Forgotten Ground Regained
Cuthbert's Way
Old English
Of mynsterstowe ‧ mearc gehendeÞær he his droht ongann ‧ dryhtan to ðeoweðrynesse scuan ‧ ᚦ beagodÐanon flode feþende ‧ faroþe streamesbrad ond hluttor ‧ ᛒ gefægrodÞæs ottres eard ‧ eaþe on fotum.Þonne stræt gegnum ‧ strælrightes seo ᚱBe gastum twenum ‧ geoferendaGeweorc wrætlic ‧ nu gewested stent.Ðanon heah ofter dunum ‧ heallstede neahÞær beorn ond ᛖ ‧ bidon gearaNu is leode gewiten‧ land geswigodnymÞe hwilpan sweg‧ hwiÞan oncwedenÞonne hylla neoÞan‧ Þær he wæs hyrde ær nu oÞre neat‧ eardaÞ ðas hleoÞuæftergenga‧ ᛚ on wongum.Ðanon stige to stanscæfe‧ streowen nidesÞær hy his geban bæron‧ and beorg sohtonᚳon heolstre ‧ ceald nu under swegle.Þonne stæfum be staÞe ‧ styred on gesihÞeÞær he his siÞ endode ‧ æt ebbe gesealdof scyne hwealf ‧ and sceaftes ᛏ.
Stained glass winow
in Chester Cathedral
Modern English Translation
From minster-site, a march hard by,there he began his life to Lord as servant,in shadow of trinity with thorn crowned.Thence faring by river, floodway's bank,broad and clear, with birch made fair,the otter's realm, easy upon feet.Then onward by street, arrowstraight the road,amongst the ghosts of farers gone,a wondrous strange work now stands waste.Thence high over moors, a hallstead near,there warrior and steed once bided;now has that folk left, land is silenced,but for curlew's cry, echoed on the wind.Then 'neath hills, there he was a herder once,now another beast dwells on those slopes,descendants of auroch on plains.Thence a path to stonecave, a restingplace of need,there they bore his bones and shelter sought,torches in darkness, cold now under the sky.Then staves by shore, steered into sightthere he ended his journey, at ebb given,from shining vault and creation's glory.
Originally published in Withowinde 208 (as entry), 209 (Old English, as winner), and 210 (modern English version).
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Answer: water