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LLENWI - Abergele
LLENWI - Abergele 2

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.

MORE STORIES!

Memories, stories of Abergele gathered from the community: