Cywydd Llosgyrnog Notes

Another Welsh form, the Cywydd Llosgyrnog is a syllabic-based form with internal rhymes. It is a 6-line stanza. Lines 1, 2, 4, and 5 are 8-syllables in length with 1 and 2 sharing an end rhyme and lines 4 and 5 sharing an end rhyme. Lines 3 and 6 have 7-syllable lines and end rhyme …

Cywydd Deuair Hirion Notes

A Welsh poetic form, the Cywydd Deuair Hirion employs couplets of 7-syllable lines. Each couplet has a two-syllable end rhyme with one stressed and one unstressed syllable – the order doesn’t matter. Couplets can be combined to form longer stanzas and poems. Example Avec Toi by Robert Lee Brewer It's all I ever wantedto be …

Cywydd Deuair Fyrion Notes

A Welsh form, the Cywydd Deuair Fyrion is a couplet based stanza form. Each line consists of 4-syllables and the couplet carry an aa rhyme, Multiple couplets can be combined into stanzas or a poem. Example rhyme schemesaa bb cc ddaabbccddaabb cc ddee ffand so on Example Tylwyth Teg by Jez Farmer The fairest faeOr …

Cyrch A Chwta Notes

The Cyrch a Chwta is a Welsh poetic form, and like many of the Welsh forms consists of both end-of-line rhymes and internal rhymes. The Cyrch a Chwta is an octave stanza consisting of 7-syllable lines. Lines 1-6 and line 8 share an end rhyme. Line 7 cross rhymes with either the third, fourth, or …

Cyhydedd Naw Ban Notes

A Welsh form comprised of 9-syllable lines. Each stanza has an even number of lines. Each line in a stanza end rhymes with the other lines within the stanza. Stanza lengths can vary as long as they are an even number of lines An example rhyme scheme: aa bbbbbb cccc dd eeee Example Summer Stillness …

Cŵn Annwn

The hounds come with red ears gleaming Change on the wind their breath steaming...

Elf of the Wand

The wizard with the ring of fire, a ring of power they call Narya...

Adar Llwch Gwin

Into the skies I take my flight On wings of life I reach the height...

Words of a Song

The song says what will be will Be; all things will soon be well In these dreams of love we stand What Fate has planned, who can tell...

Tylwyth Teg

At home within the forest trees Where sunlight cannot reach with ease The fairy folk gather in leafy shadows And therein magic grows...

While We Can

Old friends in conversation About times they both recall...

Casbairdne Notes

The Casbairdne is an Irish quatrain stanza form. It is constructed over four seven-syllable lines with a trisyllabic word or phrase rhyme at the end of lines 2 and 4. Lines 1 and 3 should contain internal cross rhymes or sound echoes. The final syllable of line 4 should alliterate with the preceding stressed syllable. …

Byr a Thoddaid Notes

The Byr a Thoddaid is a Welsh quatrain form. Each quatrain is divided into two combined couplets. One couplet is constructed of 8-syllable lines with an end rhyme. The other couplet is constructed of a 10-syllable line followed by a 6-syllable line. The 6-syllable line ends with a sound echo of a word in the …

On Love’s Wings

Without it, life is a drag a dishrag of existence. Care of you, love, just for me, so that we last the distance...

My Lady, the Owl

On feather wings of an owl As she prowls on the night skies No mortal woman is she My lady of flowers flies...

Penygader

His mountain seat to gaze upon the skies Where many have slept pondering whys To wake as fools or as poets wise...

Awdl Gywydd Notes

A Welsh form, the Awdl Gywydd consists of four-line stanzas, each line containing seven syllables.The last syllable of lines 1 and 3 rhyme with the 3rd-5th syllable of their following lines. The 2nd and 4th lines also rhyme.xxxxxxaxxaxxxbxxxxxxcxxcxxxb Example Afanc and the Fool by Jez Farmer A mysterious creatureSaid to lure the fools to swimThe …

Ae Freislighe Notes

The Ae Freislighe (pronounced ‘ay freshly) is an Irish syllabic quatrain stanza form. Each line is seven syllables with lines one and three ending with a triple rhyme and two and four with a double rhyme. The entire poem should end as it began with a repetition (a dunadh) of the first syllable, word, phrase, …

Seagulls

Seagull cries over Cardigan Bay Remembering all that fateful day A spell cast by Dylan beneath the sea Wave comes fast to steal away...

Journey to Art

They say he was born with it, as colours fit on the boards. The practice of many years, hiding tears, with no rewards...

