The Adulterer's Tongue An Anthology of Welsh Poetry

by Minhinnick, Robert

• ISBN13: 9781857546446
• ISBN10: 185754644X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-10-01
• Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd.

Summary

Presented here are translations of the works of six of the most able contemporary Welsh-language poets, writing in styles varying from vers libre to the ancient strict metres. These poets include Bobi Jones, Menna Elfyn, Emyr Lewis, Iwan Llwyd, Gwyneth Lewis, and Elin ap Hywel. In an introductory essay, Minhinnick questions whether modern writers working in an imperiled language might consider English translation of their poems as a form of adultery.

Author Biography

Robert Minhinnick is the author of Watching the Fire Eater, winner of the 1993 Welsh Book of the Year; Badlands; Selected Poems; and After the Hurricane. He has received an Eric Gregory Award for his poetry, a John Morgan Award for his prose work, and two Arts Council of Wales Literature Prizes. He is the editor of Poetry Wales.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Introduction	ix
Bobi Jones
Gyrrwr Trên / Engine Driver	2	(2)
Paent Vermeer / Vermeer's Paint	4	(2)
Mynwent Bilbo / Bilbao Churchyard	6	(2)
Cacynen / Wasp	8	(4)
Wyn Mawrth / March Lambs	12	(2)
Tidun heb Het / Landscape without a Hat	14	(2)
Clustiau Beethoven / Beethoven's Ears	16	(6)
Menna Elfyn
Iâ Cymru / Welsh Ice	22	(2)
Mis Mai yn My Lai / May in My Lai	24	(2)
Y Lliaws sy'n Llosgi / The Burning Multitude	26	(2)
Sardinau / Sardines	28	(4)
Rhyw Ddiolchgarwch / Some Kind of Thanks	32	(2)
Pigo / Pins	34	(2)
Botwin i'r Botwin Bol / Belly Button Song	36	(2)
Darfod / Passing On	38	(4)
Emyr Lewis
Taliesin / Taliesin	42	(2)
M4/M4	44	(4)
Yr Aes / The Hayes	48	(2)
Sacs / Sax	50	(2)
o 'Chwyldro' / from 'Revolution'	52	(4)
Llundain,1792 / London, 1792	56	(4)
Iwan Llwyd
Ceir / Automobiles	60	(2)
Far Rockaway / Far Rockaway	62	(2)
o 'Woodstock' / from 'Woodstock'	64	(4)
Harley Davidson / Harley Davidson	68	(4)
'Meet me at the St Francis' / 'Meet me at the St Francis'	72	(2)
Y Corryn / Spider	74	(4)
Gwyneth Lewis
Cyfweliad â'r Bardd / Interview with the Poet	78	(2)
Dechrau'r Anghofio / Beginning to Forget	80	(2)
Bardd yn Pysgota / The Poet Fishing	82	(2)
Defod / Ritual	84	(2)
Ewyllys yr Iaith / The Language's Will and Testament	86	(2)
Yn yr Awyr Agored / In the Open Air	88	(2)
Llawysgrif y Ffarmwr / The Farmer's Evidence	90	(2)
Y Munudau Olaf / The Last Minutes	92	(2)
Rhodd / The Watch	94	(4)
Elin ap Hywel
Diosg / Disarmed	98	(2)
Pwytho I Stitching	100	(2)
Aur / Treasure	102	(4)
Glas / Blue	106	(2)
Yn Nhy fy Mam / In My Mother's House	108	(4)
Cawl / A Song about Soup	112	(2)
Deall Goleuni / Understanding the Light	114	(2)
Defnyddiol / Useful	116	(2)
Duwiesau / Goddesses	118	(2)
Unwaith / History	120	(3)
Index of First Lines	123