When most people think of poetry, they think of rhymes.How many poems, which includes songs and nursery rhymes, can you recite from memory? How many of them rhyme?

But the earliest poetry in English was not structured around rhyme but alliteration: multiple syllables in a metrical line that share the same initial sound. This early verse, which includes examples like Beowulf, has an earthier, driven feel when compared to the later bouncing meters of rhymed poetry that came with the French during the Norman Invasion. Alliterative verse also tends to handle heftier topics and is darker in tone: the Northern feel that Tolkien sought to capture in The Silmarillion. Tolkien himself was an avid practitioner of alliterative poetry, translating key examples of the craft (Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl) and writing his own original verses, some set in the legendarium.

At Mereth Aderthad 2025, Paul D. Deane will be presenting a paper on alliterative verse and Tolkien, titled "Love, Grief, and Alliterative Verse in Tolkien’s Legendarium." Paul is also an avid practitioner of alliterative verse and edits the quarterly journal of alliterative poetry, Forgotten Ground Regained. Himring spoke with Paul about his upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation, which considers how both Tolkien and fans use alliterative verse to explore the key themes of love and grief in the legendarium.

Paul's work on alliterative poetry entwines with involvement in the Tolkien fandom, roleplaying an Avarin poet named Rhunedhel who, like Tollkien's own historian-poets, witnessed and recorded many events of the legendarium. Paul describes alliterative verse as having a "raw power" strong enough to be magical in the legendarium—the perfect form for the early legendarium, where magic and downfall are deeply entwined. His work exemplifies significant research and skill that many fanworks creators use to build the legendarium beyond what Tolkien gave us.

You can read Himring's interview with Paul here.

Some additional news: Keep scrolling for a first look at the full program for Mereth Aderthad! Also, next weekend, Anna (IdleLeaves) hosts our monthly instadrabbling session on the Discord server. If you're not a member of our Discord server, you can join us here.