| Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien | |
| Valedictory | |
|---|---|
| Poem Information | |
| Other names | From Iffley, Oxenaford (of Gifeteslage gesewen) |
| Written | October of 1911 |
| Revised | Before 1915 |
| Published | Stapeldon Magazine, The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Subject(s) | Iffley |
Valedictory,[1] or Oxenaford (of Gifeteslage gesewen),[2] is a short poem about Oxford that was written by J.R.R. Tolkien in October of 1911.[3]
First stanza
From the many-willowed margin of the immemorial Thames
Standing in a vale outcarven in a world-forgotten day
There is dimly seen uprising through the greenly veiléd stems
Many-mansioned tower-crownéd in its dreamy robe of grey
That strange city by the river agéd in the lives of men
Proudly wrapt in mystic memory overpassing human ken.[2]
Background
In the second half[4] of October during the Michaelmas Term in 1911,[5] Tolkien wrote a short untitled ode of two stanzas during his first undergraduate term at the University of Oxford. Tolkien later entitled it From Iffley. When Tolkien sent it to the Stapeldon Magazine to be published, the second stanza was lost by the editor. As such, in December of 1913,[6] the first stanza was published without a title[6] as no. twenty on page 11 in the magazine's fourth volume. Tolkien signed the poem with just his first initial. In a later revision on an unknown date, Tolkien made minor changes to the poem, including changing the title to Valedictory.[3]
In the spring of 1915,[2] Tolkien sent a copy of the poem to Christopher Wiseman, who wrote back to him in April.[7]
In September of 2024, the poem was re-published as entry 10 in The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien.[2]
References
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, "Poetry by J.R.R. Tolkien", pp. 846, 857 (entries "From the mamy-willow’d margin of the immemorial Thames" and "Valedictory")
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull, Wayne G. Hammond (eds.), The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, "10. From Iffley · Valedictory (1911-?15)"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 333 (entry "From the Many-Willow’d Margin of the Immemorial Thames")
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 29 (entry "Second half of October 1911")
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 28 (entry "Michaelmas Term 1911")
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 47 (entry "December 1913")
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 64 (entry "Trinity Term 1915")