One night, in the shadowy borderland between waking and sleep, a dreamer beholds a tree of blinding beauty — a cross of gold and light, yet stained with blood. Then the cross itself begins to speak, telling of the day it was hewn from the forest and lifted on a hill, and of the young hero who climbed it to open the gates of heaven. The Dream of the Rood is the oldest dream vision in English literature and one of its most moving Christian poems, at once a tale of heroic sacrifice and a tender meditation on loss, loyalty, and hope. This edition presents the complete poem in clear, present-day English — faithful to the original's meaning and spirit, yet easy and inviting to read — with an introduction, a glossary, and gentle helps for reflection. Whether you come as a lover of poetry, a seeker, or a pilgrim of the cross, this ancient voice has a word for you. Part of The World Scriptures Library.