What if I were to tell you that there’s probably more than these six sides to you? And that each side splits into more pieces. What if our culture only cares about you getting one side right – pick a colour, get it all neatly lined up, only show the world that one aspect of yourself. Specialise until there’s just one flat plane of knowledge stretching out behind you. What if you start to question this? What if you realise…
First batch of poetry pamphlets ‘The Slow-Time Traveller’ are now stitched, signed & numbered. The hardback envelopes should arrive in the next few days (I forgot to order them ??♀️) and then these poems will be winging their way to all you lovely people who ordered the pamphlets (including Patreon subscribers). Huge thanks to everyone who’s ordered or subscribed – it’s what keeps a writer going, and also motivated. Instagram follows & likes are nice but they don’t translate into…
The title of this poem is a Cymraeg idiom ‘bring to light’, ‘Stiniog is short for Blaenau Ffestiniog, a place in north Wales where we used to go mountain biking. Some of my deepest connections with the land have happened after a particularly gnarly day of exercise. There’s something about pushing yourself physically across a landscape that allows the mind to seep into new places. There’s a lot of talk these days about how little value words have, it’s probably…
Dwi’n caru Llyn Tegid. I love Bala Lake. It’s the birthplace of one of my favourite Cymraeg myths that tells the story of the origins of Cymru’s greatest mythic poet, Taliesin. It’s told that a powerful witch, Ceridwen, lived here. In a great cauldron of Awen (inspiration), she made a potion to transform her son into a great shapeshifter, but instead the magic accidentally transferred to a stable boy, Gwion Bach, who was enlisted to stir the potion for a…
The question I’ve been cultivating more these past few years is: why am I doing this? The second part to cultivating a question like this is to be brutally honest when answering – self deceit is a sad state of affairs that serves no one. Q: why have I said yes to this work? A: because it was asked of me. A: because I want to make a difference.A: because I don’t know how to say no.A: because I don’t want to…
This tiny spider has been exploring my workspace all morning and, watching her work, I feel an overwhelming sense of futility & loss. I look around & cannot see any green space to move her to. I remember what is outside & realised it’s more paving slabs, more tarmac, more concrete & steel, and now I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of sadness. I move the spider to a handrail outside in the hope she’ll find her way, but it’s…
EVERYTHING YOU DREAM OF IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR. What are you waiting for? A regret-filled life is nothing to be proud of. Maybe this poem says that in a dark way. Maybe it should be more inspirational & cheery but honestly, there’s nothing cheery about unfulfilled potential. If other people cannot see your vision it doesn’t mean you’re wrong, it’s that they’re not you. Be brave. Whatever it is just start taking small steps towards it every…
A few years ago we were all sat trying to work out what the connection was between certain family members and what their titles would be: great aunt / second cousin / something else twice removed. Isaak (pictures here) thought quietly for a while then piped in, ‘it’s all just family isn’t it.’ Yes. That’s exactly what it is. ❤️ We’re all family ❤️. Rounded off Andy’s extended birthday weekend yesterday (he’s getting worse than the queen) catching up with…
In the morning we drive to Hay-on-Wye farmers market where I snag the very last of the season’s cherries that have ripened to deepest burgundy in the summer sun. We eat savoury muffins of spinach & butternut squash and pizza slices warmed on a hot pan for brunch before beginning the drive west across Cymraeg landscapes whose undulations mirror the slate-grey clouds overhead. On the beach in Borth the hounds run in wild circles, tails whipping like helicopter blades when…