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  • Cerddi | Poems
    • Cerddi 2023 Poems >
      • The Little Things | March 2023
      • Archif Ddarlledu Cymru | Mawrth 2023
      • Wales Broadcast Archive | March 2023
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      • I Gyfarch Erin | Awst 2022
    • Cerddi 2021 Poems >
      • Cywydd croeso | Awst 2021
      • Codwn | Hydref 2021
      • Rise | October 2021
    • Cerddi 2020 Poems >
      • Outside Inside Centre | November 2020
      • Ni 'da chi, bois | Tachwedd 2020
      • Parliament Square | Ionawr 2020
      • Eisteddfod Goll | Awst 2020
    • Cerddi 2019 Poems >
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    • Cerddi 2018 Poems >
      • I Gyfarch Gruffudd Owen | Tachwedd 2018
      • To Iau ar Ben Tŷ Awen | Medi 2018
      • Mewn Hiraeth am Aneirin | Awst 2018
      • Heddlu Dyfed-Powys | Ebrill 2018
      • Two Parched Poets ǀ January 2018
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    • Cerddi 2015 Poems >
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    • Cerddi 2014 Poems >
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      • New Barn, Felindre | Gorffennaf 2015
      • Talgarth Mill | July 2014
      • Melin Talgarth | Gorffennaf 2014
      • Capel Galilea, Llanilltud Fawr | Gorffennaf 2014
    • Cerddi 2012 Poems >
      • Awn Ninnau yn Bananas | Chwefror 2012
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      • A Recipe for Dawn | June 2012
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Outside Inside Centre | November 2020

Outside Inside Centre

We were all blindsided by this.

Hands on head and stilled, mid-stride,
we all stared at the screen.

Back then, before a shrill whistle
put a sudden stop to our ritual gathering
in tiers, where we’d throng in unified purpose
and warm our hands on pure spectacle.

Where a single match of red flame
could ignite an entire nation,
our stadium stands empty,
fire quenched.

Where we would stir the passions
of hymns over a blazing heat,
there sits a heavy lid
on our cauldron of rebirth.

So is it possible, a reimagining now,
after a static summer spent rooted
between halfback and fullback?

To those who’d say
we’re nothing but armchair fans after all,
think again:
we’ve skin in this game.

No, it’s not ours the split lip,
strapped knee and bruised rib,
but at home, all the same,
our sinews strain,
tight as bowstrings, harp strings,
bracing as in a fever dream
against an impact long desired.

The rules say: avoid touch.
But we yearn for the scrum’s
love-spoon knotwork cwtsh.

So let’s raise our roofs,
fill our hearts again with hope,
lift our hands and sing.

As we say in our language,
hawdd cynnau tân ar hen aelwyd –
new fires burn best in old grates,
and ours was always fuelled
by the ancient belief
that no opposition’s insurmountable.

Believe, then,
and let’s warm our hands on a passion
hot as a thousand hearths,
because in every home
there’s room for us all in this line-up,
outside, inside, centre.
​
We’re with you, bois.

To support the Welsh national rugby team in the Autumn Nations Cup, I was commissioned to write two poems by Principality Building Society. Shortened versions of both poems – one in Welsh and another in English – were broadcast on television and radio, voiced by Cerys Matthews and produced by Orchard. With a global pandemic keeping everyone in their homes and out of the stadium in Cardiff, PBS wanted to show the players that we were still behind them, no matter what. And that we also needed them, of course. In a world where simply touching had become something to fear, what better than watching two teams doing their very best to tackle, press and push each other for a while?
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  • Cerddi | Poems
    • Cerddi 2023 Poems >
      • The Little Things | March 2023
      • Archif Ddarlledu Cymru | Mawrth 2023
      • Wales Broadcast Archive | March 2023
    • Cerddi 2022 Poems >
      • I Gyfarch Erin | Awst 2022
    • Cerddi 2021 Poems >
      • Cywydd croeso | Awst 2021
      • Codwn | Hydref 2021
      • Rise | October 2021
    • Cerddi 2020 Poems >
      • Outside Inside Centre | November 2020
      • Ni 'da chi, bois | Tachwedd 2020
      • Parliament Square | Ionawr 2020
      • Eisteddfod Goll | Awst 2020
    • Cerddi 2019 Poems >
      • Carol Rybuddiol i'r Byd | Rhagfyr 2019
      • Arad Goch | Medi 2019
      • Gorsedh Kernow | Medi 2019
    • Cerddi 2018 Poems >
      • I Gyfarch Gruffudd Owen | Tachwedd 2018
      • To Iau ar Ben Tŷ Awen | Medi 2018
      • Mewn Hiraeth am Aneirin | Awst 2018
      • Heddlu Dyfed-Powys | Ebrill 2018
      • Two Parched Poets ǀ January 2018
    • Cerddi 2017 Poems >
      • I Gyfarch Sonia | Awst 2017
      • Y Pethau Bychain | Mawrth 2017
    • Cerddi 2016 Poems >
      • Er Cof am Eifion Gwynne | Tachwedd 2016
      • I Gyfarch Aneirin | Awst 2016
      • Brexit | Awst 2016
      • Serenestial | Awst 2016
      • Cerddi Donostïa, Gwlad y Basg | Gorffennaf 2016
      • Dychan i'r Sied yng Nghwm Du | Ionawr 2016
      • Elan Valley | January 2016
      • Cerddi Bardd y Mis | Ionawr 2016
    • Cerddi 2015 Poems >
      • I Teilo ac Einir | Awst 2015
      • I Gyfarch Hywel | Awst 2015
      • Cariad@Iaith | Mehefin 2015
      • Ger y Lli | Mehefin 2015
    • Cerddi 2014 Poems >
      • YES | Medi 2014
      • Ein Hafon Fach Ni | Medi 2014
      • Ger Taid | Awst 2014
      • Cyfarch Ceri | Awst 2014
      • Yn y Coch | Awst 2014
      • Stormy Castle, Gower | July 2014
      • Stormy Castle, Bro Gŵyr | Gorffennaf 2014
      • Old Farm Mews, Dinas Powys | Gorffennaf 2014
      • Ffwrnes, Llanelli | Gorffennaf 2014
      • New Barn, Felindre | Gorffennaf 2015
      • Talgarth Mill | July 2014
      • Melin Talgarth | Gorffennaf 2014
      • Capel Galilea, Llanilltud Fawr | Gorffennaf 2014
    • Cerddi 2012 Poems >
      • Awn Ninnau yn Bananas | Chwefror 2012
      • Sut i Goginio'r Wawr | Mehefin 2012
      • A Recipe for Dawn | June 2012
    • Cerddi 2011 Poems >
      • Stres mewn Preseb | Rhagfyr 2011
    • Cerddi 2010 Poems >
      • Yn y Coch | Gorffennaf 2010
    • Cerddi 2008 Poems >
      • Tir Newydd | Awst 2008
      • Gruffydd Aled Williams | Gorffennaf 2008
  • Blog
  • Comisiynu | Commission
  • Llyfrau | Books
  • Hanes | Bio