i sit & think.

i sit beside the fire and think of all that i have seen,

of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been;

of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were,

with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.

i sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be

when winter comes without a spring that i shall ever see.

for still there are so many things that i have never seen:

in every wood in every spring there is a different green

i sit beside the fire and think of people long ago

and people who will see a world that i shall never know.

but all the while i sit and think of times there were before,

i listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

- jrr tolken

rip barry.