Tolkien did not know the meaning of his own poems at the beginning

During the summer of 1914, J. R. R. Tolkien wrote the poem The Voyage of Earendel the Evening Star after reading verses by the poet Cynewulf. In November 1914, he read this work to the members of the semi-secret club T.C.B.S. and found himself unable to explain its meaning to a comrade who questioned him. This founding text would later give birth to the writer's entire legendarium.