Annwfn

At table the plates are full And Grandma Jones knows the rule Watching them eat plates still full As around the hook goes wool...

Spark the Flame

Each lesson learned is one small spark that sets the mark of our flame, Now our knowledge we should share, with no care for love or fame...

Shades of Autumn

As autumn brings vibrant shades the sun fades towards year’s end. Trees of green now golden red, their leaves shed and colours blend...

Byr A Thoddaid Notes

The Byr a Thoddaid is a quatrain stanza. Each quatrain is divided into two combined couplets.One couplet consists of two eight-syllable lines with an end rhyme. The other couplet consists of a ten-syllable line followed by a six-syllable line. The ten-syllable line has a rhyme near the end of the line which alliterates, rhymes, consonance …

Twenty One?

Fireworks brighten the night sky, reason why? To honour you. I believe that to be so, my nan’s show, surely it’s true...

Pen and Pain

All night sat alone again Repeats like an old refrain Writer wonders what he’ll gain Ink and ideas are his pain...

Ravaged Ice

In winter’s claws, all is white from frost’s bite and the snow. Set the fire, love, in the hearth, warm the bath, and feel love’s glow...

#Writephoto – Brother Stone

How long has it been In these fields of green So proud to be seen Both then and now...

Kings of Fingers

Ancient title proclaimed in old tales A man to be king of barren vales...

Elphin and the Boy

Fishing lines were bare Heart filled with despair But a child found there So it shall be...

Awdl Gywydd Notes

A Welsh form, the Awdl Gywydd consists of four-line stanzas, each line containing seven syllables.The last syllable of lines 1 and 3 rhyme with the 3rd-5th syllable of their following lines. The 2nd and 4th lines also rhyme. xxxxxxaxxaxxxbxxxxxxcxxcxxxb Example Afanc and the Fool by Jez Farmer A mysterious creatureSaid to lure the fools to …

Ae Freislighe Notes

The Ae Freislighe (pronounced ‘ay freshly) is an Irish syllabic quatrain stanza form. Each line is seven syllables with lines one and three ending with a triple rhyme and two and four with a double rhyme. The entire poem should end as it began with a repetition (a dunadh) of the first syllable, word, phrase, …

Poet’s Desire

My darling, let your voice be soft As you lead my thinking aloft...

Radiant Brow

From the mystic valleys of Wales He came to tell histories tales...

Audition

At first glance They look the same as they dance Swirling and turning tutus Can we choose just one by chance...

Year and a Day

And the seasons turn, fading bloom With vibrant colours amid gloom From spiralling autumn days winter comes To numb the sun’s last rays...

Love in Three

To consider love in three ways Keep it simple is what I says The first is that my heart is given freely...

Old Gods, My Gods

Pagan am I since time began Old gods Pagan I dance the circle in their hand My gods Pagan...

Mischief-maker

Form: Seadna For turning his back on OdinHe earned the fury of ThorBrothers fighting god against godBefore the gods in old lore ©JGFarmer2021

Asymptomatic

Form: cywydd deuair hirion Is it a reason to frownA year spent in a lockdownProtecting family and friendsToo many say it dependsI want to do this and thatCovid is just some old chatSelfish acts then they get fined‘That’s unfair and so unkindBut look I didn’t get sickYet my friends were not so quickThe common factor …

Mari Lwyd

Avoid the drunken oafs at play Who cuss and curse before they pray I see in them no sweet delight...

Solstice Night

Longest night As we dance in new-born light We hail the king of the sun...

Amaethon

Form: Rannaicheacht Bheag Blessed ploughman, the god of fields dressedDivine child of a goddess, blessedOf prodded earth his hands sealed questTo yield harvest gods’ blessed ©JGFarmer2020

Spell casting

I long to cast magic’s spell, know thee well in autumn’s night. A wish just for thee, my heart...

Afallach

Form: Deibhidhe Golden apples gracing treesA son of Avalon seesFalling leaves as fate takes holdAmid autumn’s leaves of gold ©JGFarmer2020

Lady of Flowers

Goddess born of floral bloom Spring beauty on witch’s broom...

Three Roses

Roses, a gift from me heart to show in art I love ye. Each bloom presents part of me...

Dragon’s Breath

Somewhere sings a lover’s song Beneath sheets of velvet dreams Fantasy and love gone wrong...

Howl

Do not fear his cry tonight Hear his song without your fright...

Unison

I hear the sweet gentle voice calling me It is my heart’s rejoice For now, love has made its choice...