GODODDIN

"Am drynni drylaw drylen"

Men called him an eagle, Gwyddien
Hair fell from his head
The land he fought for was fair
But ravaged: Merlin sang for him.

Women called after him, Bradwen
He faced death like a man
Who would hold a wolf-mane weaponless
Bitten by that sad battle -
an end of boldness.


II

BRAN

"dyuot tri aderyn, a dechreu canu udunt ryw gerd"

Seven years they feasted on birdsong
At at the end of the seventh
Took the head to Gwales.

Sweet voices of Rhiannon
In chants of forgetfulness
For eighty years of the world's time.

Heilyn opened the door
To end the song;
He had no choice
But to choose sorrow.

The raven croak
Brought back the black
Head to them.
They took it to the White Hill
The world moved on.



III

LLYWELYN

"Nyt oes le y kyrcher rac carchar braw"


To quench the fire of the dragon,
Cut off his head
But do not bury it
For the grave is a refuge from fear,
A place of resurrection

His head is stuck with an iron pole
The searing pain of it runs through my soul

His people must weep to be broken.

We took his head
To rot in the sun
But didn't cut out
The phoenix tongue

The bird flew
From the embers to teach
His scattered people
With fiery speech.

In hovels the hearth flame flickered
To nurture the soul of a nation.



IV

DAFYDD

"Annhebyg i'r mis dig du
A gerydd i bawb garu"

It is May and the speckled thrush
Chatters in the greening bush.

Castle walls stand against the sun.

In the wood the filtered light gleams
On brindled shade and it all seems
Such a hush as I await the welcome rustle
Of a gown against the leaves foretelling love's bustle

The thrush's silver song
Trills on
And even the crow
Brings no memory
Of black winter.

Castle men penetrate
Their conquered land

My love finds no rebuke.


V

OWAIN

"Na gwall, na newyn, na gwarth
Na syched fyth yn Sycharth"

Gold gleams in his gift hand
Rich morsels for retainers
Bright mead for a bard
Each to his rightful portion
No court is nearer heaven!

Already
It has come to this:
Uncommon castle men
Of our race
Requiring praise.

A prince of mist
And castles in the air

They blew each one away

Made a cage
Of his mountains
For a bird
That had flown.

"No-one knows
Where he lays his head”.