A/N

Although the fact that Tolkein only named one Ringwraith and gave a title to another is at times a hinderance, I can appreciate the reasoning. After all, if each Ringwraith were named, this would probably lead to a humanizing effect. Still, the titles provided by Games Workshop for some Ringwraiths inspired me to do this poem. However, after a bit of research, I found that an early Middle-earth roleplaying game gave names to the eight unnamed wraiths, and that the Witch King is named in Battle for Middle Earth II. Suffice to say, this led to some expansion. I'm generally inclusionistic, treating outside sources as canon provided there's no concrete contradiction, but the Ringwraiths are an exception to this rule.

Still, considering they were never named in the first place, perhaps that's not a bad thing.

Corruption

Nine kings of men were they all once,

Enticed by Sauron's power.

Serving Mordor became their task,

Each and every hour.

...

The first, the greatest of the nine,

Was Angmar's future king.

First among the future wraiths,

Put on Sauron's ring.

...

Khamûl, he of eastern lands,

The second Ringwraith he,

Thus quickly fell to Sauron's will,

Not once would he be free.

...

Other Ringwraiths too there were,

Seven more in all.

Loyally did they all serve,

Until their master's fall.

…

The Shadow Lord, of a small land,

Fell to promised might.

Dark cloak worn in darker pride,

A herald of the night.

…

In the Dark Marshal evil dwelled,

Before he took his ring.

Embraced the path to Nazgûl ways,

In victory he'd sing.

…

The Tainted one was easily took,

Thus embraced Sauron's will.

His evil ways did Sauron bless,

Death's coffers did he fill.

…

The Undying fought hard and long,

Sauron's will defied.

But in the end he fell to dark,

His soul from body pried.

…

Six of nine are titled here,

Three are not yet known.

But other names have come to pass,

In circulation grown.

…

Morgamir the first was named,

In Arnor's ancient battles.

Insight into a rare truth,

Or were defenders rattled?

…

Er-Murazor, another name,

To he, Angmar's Witch King.

Two names for the same Ringwraith?

Indeed that's a strange thing.

…

Dwar, Ji Indur, Akhorahil,

More names to title fear.

Uvatha, Ren, Adunaphel,

And Hormurath, oh dear!

…

Westmarch's Book yet still has gaps,

But these may not be filled.

Suffice to say, those Nazgûl shrieks,

They're all painfully shrill.

…

Fear's a weapon in itself,

And fear need not be named.

So examining these dark lieutenants,

From this I will refrain.