The earliest anglo-saxon poet whose name we know, Caedmon was apparently famous for the vivid hymns he composed while living at a monastery in Whitby during the 7th century. Unfortunately, very few of his songs have survived
The earliest anglo-saxon poet whose name we know, Caedmon was apparently famous for the vivid hymns he composed while living at a monastery in Whitby during the 7th century. Unfortunately, very few of his songs have survived, and we know about his life exclusively through a near contemporary, the English historian Venerable Bede.
Caedmon died in AD 680. Since we don’t know the precise date of his death, I thought we would just go ahead and recognize his life and ministry today. So here is Caedmon’s Hymn of Creation.
Now we must praise the ruler of heaven,
The might of the Lord and his purpose of mind,
The work of the glorious Father; for he,
God eternal, established each wonder,
He, holy creator, first fashioned the heavens
As a roof for the children of earth.
And then our guardian, the everlasting Lord,
Adorned this middle-earth for men.
Praise the almighty king of heaven.