The Days Grow Darker

The Days Are Growing Darker

The clouds are swirling dark in the sky,
A red sun rises overhead
A shadow falls upon the plains
Yet still the days grow darker.

This burden drags my head forward to the ground
My memory can no longer recall the green Shire
There is nothing between the forbidden land and me
Only a swamp, a gate, and a tall staircase.

My heart is failing me
My strength is waning
And with each step I take I am more certain that I shall die completing this task
Yet still the days grow darker.

My stout friend holds me up
My shriveled guide hisses in the dark
The two of them urge me on
They do not know what a burden I am bearing.

My guide stoops beside me
His hand strokes my chain
I remember that he too has carried this same burden
It is this small ring that I carry on my chain that made him what he is.

I am scared, I am weary, I am alone, I am dying
I feel not a drop of life within me
The closer to the fiery mountain of Orodruin we get the weaker I am
But still the days are growing darker.

I can not see beyond this ring I carry
Can not think beyond it
It is precious to me, how will I ever destroy it?
This thing glinting in the moonlight as a fine pure gold.

It is not pure though, it is causing me to become evil
I snap at Sam and greed fills my utmost being
Is this what I will be at the end, will I be known as a greedy and evil hobbit?
Yet even as I ponder this the days are growing darker.

Will I ever make it up that forboding mountain?
Or will my life by the Ring be claimed
Only one way to find out...
Yet as I go the days are growing darker.