Here is the latest of my Welsh language poems about the River Dee (English version below). Many thanks to my brother-in-law, Brian Bishop, for permission to use his stunning image as my cover photo.
Y FFIN AFLONYDD
Goruwch Llanuwchllyn
Yng ngwyllt Eryri,
Mae Afon Dyfrdwy’n codi –
Yn torri’n rhydd
O dywyllwch y ddaear
I olau disglair y dydd,
Yn newydd-anedig
Ond yn hŷn
Na chof y byd ei hun.
Rhed ei dyfroedd
Drwy’r wlad fel gwaed,
Yn gryf a phur,
Dod â bywyd i’r tir,
Byth yn llonydd,
Bob amser yn symud
Ymlaen, aflonydd
Am y môr agored,
A galw’r gwylanod.
THE RESTLESS BORDER
Above Llanuwchllyn
In the wilds of Snowdonia,
The River Dee rises –
Breaking free
From the darkness of the earth
To the bright light of day,
New-born, yet beyond
The memory of the world.
Her waters run strong and pure
Through the country like blood,
Bringing life to the land,
Never still,
Moving forwards always,
Restless for the open sea,
And the wild call of gulls.
Wow, super! Are you just learning Welsh, or did you always write in it? Sorry I didn’t realise, well done! I never got that far in Welsh
Hi Jan, thanks for your kind words.
I’ve only started writing in Welsh relatively recently, but love working with the language. I’ve been studying Welsh at night school for the past four years, initially in Denbigh but via Zoom since the pandemic.