The end of 2017 saw the renevation of Level D in Hugh Owen Library at Aberystwyth University. The new entrance and ground floor were formally opened at the beginning of January, and I was asked to write two short poems, one in Welsh and another in English, to mark the occasion. I took the opportunity to read up on the man who gave his name to the building, Hugh Owen himself (1804–81), and I realised maybe for the first time how much work, sacrifice and effort he made to provide education in Wales, for the people of Wales, something we often take for granted today. The renovation – and I hope Hugh would agree – complete with a massive photo of the library at the Old College draped over the far wall, makes it easier than ever before for us all to access education and knowledge.
Would Hugh have liked it? I guess he would Have frowned at the fabric honeycomb, The vending machines, Collections in chrome; But then he'd have seen in the sepia wood His own reflection, and felt at home.
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This poem was read at an evening to celebrate the successes of five former students of Aberystwyth University at the National Eisteddfod of Wales on Anglesey in August. The poem, written by myself, Hywel Griffiths and Iwan Rhys, congratulates our fellow-clerwr, Osian Rhys Jones, on winning the Chair.
Dros yr haf eleni fe ges i ac Aneirin Karadog ein dewis i fod yn ddim llai na llysgenhadon barddol i gymdeithas adeiladu Nationwide! Neu dyna o leiaf un ffordd o ddisgrifio'r ffaith inni dderbyn cais gan Nationwide i lunio cerdd ar y testun 'cyfeillgarwch', ac i ddarllen y gerdd honno i gamera wedyn ganol Hydref yn siop bysgod a sglodion Beale's ym Mhorthcawl. Er gwaetha'r ffaith ein bod ni'n dau'n cwrdd o leiaf unwaith bob mis bellach er mwyn recordio podlediad Clera, dwi a Nei wedi dod yn ffrindiau da, ac roedd y cyfansoddi a'r ffilmio – gyda diolch i'r criw i gyd – yn brofiad arbennig! Mae'r hysbyseb yn rhan o ymgyrch ehangach gan Nationwide sy'n rhoi llwyfan i feirdd ac i farddoniaeth. Darlledwyd yr hysbyseb isod – yn Gymraeg – ar hyd a lled Prydain am y tro cyntaf ar 31 Hydref. Mae'r gerdd ar gael i'w darllen isod hefyd, ynghyd â chyfieithiad Saesneg. Over the summer, Aneirin Karadog and I were chosen to be what can only be described as two of Nationwide's poetic ambassadors. We were at least asked to write a poem on the theme of 'friendship', and then to read the poem to camera one morning in Beale's fish and chip restaurant in Porthcawl. Nei and I have become good friends over the last year – both because and despite meeting up at least once every month to record the Clera podcast – and the writing and filming process (with a special thanks to the crew) was a great experience.
The advert is part of a wider campaign by Nationwide that puts poets and poetry centre stage. Our advert was broadcast for the first time in Welsh across Britain on 31 October. The original poem is also included above, along with an English translation. A bod yn deg, dyw'r cerddi hyn ddim yn rhyw newydd iawn! Cerddi ydyn nhw a gyfansoddwyd yn ôl yn 2014 pan o'n i'n Fardd Pensaernïaeth Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Sir Gâr. Roedd gofyn imi ymweld â'r chwe adeilad newydd a oedd ar restr fer y Fedal Aur am Bensaernïaeth, a llunio cerdd yn ymateb i bob un yn ei dro – bu'n brofiad gwych. Tan yn ddiweddar, dim ond dwy o'r cerddi hynny a oedd ar gael i'w darllen yma, ond mae pob un o'r chwech bellach wedi eu llwytho ar y wefan. Daeth yr Eisteddfod ym Môn eleni â'r cerddi i'r cof unwaith eto – Elan Grug Muse oedd y bardd preswyl y tro hwn, ac mae ei cherddi hyfryd hi ar gael i'w darllen ar wefan Y Stamp. Dyma fy chwe cherdd i, a dwy gerdd arall yn Saesneg – clicia arnyn nhw i'w darllen: ⚬ Stormy Castle, Bro Gŵyr (mae fersiwn Saesneg ar gael hefyd) ⚬ Old Farm Mews, Dinas Powys ⚬ Ffwrnes, Llanelli ⚬ New Barn, Felindre ⚬ Melin Talgarth (mae fersiwn Saesneg ar gael hefyd) ⚬ Capel Galilea, Llanilltud Fawr All six poems written as part of a commission for the National Eisteddfod in Carmarthenshire 2014 are now online – just click on the links:
⚬ Stormy Castle, Bro Gŵyr ⚬ Old Farm Mews, Dinas Powys ⚬ Ffwrnes, Llanelli ⚬ New Barn, Felindre ⚬ Melin Talgarth ⚬ Capel Galilea, Llanilltud Fawr There are also English versions of two of these poems: ⚬ Talgarth Mill ⚬ Stormy Castle
Canrif yn Cofio (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch), edited by the National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn, is one of a number of recent publications that commemorate the First World War at the centenary of the death of the poet Elis Evans, or Hedd Wyn, on the fields of Flanders. Ifor's introduction places commemorative poems both past and present in their context alongside new poems by 17 poets, including a poem by me that explores the legacy and glorification of war.
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