Get Your Premium Membership

Anglo Saxon Poems - Poems about Anglo Saxon

Medieval Poetry Translations VIII by Michael R Burch
These are English translations of Medieval poems written in Old English. The Battle of Maldon anonymous Old English/Anglo-Saxon poem, circa 991 AD or later translation by Michael R. Burch …would be broken. Then he bade each warrior unbridle his horse, set it free, drive it away and advance onward afoot, intent on deeds of arms and dauntless courage. It was then that...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, conflict, confusion, courage, death,
Form: Free verse
Widsith the Far-Traveler, Part III, translation of the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem
Widsith the Far-Traveler, Part III ancient Anglo-Saxon poem loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch I was also with Eormanric for many years, as long as the Goth-King availed me well; he gave me six hundred shillings of pure gold beaten into a beautiful neck-ring! This I gave to Eadgils, overlord of the Myrgings and my protector when I returned home, a precious adornment for...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, poems, poetry, poets, travel,
Form: Free verse



Widsith the Far-Traveler, Part II, translation of the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem
Widsith the Far-Traveler, Part II ancient Anglo-Saxon poem loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Hrothulf and Hrothgar, uncle and nephew, for a long time kept a careful peace together after they had driven away the Vikings' kinsmen, vanquished Ingeld's spear-hordes, and hewed down at Heorot the host of the Heathobards. Thus I have traveled among many foreign lands, crossing the earth's breadth, experiencing both goodness...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, music, peace, poetry, poets,
Form: Free verse
Widsith the Far-Traveler, Part I, translation of the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem
Widsith was a traveling minstrel who "sang for his supper" but may have been prone to exaggeration... Widsith, the Far-Traveler, Part I of III anonymous Old English/Anglo-Saxon poem, circa 680-950 AD loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Widsith the wide-wanderer began to speak, unlocked his word-hoard, manifested his memories, he who had travelled earth's roads furthest among the races of men—their tribes,...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, adventure, music, poetry, poets,
Form: Free verse
The Wanderer, Part III, translation of the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem
The Wanderer, Part III The wise man contemplates these ruins, considers this dark life soberly, remembers the blood spilled here in multitudes of battles, then says: “Where is the horse now? Where, its riders? Where, the givers of gifts & treasure, the gold-friend? Where, the banquet-seats? Where, the mead-halls’ friendly uproars? Gone, the bright cup! Gone, the mailed warrior! Gone, the glory of princes!...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, loss, sorrow, time, travel,
Form: Free verse



The Wanderer, Part II, translation of the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem
The Wanderer, Part II Awakening, the friendless man confronts the murky waves, the seabirds bathing, broadening out their feathers, the hoar-frost, harrowing hail & snow eternally falling… Then his heart’s wounds seem all the heavier for the loss of his beloved lord. Thus his sorrow is renewed, remembrance of his lost kinsmen troubles his mind, & he greets their ghosts with exclamations...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, bird, dark, loss, sea,
Form: Free verse
The Wanderer, Part I, translation of the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem
The Wyrdes were like the Fates, controlling human destinies. The Wanderer ancient Anglo-Saxon poem translation by Michael R. Burch “The one who wanders alone longs for mercy, longs for grace, knowing he must yet traverse the whale-path’s rime-cold waters, stirring the waves with his hands & oars, heartsick & troubled in spirit, always bending his back to his exile-ways.” “Fate is inexorable.” Thus spoke the wanderer, mindful...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, death, death of a
Form: Free verse
Medieval Poetry Translations VI by Michael R Burch
These are English translations/modernizations of Medieval poems written in Old English and Middle English. Exeter Book Gnomic Verses or Maxims loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The dragon dwells under the dolmen, wizened-wise, hoarding his treasure; the fishes bring forth their finned kind; the king in his halls distributes rings; the bear stalks the heath, shaggy and malevolent. Frost shall freeze, fire feast on...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, fish, husband, love, ocean,
Form: Free verse
The Wife's Lament
"The Wife's Lament" or "The Wife's Complaint" is an Old English/Anglo Saxon poem found in the Exeter Book, which has been dated to 960-990 AD, making it the oldest English poetry anthology. "The Wife's Lament" may be the oldest extant English poem written by a female poet. The Wife's Lament loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch I...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, husband, lost love, love,
Form: Free verse
Premium Member In rebuttal of dictonarial doctrine on 'imput'
In my writes replies and poeming I often use a certain word Therein..This word in truth 'is imput see.' Not sanctioned in The current dictionary.? And yet the English langauge grand has Been the work of tounge and hands, one of which is Saxon West..Or Germanic..? If I pass the test? And 'im' within Germanic tounge 'is the same as...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, analogy, appreciation, education,
Form: Rhyme
Translations of the Oldest Rhyming Poems In the English Language
Translations of the Oldest English Rhyming Poems The Rhymed Poem aka The Rhyming Poem aka The Riming Poem Old English/Anglo-Saxon poem from the Exeter Book, circa 990 AD loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch (excerpt) He who granted me life created this sun and graciously provided its radiant engine. I was gladdened with glees, bathed in bright hues, deluged with joy’s blossoms, sunshine-infused...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, england, poems, poetry, poets,
Form: Rhyme
The Ruin In a Modern English Translation
THE RUIN an Old English poem about fate & destiny modern English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch well-hewn was this wall-stone, till Wyrdes wrecked it and the Colossus sagged inward... broad battlements broken; the Builders' work battered; the high ramparts toppled; tall towers collapsed; the great roof-beams shattered; gates groaning, agape... mortar mottled and marred by scarring hoar-frosts, the Giants’ dauntless strongholds decaying with age... shattered, the...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, destiny, eulogy, fate, gothic,
Form: Free verse
Medieval Poems Iii
Medieval Poems Deor's Lament (Anglo Saxon poem, circa 10th century AD) loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Weland knew the agony of exile. That indomitable smith was wracked by grief. He endured countless troubles: sorrows were his only companions in his frozen island dungeon after Nithad had fettered him, many strong-but-supple sinew-bonds binding the better man. That passed away; this also may. Beadohild mourned her brothers' deaths but...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, england, grief, poems, poetry,
Form: Rhyme
Medieval Poems Ii
Medieval Poems Wulf and Eadwacer (Old English circa 990 AD) loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch My people pursue him like crippled prey. They'll rip him apart if he approaches their pack. We are so different! Wulf's on one island; I'm on another. His island's a fortress, fastened by fens. Here, bloodthirsty curs roam this island. They'll rip him apart if he approaches their pack. We...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, angel, england, love, middle
Form: Rhyme
Deor's Lament
Deor's Lament (Old English/Anglo-Saxon poem circa the 10th century AD) loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Weland endured the agony of exile: an indomitable smith wracked by grief. He suffered countless sorrows; indeed, such sorrows were his bosom companions in that frozen island dungeon where Nithad fettered him: so many strong-but-supple sinew-bands binding the better man. That passed away; this also may. Beadohild mourned her brothers' deaths, bemoaning...

Continue reading...
Categories: anglo saxon, destiny, england, fate, old,
Form: Verse

Related Poems


Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry