Introductory verse

–

“The time has come,”

The Walrus said,

“To talk of many things.

“Of elves and swords

“And wizard-staves,

“Of gold and Dwarven kings,

“And why the Thrush knocks on the rock

“And whether Smaug has wings.”

—

In the middle of the bookshelf

Squeezed by heavy tomes galore

Sits a ragged little volume

Recounting tales of elven lore.

–

Though it gathers dust neglected

And long waits for eager eyes,

This brief tale of great adventure

Lights a flame that never dies.

–

Now as they day approaches,

And the tickets have been sold,

The time has come for reading

The hero’s tale so bold.

–

It’s not The Silmarillion

(I cringe to touch that page!)

It’s not my dearest trilogy

That’s for another age.

–

I reach now for the smallest;

My fingers gently call

The soon-to-theaters Hobbit,

The sweetest of them all.