An integral part of any Eisteddfod is the Chairing of the Bard, the ceremony in which the winning poets are chaired for composing a poem.
In response to the Junior Bard topic of ‘Wild Wales’ we received an array of superb poems from Years 7 to 9 depicting wild landscapes, sheep, and the most beautiful areas of Wales, as well as individual takes on the theme such as rugby, mining, dragons and myths. Congratulations to Mali for her winning poem.
This year saw a number of poets submitting multiple entries for the Senior Bard – clearly the rivalry among the houses peaks for our Year 13s! We enjoyed poems which explored conflicts, the environment, and perspectives that affect us both internally and externally in our everyday lives. Thought provoking works indeed. There was an exceptionally high standard of expression, with imagery that was precise, surprising and evocative. A number of poets made good use of form, for example navigating the rules of writing sonnets, as seen in the winning poem written by Will M-R.
Wild Wales by Mali J 7H
Wild Wales is waking up
From the slumber of Her winter sleep.
The daffodils poke their curious noses
Through the sodden clay,
That covers Last Year’s grave,
Where yesterday was laid to rest.
The rousing breeze stirs the dormant Country
From her frozen bed.
The blinking snowdrops open their bleary eyes
To view the victorious dawning of Spring’s triumph over
The darkness of winter’s gloom.
The birds busy themselves as they prepare for a new clutch
The hungry hedgehog, withered by her long sleep,
Burrows for unlucky worms
And the dormice, and the field mice, and voles, and shrews,
Get ready for a new season of, once again,
Running the gauntlet, thrown down by next door’s conniving cat
Spring awakens, and with her,
Hope Reigns Eternal
Faith in Language by Will M-R
I am not one who would dare to believe
In the collective fantasies of man,
My faith could not withstand an evening breeze
For in the leaves I see no maker’s hand.
But why should we not dare to dance alone,
With no one staring down on us to judge.
Unfettered by such judgement we may love
Set free of all restrictions, save our home.
I sat alone a month in deafened silence
And when I heard again, the sound seemed strange
English was not the language of my race
Its bars could not unlock my waking cage
Dim ond iaith fy nghartref all wneud hynny.
I’r Gymraeg, mae ‘nghalon wedi ei chlymu.