The Road Goes Ever On - J.R.R. Tolkien

Source Information

• Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
• Appears in: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
• Type: Poetry
• Theme: The journey of life, literal and metaphorical paths, returning home

The Poem

The Road Goes Ever On

Roads go ever ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown,

And through the merry flowers of June,

Over grass and over stone,

And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on,

Under cloud and under star.

Yet feet that wandering have gone

Turn at last to home afar.

Eyes that fire and sword have seen,

And horror in the halls of stone

Look at last on meadows green,

And trees and hills they long have known.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way,

Where many paths and errands meet.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with weary feet,

Until it joins some larger way,

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

The Road goes ever on and on

Out from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone.

Let others follow, if they can!

Let them a journey new begin.

But I at last with weary feet

Will turn towards the lighted inn,

My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

Context

The poem describes an endless journey through diverse landscapes and challenges, reflecting both the literal path of the characters and the metaphorical journey of life, which ends with the weary traveler returning to a peaceful, familiar home.

Related Concepts

• [[Flexibility Over Rigidity]] - Adapting through the journey
• [[Passion Not Spent]] - The journey from eager to weary feet

Poem by J.R.R. Tolkien from Middle-earth legendarium