Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

My choice, a slim, fair, bright girl,
tall, lovely in her heather coloured gown;
my choice learning, to look at womanliness
which quietly utters a seemly thought.
My choice is to share with and be with a girl,
privately, with secrets and gifts.
My choice is you, colour of the foam,
your wealth your wisdom, and your fine Welsh ...

I love today what the English hate, the land of the North,
and the varied growth that borders the river Lliw.
I love those who gave me my fill of mead
where the seas reach in long contention.
I love its household and its strong buildings,
and at its lord's wish to go to war.
I love its coast and its mountains,
its castle near the woods and its fine lands,
its water meadows and its valleys,
its white gulls and its lovely women.
I love its soldiers, its trained stallions,
its woods, its brave men and its homes.
I love its fields under the little clover
where I found a place of triumphant joy ...
I love the coastland of Meirionnydd
where a white arm was my pillow.
I love the nightingale in the wild privet
where two waters meet in the valley of worship ...

Great violence has involved me in payment,
             and there's no escape from longing
        for pretty Nest, like apple blossom,
        for the golden pear tree, the heart of my sin.

For the virgin Enerys there's no end to my pain, 
             she clings to her chastity;
        for Hunydd there's matter till Doomsday, 
        and for Hawis my chosen ritual.

I had a girl, o deep day;
I had two, their praise be the greater;
I had three and four and fortune;
I had five, splendid in their white flesh;
I had six without concealing sin;
Gwenglaer of the White Tower brought me strife;
I had seven and a grievous time of it;
I had eight, paying part of my praise to Canterbury. 
        Teeth serve to keep the tongue quiet.

(Translated from the Welsh)

NOTE : This warrior poet was the son of Owain Gwynedd, the redoubtable prince of North Wales. He lived and wrote during the second half of the twelfth century. He was one of the first poets to write of the love of women and the beauty of the Welsh countryside.