The International
Conference on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Invented Languages
Any and all were invited to send haiku to Omentielva Lempea, written in either Quenya or Sindarin and with an English translation. The topic was free. Each participant could submit a maximum of two haiku. The haiku were presented anonymously and voted on at the Haiku Workshop of the conference. Participants could vote unless they had submitted haiku or had seen the authors’ names. Points were subtracted for language errors.
Omentielva attendees could submit haiku in English, which if they earned enough votes would be translated at the Haiku Workshop.
Thirty-five haiku were submitted to the contest.
Winners
These three best haiku will be rewarded with a small gift, and will be published with the conference proceedings in Arda Philology. (Texts as submitted.)
| 1 | Quilda celumë Nu erda alda lomë Sírima tyelpë |
A quiet stream Hides under a solitary tree Liquid silver |
Marianne Larose (Canada) |
| 2 | Hláranyë hwesta: Palta sara laurëa, hlussala nandë. |
I hear a breeze: It strokes the golden dry grass, a whispering harp. |
Sascha Mücke (Germany) |
| 3 | Sinda fanyare Angarilya fanyare Telpina rosse |
Grey skies Iron-glittering skies Silver rain |
Roman Rausch (Germany) |
Honourable mention
(Texts as submitted.)
| Ithil eriol Dan i anor no dannen? Elenath istar |
A moon rises But is the sun fallen? The stars know |
Eric Bernard (USA) |
| Nu elin luin Laiss i mrethil thiliar Uial dolog! |
Under the blue stars Beechen leaves are glistening. Trusty twilight! |
Luthien Dulk (The Netherlands) |
| In eilph reviol or i ngylf i neryn dhaer istar leithian. |
the flying swans above the branches of the great oak trees they know freedom |
Anne McNulty (USA) |
| Manen ëa már Ná hírina engwessen Ve i lindalda? |
How is it home Is found in things Like the music of trees? |
Kathryn Stutz (USA) |
| Restar laurie lairaureva alcarde, yávi’ olori |
Golden fields lie In July morning glory, Harvesting dreams. |
Rosie M. Coope (England) |
| Or chaw amon i chwest laich matha thîr nîn. Udulen — na vedui. |
On the hilltop the sweet breeze touches my face I have returned — at last. |
Luthien Dulk (The Netherlands) |
| I thloss en-gwaew dîn, i hîdh en nen lim na dhû, i geven tínen. |
the whisper of the quiet wind the peace of the clear water at nightfall the Earth is silent |
Anne McNulty (USA) |
| In aew deliar. Ú-istog amman dregar? Tíro! I fain dhuir! |
The birds are hiding. Don't you know why they are fleeing? Look! The dark clouds! |
Sascha Mücke (Germany) |