Calling all creative people here!

[Craig]

Following what Arth said about his excellent pictures I am wondering how many people here think that the Bardic Chair is only for poetry? And good poetry at that?

Let's make this clear shall we. The Bardic Chair fora is for members of CF to display their creative talents, not just poetry. Short stories, photographs, music, art work and crafts of all types are all welcome.

Unfortunately we just don't have the space for novels and large images or files. But if you want to post a summary and a link that would be great. If you don't have a website then e-mail Blackbird or myself and we'll see what we can do.

Another point - there are many here, and I have been amongst them in the past, who that feel that their poetry is 'not good enough' to share. Well the answer to that is: Poppycock!

One of the puposes of having a fora like this, in a private community such as CF, is to allow people the opportunity to put their work before friends and say - what do you think of this?

So please, if you have written something, even if you feel it is not all that good, post it to The Bardic Chair. How else are you to ever find out if you have that spark, or to gain the encouragement to push yourself further? After all even Kipling, Betjeman, Yeats and Blake began somewhere.

[arth_frown]

I've wrote a couple of short poems in my lifetime I'll start the ball rolling and post them on here.

[Craig]

Excellent! Any more for any more?

[redraven]

I recently put pen to paper, poetically speaking, for the first time since the 70's, I will post shortly. It's basic, I am no poetic bard I'm afraid, but I was a little surprised with the result.
I was also contemplating photography as I used to do a lot in my late teens, Arth has awoken a hibernating interest
RR

[suelittleowl]

I make a mean lemon drizzle cake, will post one later.

[sonofrobinswood]

MMMmmmm yes please Sue.

[arth_frown]

suelittleowl said:

I make a mean lemon drizzle cake, will post one later.

I'm still waiting for mine

[Midori]

It's not easy to put bellydance in here, and old age and fibromyalgia have caught up with me now!

Cheers, midori

[lowri]

suelittleowl said:

I make a mean lemon drizzle cake, will post one later.

Mmmm ..... sounds good

L
x

[Craig]

midori said:

It's not easy to put bellydance in here ....
Cheers, midori

Have you heard of You Tube? If not, a simple picture of your performance would be great!

I assume that this was native Brythonic Belly-dancing, the Dance of the Seven Tartan Blankets perchance?

Seriously though, dance is an oft forgotten bardic art in my book.

[Blackbird]

Well, my CD is currently languishing in unmade state, after many wrangles with the production company and two bodged pressings...

But if anyone wants to hear some of my harp music, there are a few tunes up on my Myspace page

[Craig]

She really is worth a listen folks...

[arth_frown]

craig said:

She really is worth a listen folks...

Well done there Blackbird excellent plucking or whatever you call it.

[Blackbird]

Plinking ;D

[Midori]

The Dance of The Seven Tartan Blankets eh? Maybe I'll give it some thought! practice around the campfire at Beltane's Grey Mare Camp!

Not sure I'd want it on You Tube tho!

Cheers, Midori

[arth_frown]

admin said:

Plinking ;D

I knew it begun with a P, plucking is what you do to chickens. ;D

[Heron]

GWALES

I

GODODDIN"

Am drynni drylaw drylen"

Men called him an eagle, Gwyddien
Hair fell from his head
The land he fought for was fair
But ravaged: Merlin sang for him.

Women called after him, Bradwen
He faced death like a man
Who would hold a wolf-mane weaponless
Bitten by that sad battle -
an end of boldness.


II

BRAN

"dyuot tri aderyn, a dechreu canu udunt ryw gerd"

Seven years they feasted on birdsong
At at the end of the seventh
Took the head to Gwales.

Sweet voices of Rhiannon
In chants of forgetfulness
For eighty years of the world's time.

Heilyn opened the door
To end the song;
He had no choice
But to choose sorrow.

The raven croak
Brought back the black
Head to them.
They took it to the White Hill
The world moved on.



III

LLYWELYN

"Nyt oes le y kyrcher rac carchar braw"


To quench the fire of the dragon,
Cut off his head
But do not bury it
For the grave is a refuge from fear,
A place of resurrection

His head is stuck with an iron pole
The searing pain of it runs through my soul

His people must weep to be broken.

We took his head
To rot in the sun
But didn't cut out
The phoenix tongue

The bird flew
From the embers to teach
His scattered people
With fiery speech.

In hovels the hearth flame flickered
To nurture the soul of a nation.




IV

DAFYDD

"Annhebyg i'r mis dig du
A gerydd i bawb garu"

It is May and the speckled thrush
Chatters in the greening bush.

Castle walls stand against the sun.

In the wood the filtered light gleams
On brindled shade and it all seems
Such a hush as I await the welcome rustle
Of a gown against the leaves foretelling love's bustle

The thrush's silver song
Trills on
And even the crow
Brings no memory
Of black winter.

Castle men penetrate
Their conquered land

My love finds no rebuke.



V

OWAIN

"Na gwall, na newyn, na gwarth
Na syched fyth yn Sycharth"

Gold gleams in his gift hand
Rich morsels for retainers
Bright mead for a bard
Each to his rightful portion
No court is nearer heaven!

Already
It has come to this:
Uncommon castle men
Of our race
Requiring praise.

A prince of mist
And castles in the air

They blew each one away

Made a cage
Of his mountains
For a bird
That had flown.

"No-one knows
If he lives on”.

[Blackbird]

Absolutely stunning! Showing my lack of bardic skill here, as I can't find words to express how fantastic that is...

[Craig]

The word you are looking for BB is... Wow!

Shouldn't we move this to its own thread?