baggins
what happened at the Ford when the Hobbit briefly put
on the One Ring, and Glorfindel stood against the Riders:
"'...those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realm live at
once in both worlds, and against both the Seen and Unseen they have great power.' 'I thought that I saw a white figure that shone and did
not grow dim like the others. Was that Glorfindel then?'
'Yes, you saw him for a moment as he is upon the other
side: one of the mighty of the First-born. He is an Elf-lord
of a house of princes.'"
The Noldor spoke Noldorin-Quenya amongst themselves and
with the Vanyar in Aman, but the vast majority in Middle-earth adopted Sindarin as their everyday tongue, preserving Quenya as muchas possible as a ritual language for
specific occasions. Many were also able to communicate in
most of the western Umanya-dialects.
The Falmari
The third group of the Calaquendi had silvery white, sandy blond,
or light brown hair, fair or darker skin and grey or hazel eyes. In general they
were more of a mix of types than the Noldor or Vanyar.
They were also a more numerous kindred, with greater
opportunity for diversity. The true Falmari,
who lived on Eressea, tended to be taller and stronger,
with the distinctive High Elven bearing and aura.
The Umanyar
Less tall and lordly than the Elda kindreds, the Sindar
and Nandor were never the less more noble than the Avari.
All tended to be slender, possessing a wiry strength and
great agility. Physically they resembled the Falmari, being
an offshoot of that group, though they lacked the aura of
the Calaquendi, having not seen the Light of Aman. Most,
because of their preference for spending extended periods
of time outdoors, had darker, lightly tanned skin. Not
surprisingly, this group spoke Sindarin almost exclusively.
The Avari
These were the East-Elves, most rustic of the Kindreds,
and most numerous.They were similar in appearance to
the Noldor and Umanyar, but slightly lesser in stature, with darker
hair (generally chestnut to dark brown or blueish-black, more seldomly also silver-white, sandy blond or copper-red) and dark grey or brown, sometimes also green eyes and often darker complexion. Spread
throughout Middle-earth,they spoke their own tongues,
amongst themselves, but when living with the higher
kindreds invariably adopted Sindarin.
Genealogy of the Quendi
The Elven Kindreds
There are two ways to classify the noble Quendi, for their history states that they were twice sundered. The
first separation of their people produced the Eldar and Avari: the "People of the Stars" who made the Great
Journey toward the Light of Aman, and the "Refusers" who remained in the East of Middle-earth. From the
Avari,came the East-Elves of lore, who constitute most of Middle-earth's Elven peoples.
The Eldar produced the three great kindreds of the Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri, many of whom now reside in the Undying Lands. It was the Eldar who produced the Second Sundering.
Dividing before they left the shores of Middle-earth, the Teleri produced three sub-groups that never emigrated to Aman and never saw the enchanted light of the Valar's Blessed Realm. They, like the Avari, are called Moriquendi, "DarkElves". Their brothers who went west into Aman are called Calaquendi, or "LightElves". The Calaquendi include the Vanyar, Noldor, and Falmari (Teleri) of the Undying Lands—together with the Noldor who returned to Middle-earth—while the Sindar and Avari of Middle-earth are counted as Moriquendi. Thus,as noted, there are two ways to classify the Quendi: (I) the Avari versus the Eldar; and (II) the Moriquendi versus the Calaquendi.The tree illustrates their relationship.
"It is old, very old. So old that I almost feel young again, as I have not felt since I travelled with you children. It is old and full of memory. I could have been happy here, if I had come in days of peace."
“Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you.May the stars shine upon your faces!”
"the Elves of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the trees and the grass do not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament them: deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago."
"Men multiply and the Firstborn decrease, and the two kindreds are estranged."
“It is said that the skill of the Dwarves is in their hands rather than in their tongues"
"That what should be shall be"
"Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. We are Exiles, and most of our kindred have long ago departed and we too are now only tarrying here awhile, ere we return over the sea"
“Here’s the old villain with his head on a jug! He’s been having a little feast all to himself and his friend the captain.”
“I will not give you counsel, saying do this, or do that. For not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what was and is, and in part also what shall be.”
"I have seen three ages in the West of the world, and many defeats, and many fruitless victories."
"Five hundred times have the red leaves fallen in Mirkwood in m home since then, and but a little while does that seem to us."
"A plague upon the stiff necks of dwarves."
"I say : Let the ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow - an Elf."
"Yes, they are elves, and they say that you breathe so loud they could shoot you in the dark"
"To the sea, to the sea! The white gulls are crying,
The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying.
West, west away, the round sun is falling,
Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling,
The voices of my people that have gone before me?"
