Gandalf stood on the narrow bridge of stone beneath the mountain cold
Between the Balrog and its prey – a wizard grey, alone but bold.
It seemed but a certain death-wish, him a Balrog to defy
But a wizard’s strength can a demon match – if there be need to try.
As So the Balrog strode up hungrily, the wizard waited still
Upon that bridge of stone above the chasm deep and chill.
“You cannot pass!” he roared the words – and brought a sudden silence deep.
The orcs all paused. The Balrog stood. Time slowed and even seemed to creep.
“Your dark flame can’t avail you now! The Shadow takes you back!
Do you pretend you don’t know me? Who dares your worst attack?
Behold! I wield bright Anor’s flame! I serve the secret fire!”
“You cannot pass!” The wizard’s words all raised the Balrog’s ire.
The Balrog howled demoniac rage, and stepped onto the span
Its red sword swept like angry molten rain towards the man.
The wizard countered with Glamdring – so clashed they with the sword
But the devil’s blade was shattered there as Gandalf stood forward.
Then the Balrog raged in fury and its whip began to swing
But the wizard staff blazed piercing white – its magic ‘gan to sing
Until with a roar of sheeting flame the staff smote down the stone
And the bridge beneath the Balrog cracked and crumbled with a groan.
There Gandalf’s staff was shattered – for he had poured out all his strength
And the Balrog fell – still screaming – as the void engulfed its length.
But its hissing whip switched through the air around the wizard’s knees
To drag the man into the gulf: its prey the Balrog seized.
The wizard’s friends cried out in fear – for they saw Gandalf fell
To fight on with the Balrog dragged to nether’s deepest hell.
Undaunted cried the wizard though he’s dragged down by his bane
“Fly fools! Fly! Fly!” And then he falls – where none might come again.
Mithrandir thus ‘came Balrog’s Bane in Khazad-dûm that day
Remembered yet in song and prose: the mighty wizard grey.
Tolkien Tribute 