Line 27 - wudu selesta

This is the only place in the poem that the Cross is referred to as "wudu" (but cf. note on line 91 "holmwudu"). "treow" occurs in the opening vision (and in line 146 gealgtr.eow); "beam" and "beacen" occur at the beginning and the end of the poem; "rod" occurs at line 44 for the first time and frequently from then on. Although legends of the origins of the Cross were probably known in Anglo-Saxon England, this poem treats the Cross as a natural tree (but see the note to line 91 "holmwudu").

back to line 27