Goldberry’s Songs

Becoming homes of music again

"Then another clear voice, as young and as ancient as Spring, like the song of a glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in the hills, came falling like silver to meet them: "Now let the song begin! Let us sing together Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather…”

So sings Goldberry, Old Tom Bombadil’s wife of Tolkien’s tale. Songs float out into the forest from our home as well. Music from this old piano passed down on my wife’s family side, someone’s daughter still sings.

It’s a gift of unimagined grace to have song and music emanate from this window into the wintry landscape. I imagine my mountain neighbors might be able to hear Goldberry’s tunes if they are slowed and subservient to the snow quiet.

“Then lightly she passed them and closing the door she turned her back to it, with her white arms spread out across it. “Let us shut out the night!' she said. 'For you are still afraid, perhaps, of mist and tree-shadows and deep water, and untame things. Fear nothing! For tonight you are under the roof of Tom Bombadil!' -The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Let us shut out the night. Could there ever be more important words and deeds? What a powerful thing it is to “close the door” and “turn our backs” to the night. There are so many “fears and mist, shadows and deep things and untamed things” in this life of ours.

“Fear nothing!”

What a powerful blessing to give one another in our homes and…hearts.

Sing! Play instruments! Open your doors to those traveling in the dark and let your singing lead them to refuge.

Boldly play. Boldly say:

“Tonight you’re under our roof”

“Now let the song begin!