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 … Continue reading Asymptomatic
Category: Celtic Verse
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...
Colours Change
The seasons turned, summer passed The cricket games came and went As colours change the trees blast...
From Time Gone By
In old tales of Wales, we see Bards through the Mabinogi Myth and magic come to be...
The Dream of Macsen Wledig
In his dreams, she came, a lovely maiden Fading fast as he awoke And so to his men he spoke..
Echo in a Hollow
From the realms of death, he came With tales to tell and exclaim So poets echo his name...
It Started with a Kiss 2020
Poet’s Note: A rewrite of my 2008 poem was suggested by an Irishman to a Welshman – so combining Irish and Welsh forms here – let the fun begin
Cewri
Idris king of mountains high His chair reaching to the sky...
Ceffyl Dŵr
Old legends of a water horse From beneath Welsh waterfalls, of course Rarely seen and fades in the mist...
Bendith y Mamau
She is speaking, our Great Mother Not blessings or love to smother Her other messages unheard...
Bwbach
By the fireside, there sits he A friendly soul come by thee There he sits darning a sock...
Tylwyth Teg
The fairest fae Or so they say Longs for a child...
Afanc and the Fool
A mysterious creature Said to lure the fools to swim The pretty pool at Conwy
Bran
The king stands tall To save his child A maiden mild
Pwyll and Rhiannon
Old Celtic tales echo o’er vales Pwyll, prince of Wales called for one year
Raven’s Wings
Form: Hir a Thoddaid The snow falls softly on this winter night As the magical dreams begin their flight In the darkness the world of inner sight
Restoration
Form: Gwawdodyn hir Like tears it comes to ease guilt and pain And wash away the last teary stain So exhausted I can sleep again
October Chill
Form: Gwawdodyn To walk along the forest path now Amid the vibrance of every bow
A King’s Love
Form: Cyrch a chwta I won’t be back home tonight I’m bidding farewell to light Of summer days that shined bright
Summer Stillness
Form: Cyhydedd Naw Ban It is in the stillness of the noon Without wind there sings a gentle rune The god of the Sun calling his moon
A Night in July
Form: Cyhydedd Hir On an evening breeze that brings us its ease to summer’s hot frieze So ends the day
Rapture in Twilight
Form: Cyhydedd fer They called you Ra so long ago Reborn each day in cosmic glow
A Summer Ball
Form: Clogyrnach As springtime meets the summer breeze And seasons turn with gentle ease
The Challenge of April
Form: Byr a thoddaid The challenge a poem per day Each year NaPoMo comes to stay
Triad to Spring
As life returns I think of these things Three in number and my heart sings At the first bloom of a golden daffodil Now the seasons turn at the universe’s will And the balance of dark and light ‘Tis equinox; there be magic tonight © JG Farmer 2018 Form: Triad
The Bourgeois Touch
Celebrating joys of romance A touch bourgeois And the poet writes in freelance Ah nah aha The laughter that they share after A touch bourgeois The dreams of love found in laughter Ah nah aha © JG Farmer 2018 Form: Sneadhbhairdne
Anrheg Natur
Truth in the beauty of nature Nurtured amid the wild growth Naked anarchy day and night Nature’s gift, a Mother’s oath © JG Farmer 2018 Form: Seadna
Alban Elfed
Welcome winds of autumn Take me home to harvest Blessed wings of bounty Cross-county flies carvist So, the sun is setting Searing skies brought afire Sire of gods and gentry In plenty praise inspire © JG Farmer 2018 Form: Rionnaird tri-nard
Gŵyl Awst
Days are waning, and nights draw in Harvest fields dry, reaping begins Autumn days enchanting time Barley and corn from summer haze © JG Farmer 2017 Form: Rannaicheacht Mhor
Alban Hefin
Summer heat Solstice day and merry meet And the Sun God rises high To lie amid the blossom Lover’s act United by sacred pact Fertile fruits that bring us mirth As Mother Earth shares her love © JG Farmer 2018 Form: Rannaicheacht Ghairid
Calan Mai
Summer fires with ladies dancing She’s chancing while playing He’s laying wait for romancing For his glance, she’s staying © JG Farmer 2017 Form: Rannaicheacht Bheag
Dychwelyd y Gwanwyn
The winter’s reign is receding Just remnants in spring’s succession Seasons turning and mischief misleading The merriment in perennial progression Pastel blushes as trees are blossoming Behold the beauty, sweet and sensual Senses echo with passions promising Spiritual pairing within a Pagan’s Pentacle © JG Farmer 2017 Form: Droighneach
Triad to Love
Three things I give to show thee love Declared to thee by moon above: The first gift is my heart unbound The second my pride laid on the ground So the third, my humility can be found; All these things I give thee in love ©JG Farmer 2013 Form: Triad
Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau
Ancient circle cast to call The spring song from winter’s shawl Vibrant visions in my view Subtle hues of Brigid’s brew The cold clings on as life grows Beneath solid ground and snows And winter wanes to spring’s breeze While budding trees thin the freeze ©JG Farmer Form: Deibhidhe
Nadolig
As the winter skies darken And black storms howl the arcane Heed red clouds and harken The Sun King greets us again Dark nights intimidating A world of change awaiting Turn of seasons predating Winter’s winds breath abaiting On Solstice night he’s reborn Decked in green and holly thorn The festive colours adorn Fireside merriment … Continue reading Nadolig
Tachwedd
Summer’s End turns November And autumn turns to winter While the sprits remember As in the fires logs splinter The veil no more intervenes Between the dead and living And the circle reconvenes Then and now in thanksgiving In dance and song celebrate Beginning the year anew Divining runes calculate And to days past bid … Continue reading Tachwedd
Solstice Dawn
Every bud has borne a flow’r Beneath the Sun God’s rays of pow’r. The Summer days that lay ahead In love and warmth we all are fed. Those longer days we’re blessed with strength As fruits ripen within their length In wisdom and might all things grow To reach the sky and deep below All … Continue reading Solstice Dawn