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April 24, 2006
10th Century riddle seen at the Book of Kells exhibit which sounds like a Michael Ondaatje poem
One of my enemies ended my life Sapped my world
strength afterward soaked me Wetted in water,...Set
me in sun where soon I lost the haurs which I had.
And then the hard knife edge cut me...Fingers
folded me and feather of bird traced all over my
tawny surface With drops of delight,...
Then for trappings a man Bound me
with boards bent hide over me Glossed me with
gold and so I glistened Wondrous in smith work
wire encircled
...Say what I am called Useful to man Mighty
my name is A help to heroes and holy am I.
Posted by didofoot at April 24, 2006 08:51 AM
Comments
Am I allowed to spoil it or proffer a guess?
Posted by: BD at April 25, 2006 09:49 AM
I have no idea. I'm going to guess "Jesus" because I don't think people were allowed to write about anything else back then.
Posted by: holohan at April 25, 2006 10:14 AM
i think it's the book. someone cut down the tree ("sapped" him), made him into paper, drew on him, and bound him in gold.
i love that book. so gorgeous. i have a facsimile that my mom bought me while i was in high school.
you should take lots of pictures of crosses--the cool irish ones which incorporate pagan sun worship with the christian cross. i am so tempted to get a tattoo of one of those. they also do the pagan tree/cross hybrid one. love it!
Posted by: michele at April 25, 2006 11:16 AM
yeah, it's vellum. i just liked the wording.
Posted by: didofoot at April 27, 2006 03:04 AM
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