The Great Theme

In hush of dark ere time began
There stood a throne of purest gold
Enthroning might and pow'r therein--
Creation wrought within of old.

And Eru in the depths of thought
Brought forth of light and speech and sound
The shining ones, Ainur were called
In Eru's brightness gathered 'round

A flash of hands, a gleam of eyes,
And music shattered in the dark
Each piece was taken by a voice,
And flame was woven from each spark

Such music since was never heard!
Such power, beauty, endless song
It sparkled out into the void
Cast out what silence hovered long...

And Eru smiled upon his throne
And splendor shone through time and space
As sound and sight were one entwined
And music wove a dreamlike place

And each in turn became amazed
For from their voices sprung a world!
In swirling colors from the dark
As song, like banners, there unfurled...

But one the darkness then did touch,
And set upon his heart like greed
His voice arose like brazen horns
And to the Theme he paid no heed

And thrice defiant he arose
To turn the theme to disarray
And thrice in power then arose
The hand of Eru, greed to stay...

And in the clamour's tumult then,
When all the world was strife and sound
Then Eru like a tower stood
And with his hand cast silence down

In tones of thunder then he spoke
To one who would have drowned the Theme
That never would he triumph there
No matter that it may so seem...

In centuries since the dawn of time
The Theme has carried ever hence
Despite the brazen fanfare's cry
That hath resounded echoing since.

For still the words of Eru rise
O'er all that shadow claims below--
'Tis woven through a greater Theme
That only He and they may know.