I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, 
and leaves of gold there grew:
Of wind I sang, a wind there came 
and in the branches blew.
Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon,
the foam was on the Sea, 
And by the strand of Ilmarin
there grew a golden Tree.
Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar  it shone, 
In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion.
There long the golden leaves have grown
upon the branching years, 
While here beyond the Sundering Seas
now fall the Elven-tears.
O Lorien! Too long I have dwelt 
upon this Hither Shore
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor.
But if of ships I now should sing, 
what ship [bad word] to me, 
What ship would bear me ever back 
across do wide a Sea?