{"id":102188,"date":"2021-05-13T08:30:10","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T12:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=102188"},"modified":"2021-05-13T06:02:14","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T10:02:14","slug":"christ-the-bird-and-the-play-of-hope-an-anglo-saxon-poem-for-the-feast-of-the-ascension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=102188","title":{"rendered":"Christ the Bird and the Play of Hope: An Anglo-Saxon Poem for the Feast of the Ascension"},"content":{"rendered":"

One thing this poem does have in common with the ‘Advent lyrics’ of Christ I is that it’s an extraordinarily sophisticated theological meditation on its Biblical theme, rendered in the traditional language of Anglo-Saxon poetry but drawing on learned interpretations of the subject by the Church Fathers. The poem begins by describing the delight of the angels at Christ’s return to heaven, contrasting their joy with the grief of the disciples at parting from Christ, and giving his words of comfort to his followers:…<\/p>\n

\u201cRejoice in your hearts! I will never leave you;
\nI will always remain with you in love,
\nand give you strength and dwell with you
\nfor ever and ever, so that through my grace
\nyou will never want for anything good…
\nI will dwell with you
\nfrom henceforth as a comforter, and keep you in peace,
\na steadfast strength in every place.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

'So the beautiful bird ventured into flight.
Now he sought the home of the angels above,
that glorious country, bold and strong in might.'<\/p>\n

An Anglo-Saxon poem on the Ascension: https:\/\/t.co\/MfwI6d6GOC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/5BfsLDQ2c0<\/a><\/p>\n

— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) May 13, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n