Wales Broadcast Archive

This two-way screen’s
Not like any you’ve seen.
It unlocks to the sounds
Of Wales, sends back round
Our image crisper, supersized,
Lights up our eyes.

Welcome to our servers,
Caches that conserve us
Corralled on the longest waves,
Histories saved
On a nation’s hard drive,
The people’s archive.

In our Parthenon,
Put your earphones on,
Watch as Dai reels,
Play old football fields.
In silent disco land,
It’s all on demand.

A concert at ease
With counter-melodies,
Come join our live feed
On the world’s frequency,
Silicon valleys,
Language rallies.

This new tech
Became Welsh in a sec,
We just had the knack,
Now play it back,
Begin in the beginning,
Set tape ribbons spinning.

This digital feast,
Watch it increase
On a running loop,
History regroups
And presses again on play,
Adds to it today.
​
On this digital stage,
Bear witness to our age,
And celebrate a nation’s
Representation.
Come all, researchers and passers-by,
Light up your eyes.

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A commissioned poem to celebrate the launch of the Wales Broadcast Archive at the National Library of Wales, the first of its kind in Britain.

The corresponding poem in Welsh was read by the actress Annes Elwy in the official launch of the Archive at the National Library on Thursday 17 March 2023.

Picture: NLW

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Cerdd i ddathlu lansio Archif Ddarlledu Cymru yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol. Mae'r gerdd Gymraeg gyfatebol ar gael fan hyn.