The Road Goes Ever On by JRR Tolkien

The Road Goes Ever On

From the Hobbit:

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 of 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.

From the LotR:

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.
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 it who 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.
-- J R R Tolkien

This is the poem I like to read when moving. It seems appropriate for when you walk out the front door, and you know you're never coming back. It's kind of sad and kind of exciting. You never know just where this new path will take you, who you'll meet, and what adventures and troubles await.

I also relate to the part about weary feet. We had amazing help from the Elders quorum and missionaries during the move. Four of the guys even drove down to Torrance with us and stayed until 11:30 to UNpack the truck after they had loaded it! Talk about above and beyond the call of duty. I didn't have to carry anything, but getting everything ready, packing up the last boxes of stuff, and directing all the traffic still wiped me out. Peter has been marvelously willing to work until everything's done no matter how tired. We slept a LOT today though!