J.R.R. Tolkien wrote many excellent poems and songs, and I've found I enjoy singing them. I recently discovered The Fall of Gil-galad, a song about the fall of the last great elven king in Middle Earth, who fought against Sauron in the decisive battle of the War of the Last Alliance. (The opening scene of the Lord of the Rings movies portrays this battle.) It's a short one, but has the reliably evocative lyrics and pleasant rhyming that Tolkien always managed to impart.

Gil-galad was an Elven-king.

Of him the harpers sadly sing;

the last whose realm was fair and free

between the Mountains and the Sea.

His sword was long, his lance was keen.

His shining helm afar was seen;

the countless stars of heaven's field

were mirrored in his silver shield.

But long ago he rode away,

and where he dwelleth none can say;

for into darkness fell his star

in Mordor where the shadows are.

 I'd like, someday, to sing these songs to my children; with their youthful imaginations I'm sure they would find them even more enchanting than I do. I never liked singing Christmas carols as a kid, but I've since realized just how wholesome and gratifying it can be to sing as a group. The last time I ever saw my grandmother was on Christmas Eve in 2017, when the whole family got together to sing carols, which she always loved. For the first time I enthusiastically participated, and I'm glad that I did. I could see my grandma beaming as she looked out over all those generations of her family singing as one.

 Even if you feel like you'd rather not sing, just give a shot. You may find, as I did, that it opens new doors for you. If nothing else it's a fun hobby!