Traditionally, it is believed that Cædmon was an illiterate cowherd who was divinely inspired to sing a hymn praising God and his creation.
And it was said that the poem came to him in a dream, which means the oldest surviving Anglo-Saxon poetry is an example of oneiric composition by an illiterate man.
More than twenty manuscript copies survive, each having some minor differences stemming from regional dialects. A Latin version of the verse also survives.
For my translation, I chose to work from the Northumbrian version.
While translating the poem, I chose words for their archaic meanings, such as ward from the Old English wearden, meaning guardian or watchman. The modern sense retains echos of guardianship and pairs well with bairn, Northern English dialect for children.
Anglo-Saxon was spoken before the Norman Conquest, and resembles modern German more than our modern English or even the Middle English of Chaucer: I tried to preserve the Old English poet’s use of alliteration and avoided using English words with Latin and French origins.
This poem was previously published in The Marble poetry magazine.
Cædmon’s Hymn
Now shall we sing of heaven’s rich Ward;
Sing of his might and his will and his work;
Sing of the World Father who timeless
Began the beginning, and who wrought heaven,
A roof for bairn and Midgard made he for
The Age of Men.
Praise our Father Almighty.
MARTIAN DEATH RAY 