'All That is Gold Does Not Glitter' by JRR Tolkien

This happens to be my favorite poem. Its just eight lines, but as I was telling a friend the other day, everytime I read them I get goosebumps. Read them slowly, and experience the power that surges forth!

All That is Gold Does Not Glitter

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king. 

'The Garden' by Dom Moraes

A wonderful poem by a wonderful Indian poet (who by 14 was reading essays by Eliot and at 19 won the Hawthornden Prize )

The Garden

I wake and find myself in love:

And this one time I do not doubt.

I only fear, and wander out

To hold long parley with a dove.

The innocent and the guilty, met

Here in the garden, feel no fear.

But I'm afraid of you, my dear.

There was a reason: I forget.

And I by shyness am undone

And can't go out for fear I meet

My poems dancing down the street

Telling your name to everyone.

The lichen peels along the wall.

My conversation bores the dove.

He knows it all: that I'm in love

And you care much and not at all.

I shall stay here and keep my word.

Glumly I wait to marry dust.

It grieves me only that I must

Speak not to you, but to a bird.