The Bells of Cantre’r Gwaelod

An update from my precious post  ” A Sunken Kingdom”

THE  BELLS OF CANTRE’R GWAELOD (Translated by Dyfed Lloyd Evans)

This is the poem which children in Wales learn about the Sunken Kingdom of  Cantre’r Gwaelod, swallowed by the sea and drowned forever after. On a quiet night legend has it, one can hear the church bells ringing.

Welsh Girl wearing the traditional costume.

 

POEM

 

Beneath the wave- swept ocean

are pretty towns

That hearkened to the bell-rings

set pealing through the night

Through negligent abandon

by a watcher on the wall

The bells of Cantre’r Gwaelod

submerged beneath the wave

When the sea was surging

with gales upon the wave

The gull, so pale, was failing

to settle on their crest

When waves crashed on the sea-shore

with thunder in its wake

The bells of Cantre’r Gwaelod

are silent near the wave

But when the sea is quiet

with waves that aren’t  foam-flecked

and day is gently slipping

behind the far-hills slope

sweet tones are heard a-rising

and this I know as truth

The bells of Cantre’r Gwaelod

are sounding near the wave

O!  ring out bells of childhood

on oceans salty floor for early strains

of living sound in their song for me

Whilst live the shore, I’ll think of

on many quiet nights and bells of Cantre’r Gwaelod

still ringing near the wave.

Welsh Folk in days gone by. No doubt discussing the tale of The Bells of Cantre’r Gwaelod

 

 

 

 

 

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The Hill of Life

It was while John was helping the family to sort out his mothers belongings as she had recently passed away, he came across this poem. We don’t know who the author was or if  Johns mother or father had written it themselves or copied it from somewhere. If anyone knows the original author I would be most grateful to hear.

HILL  OF  LIFE

You stand at the bottom of the hill and look up

But you simply just can’t see the top.

So now starts the uphill climb

Go steady and you’ll get there in time..

 

Its easy going for a while

And you stride out in style,

Now the path is getting rough

And climbing is starting to get tough.

 

Half way there so you begin to tire,

Take a breath with the view to admire.,

Now the journey to carry on

The path to the top seems so long.

 

Its getting very slippy

So the climbing gets tricky,

Two steps forward one step back

Must find another track

.

Ah its a bit easier now

Soon you’ll be on the brow,

Few more steps and you’ll be there

The scenery with the birds you can share.

 

Right, you have reached the top,

It was worth those bumps, and a little knock

As you look at the lovely view

So serene and peaceful too.

 

Life is like a hill to climb

With some hazards most of the time.

But there are times when your on top.

And those problems are soon forgot.

This was dated 1983 and hand written in pencil .