(©Shirley Starke 1991)

Bright are the leaves, the branches adorning,
Bright is the blue sky and bright are the flowers,
Bright is the grass with the dew of the morning,
Bright were the days when hope was ours.

Brave were we then, and fain would we follow,
Glad into danger and glad into war,
Brave were our words then, words that ring hollow,
Now he has fallen, he will lead us no more.

Warm is the sunshine that sings of the morrow,
Warm are the birds as it bideth them sleep,
Cold are our hearts in the sea of our sorrow,
Cold is the vigil they longen to keep.

Bright are the leaves, the branches adorning,
Bright were the days when the foe took to flight,
Bright is the grass with the tears of our mourning,
O, in those days brighter far was the night.
O, in those days brighter far was the night.

Comments
Artist Comment: "Song for the White Rider was written in 1968, after I'd read The Lord of the Rings for the first time. The style is merely my own; I did not attempt to imitate the inimitable. It is neither more nor less than a first reaction, sometimes accurately reflecting what I read, sometimes not, but expressing my wonder at the beginnings of an understanding that would grow for a lifetime."