Wales Poetry

The Holly Grove
Sweet holly grove, that soarest A woodland fort, an armed ...

The Lord Of Clas
The Lord of Clas to his hunting is gone, Over plain and...

The Fairy's Song
"Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairy!"--SHAKSPEARE. ...

The Deluge
* * * * * Whether to the east or west You go, wondr...

The Legend Of Trwst Llywelyn
Once upon a time, Llywelyn was returning from a great battl...

The Circling Of The Mead Horns
Fill the blue horn, the blue buffalo horn: Natural is mead...

The Shipwreck
a Welsh Congregationalist Minister, and an eminent poet....

Gwilym Glyn And Ruth Of Dyffryn
In the depth of yonder valley, Where the fields are bright...

The Faithful Maiden
At the dawning of day on a morning in May, When the bi...

The Cuckoo's Tale
Hail, bird of sweet melody, heav'n is thy home; With the...

Woman
Gentle Woman! thou most perfect Work of the Divine Arc...

Dafydd Ap Gwilym's Invocation To The Summer To Visit Glamorganshire,
Where he spent many happy years at the hospitable mansion o...

Tribanau
Serjeant Parry, the eminent barrister) says: "The followin...

The Death Of Owain
Lo! the youth, in mind a man, Daring in the battle's v...

The Grove Of Broom
The girl of nobler loveliness Than countess decked in go...

The World And The Sea: A Comparison
Like the world and its dread changes Is the ocean when it ...

The Ewe
So artless art thou, gentle ewe! Thy aspect kindles...

Llywarch Hen's Lament On Cynddylan
Taliesin in the sixth century. He was engaged at the batt...

Walter Sele
O'er Walter's bed no foot shall tread, Nor step unhallo...

The Praise And Commendation Of A Good Woman
As a wise child excells the sceptr'd fool Who of conceit a...

The Castles Of Wales

Category: The Patriotic.

Ye fortresses grey and gigantic
I see on the hills of my land,
To my mind ye appear terrific,
When I muse on your ruins so grand;
Your walls were a shelter the strongest
From the enemies' countless array,
When they spilt with the blood of the bravest,
Your sides in our ancestors' day.

Around you the war-horse was neighing,
And pranced his rich trappings to feel,
While through you were frightfully gleaming
Bright lances and spears of steel;
The fruits of the rich-laden harvest,
Were ruthlessly trod by the foe,
And the thunder of battle was loudest,
To herald its message of woe.

While viewing your dilapidation,
My memory kindles with joy,
To think that the foes of our nation,
No longer these valleys destroy;
By sowing his fields in the winter,
In hope of a rich harvest-home,
The husbandman now feels no terror
Of war with its havoc to come.

When I look at the sheep as they shelter
In safety beneath your rude walls,
Where erst the dread agents of slaughter
Fell'd thousands, nor heeded their calls;
The hillock where crossed the sharp spears
Now shadows the ewe and its lamb,
While seeing the peace of these years,
My heart is with gratitude warm.

Ye towers that saw the wild ravens,
And the eagles with hunger impell'd,
Exultingly gorge 'mid your ruins.
On corpses of men which they held;
How sweet for you now 'tis to hear
The shepherd, so peaceful and meek,
Tune his reed with a melody clear,
While his flock in you shelter do seek.

Upon your battlements sitting,
To view the bright landscape below,
My heart becomes sad when remembering
That silent in death is the foe,
And the friends who bravely did combat,
And raised your grey towers so steep,
Declaring their life-blood should stagnate,
Ere ever in chains they would weep.

When I think of their purpose so pure,
The tear must fast trickle from me,
Their hearts did Providence allure
To their country, and her did they free;
We now live beneath a meek power,
And feel the full blessings of peace,
While on us abundantly shower,
The mercies of Heaven with increase.





Next: The Eisteddfod,
Previous: Farewell To Wales

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