Abergele
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
GWELL CREFFT NA GOLUD
Afon i annwfn: Y Gele
Gwaew yn clwyfo'r tirlun o oleu oleu
O Gastell Gwrych y gwele
oed amliw gelau oed imi gelor
Derwen a dyf rhwng dau lyn
Yn cysgodi awyr a glyn
Oni ddywedaf i gelwydd
O flodau Lleu y mae hyn
BETTER CRAFT THAN RICHES
River to underworld: The Gele
Spear pierce the land of light light
From Gwrych Castle one sees
the age of multicolour light on a bier
An oak tree grows between two lakes
sheltering sky and valley
Unless I tell a lie
From Lleu's flowers are these
WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?
Learn more about the inspiration behind the piece
Rhys' poetry here takes us into the Mabinogion and the concept of "Annwn", a fairy-like mirror world in which our digital world and poem takes place.
Specifically the story of Lleu, a master craftsman who is transformed into and eagle and struck with a spear. Set looking out over the town and river from Gwrych castle, with etymological themes such as Gele being a dialectal form of gelau meaning spear, describing the river cutting through the land.
The line "From Lleu's flowers are these" is taken from the Mabinogi when the wizard calls out to Lleu who is wounded in bird form, and "oed amliw gelau oed imi gelor" from the bard Cynddelw and 'Better Craft then Riches' encapsulating the ethos of those who of sold their wares throughout the region.
Inside the digital world we see stone totems, in which are carved drawings by young people submitted during our callout encapsulating memories of their hometown.