| I 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”. |
Gwales is the island where the head of Bran is taken after the return from Ireland at the end of the Second Branch of Y Mabonogi: ‘Branwen Ferch Llŷr’, and where those who return spend eighty years of repose while time stands still.
Quotations at the head of each section from the following early or medieval Welsh texts : I The Gododdin ; II Y Mabinogi (Second Branch);
III The Elegy of Gruffudd ap yr Ynad Coch following the death and beheading of Lywelyn; IV Dafydd ap Gwilym; V Iolo Goch .