Exeter Book Riddle 57 (or 55), The air bears little critters over the high hillsides… / Ðeos lyft byreð lytle wihte ofer beorghleoþa…

An Old English riddle from the tenth century, set to new music.
Composed by Stef Conner; performed by Hanna Marti and Stef Conner.

Ðeos lyft byreð    lytle wihte
ofer beorghleoþa.    Þa sind blace swiþe,
swearte salopade.    Sanges rope
heapum ferað,    hlude cirmað,
tredað bearonæssas,    hwilum burgsalo
niþþa bearna.    Nemnað hy sylfe.

The air bears little critters
Over the high hillsides. They’re jet-black,
Deep-dark, dusk-coated. Bursting with song,
They travel in troops, chirruping aloud!
Treading the woody headlands, sometimes the townships
Of the children of men. They name themselves.

Read more about the riddle (and see possible solutions) here: https://theriddleages.wordpress.com/2…

Filmed and recorded by James Bradbury at the University of Huddersfield, 2019. Part of a research project funder by the Leverhulme Trust.