Why Did Old Man Willow Obey Tom Bombadil's Song?

‘You let them out again, Old Man Willow!’

‘You let them out again, Old Man Willow!’ he said…Go to sleep! Bombadil is talking!’

Tom Bombadil seems to be the personification of the first theme of Iluvatar — the pure poesis, the Song of God, the eternal Logos. He represents the creative power of the Right Speech.

In the beginning was the Word. (Jn. 1:1).

Tom’s nonsensical songs and caperings may seem…