When rowan leaves are dank and rusting And rowan berries…
“When rowan leaves are dank and rusting And rowan berries red as blood, When in my palm the hangman's thrusting The final nail with bony thud, When, over the foul flooding river, Upon the wet grey height, I toss Before my land's grim looks, and shiver As I swing here upon the cross, Then, through the blood and weeping, stretches My dying sight to space remote; I see upon the river's reaches Christ sailing to me in a boat.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet juxtaposes bleak, decaying nature with a vision of Christ, suggesting hope amid suffering and the possibility of redemption through faith.
In simple terms: Darkness meets hope in a spiritual vision.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning beyond hardship.
Themes
suffering
faith
redemption
nature
hope
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal grief
- spiritual crisis
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
Christian symbolism
existential reflection
apocalyptic imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal suffering open space to spiritual insight?
- What symbols convey hope in darkness?
A Different Perspective
The imagery may be too obscure for some readers.