Llyfnant
Under the yellow-green of sunlit beech
between banks of bluebells' hazy blue
where supple crosiers of new fern reach
over verdant moss still damp with dew
a grassy lane runs beside the river
In the mystic quiet of a leafy dome
of grey bark ash, beech and mighty oak
a far cuckoo calls the dryads home
but we pass unseen by woodland folk
'til tylwyth teg wake to the blackbird call
There are old bridges, old paths, old ways lost
among ancient trees and mossy stones;
a roadside cave hints at brigands crossed -
or cŵn annwn spiriting the bones
of the dead to the darkling depths below
Between the trees slim waterfalls cascade
over slate and wet-black rock: small things
of fast twisting, splashing, shining braid
sent from hidden tarn or bubbling springs;
and walls of moss cool drip to join the flow
In deep river pools great trout lie quiet
in still waters 'neath the surface flow
which leaves the pond in tumbling riot:
through channels carved many years ago
when the gwragedd annwn swam through their realm
Chris Armstrong
Thu 7th Jun 2018 09:01
Thanks, Desmond - that's interesting... I began to feel that the folklore and/or the Welsh language was a bit contrived or forced. Thanks for your comments.