Gwae fi fy myw mewn oes mor ddreng,
A Duw ar drai ar orwel pell;
O’i ôl mae dyn, yn deyrn a gwreng,
Yn codi ei awdurdod hell.

Pan deimlodd fyned ymaith Dduw
Cyfododd gledd i ladd ei frawd;
Mae sŵn yr ymladd ar ein clyw,
A’i gysgod ar fythynnod tlawd.

Mae’r hen delynau genid gynt,
Ynghrog ar gangau’r helyg draw,
A gwaedd y bechgyn lond y gwynt,
A’u gwaed yn gymysg efo’r glaw

Annie

I do not speak a word of Welsh

Which is shameful

As Wales is a beautiful country

I am here on The Leas in Folkestone

Which has extensive views

Across the channel

Wilfred Owen once stayed in the hotel behind me

As he was an officer

Before he crossed the sea

To find his own death

Whenever I am here I always think of him

But I also consider Hedd Wyn’s famous poem

Which I have read in translation

We still have not learnt the lessons of history

Even after all these years


Joe x