I resisted reading Tolkien's LOR
– feared I'd not like it or I'd like
it so much I couldn't put it down
but how could I refuse reading
the greatest fantasy since Alice
when as new teacher new college
new class "fantasy literature" I
was forced to tackle it: found I
could both enjoy it, set it down
now as an elder I'm reading it
again: so many copycats make
the original hackneyed, repetitious
inventions, inverted language, constant
sword smiting (one needs a scorecard)
but hey! in volume 2 JRRT carried
away by his story forgets noble
narration, simply tells the tale: when
inferiors implode LOR will remain
rabbit holy its immortality inevitable
2022 Jacqueline Jackson