I would like to indicate a moment’s great respect for another fine Welsh poet, who died yesterday – RS Thomas. He too, like Dylan Thomas, had a mellifluous command of English with a distinctive Welsh voice – though not with Dylan’s humorous ear. His sad and mournful tone had “images like slate - hard and sharp; his style spare, unflinching, honest.”

A tiny sample for anyone who doesn’t know his work:

"I must go down with the poor
Purse of my body and buy courage,
Paying for it with the coins of my breath."

Brief biog can be seen here:

http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/5/0,5716,74055+1+72173,00.html?kw=r s thomas

And Jackie, he also learnt his native Welsh later in his life, so if you want to see the full spendour of his language on the site put up by Gomer Press (Gwasg Gomer in Welsh), who are local publishers:

http://www.gomer.co.uk/cymraeg/llyfrsaes/cymruorw.htm

For our German friends (or run the translator):
http://www.berlinonline.de/kultur/lesen/belle/.html/belle.199914.03.html

I came across this interesting quote on the address which follows:
"I once asked a Welsh Poet...."Why Poetry for Wales?" The answer...
'That Empires have their buildings and their wealth, but small countries have what comes forth from the heart.... its’ words, its’ language, its’ poetry' I agree that a nation without a language is a nation without a soul!"

http://www.celticpandc.com/r.s.thomas_&_welsh.poets.html


Thomas was a unique voice, and he’ll be missed.

As I have written in the "German" thread, I join you, sadly, in your remembrance of this fine man.

I am not Welsh - although I suspect that there are welsh genes in me - but this poet reaches the hearts of everyone who has such an organ. He will, indeed, be missed but the Lord be praised that he has left us such a fine legacy.

maverick,

Thank you for introducing me to this fine man. I went to one of the links, and found some of Thomas' poems.
Very--gosh I hate to use a cliche, but it fits--picturesque.

E.g., "his back comes straight
Like an old tree lightened of the snow's weight?".
What a wonderful allusion!

Will keep him in mind on my next trip to the library. Just now I am waiting for my four requested ones on Rupert Brooke to come in. I am in love with that man!

I've had a few messages interested in RS Thomas, so thought you might enjoy another taste: this is from his Collected Poems 1946-1968

Song for Gwdion

When I was a child and the soft flesh was forming
Quietly as snow on the bare boughs of bone,
My father brought me trout from the green river
From whose chill lips the water song had flown.

Dull grew their eyes, the beautiful, blithe garland
Of stipples faded, as light shocked the brain;
They were the first sweet sacrifice I tasted,
A young god, ignorant of the blood’s stain.



Bloodaxe Books 1986
ISBN 0 906427 96 7

Re: Song for Gwdion

Entirely too realistic for my taste.

my taste

Sorry - can't find the one about bicycling down a mountainside

Realistic? yes, on one level, but the imagery is as deep as the pool that yielded up the trout.
A wonderful piece, Mav - thanks again.