This Easter Monday brings a beacon in song. The Dream of the Rood harks back to the roots of the Resurrection, and it shines with the undying Light of the world.
One of the oldest works of English literature, it is the tale of the cross that bore Christ.
It is told by the rood itself, which was once a tree, in a vision written down by an unknown author.
Captured in the Vercelli manuscript, it is over a thousand years old.
“Rood” means “rod”, a length of wood. In the poem, we hear the rood speak of its journey to Calvary: from life to death, and to life again.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Frank Wright to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.