Bannau Brycheiniog**

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 06 Jul 2024
  • 501 reads
13 comments
 

 (1/7/24)

Stark and striking
Pen-y-fan’s double peak* towers up on
the Beacons wall-backdrop behind the Visitors’ Centre.
We walk along the paths mown in the fresh green bracken covering
Mynydd Illtud common, with the views stretching on to the
Black mountains ridge ends and the misty distance.
Skylarks trill intensely above and drop down
into the bracken where presumably they have their hidden nests.
Graceful kites swim around the region’s skies –
we saw some as we travelled here.
Glitter of golden tormentil scattered around.

*really Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du

**Pen-y-fan  – ‘y’ on its own sounds ‘uh’ in Welsh; single ‘f’ sounds as English ‘v’; [double ‘ff’ sounds like English ‘f’]  Illtud.– the ‘u’  there sounds as ‘i’ in  ‘in'; as does also the initial 'I';
Bannau the ‘au’; sounds as ‘aye’; Brycheiniog. the ‘y’ again sounds ‘uh’ , the ‘ein’ sounds  as in ‘aint'.

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Thanks for the Welsh lesson Rhiannon, I didn't think it was so easy. You must try Afrikaans, the "g" especially people find hard there is the rroling "r" too, but the double negative even more, as in French "ne .. pas" except the two words in Afrikaans " nie" for "knee" are the same , "Nie sleg nie" is in English  "Not bad" they have a really hard time with that.

One of the English generals in the Boer war said Afrikaans is a throat disease. Still, very close to Dutch.

Ok! "Thank you much" is translated "buy a donkey" that would mean "baie dankie" People here have good manners and always glad for tourists.

See you! Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I take it that that is a 'tongue-in-cheek' translation! 'Dankie' sounds like the German for 'thanks'! Welsh has a rolling 'r' too, but I can't roll my 'r''s. 'Rh' should be rolled too, but when my husband does it, it puts people off trying to pronounnce my  name. I tell them to treat is as they would an 'r' whether rolled or not. It is often mutated to an 'r' anyway in speech as 'll' is often mutated to 'l'.! Each language seems strange to newecomers!

In Wales they are trying to bring back the Welsh names for places, which is good, but if people find it difficult to know how to pronounce them properly, it is probably better they stick to the English names. eg Brecon Beacons is the English name for Bannau Brycheiniog.

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannnon, I love the Welsh language and could listen to it all day, it has a gentle flow which gives me a smile, I find it very therapeutic too, just like the beautiful places you visit. Suffering with hay fever and getting over being ill has kept me indoors for over a month now, so reading your poem took me along with you.

I love your description:- Black mountains ridge ends and the misty distance: and to notice the sky larks trill intensely above and drop down into the bracken: and the graceful kites swim around the region's skies, must have been a sight to behold.

Lovely captivating words in your poem.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. So glad you could enjoy, Jenny. I didn't realise you'd been so ill. I hope you are convalescing well, and can be venturing out a bit soon. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Turlough on

That's a beautiful part of the world you were in Rhiannon.

Twelve years ago, when I was living in Wiltshire, I went there with our local walking group. We climbed Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan, though it wasn't all climbing. I vaguely remember that after climbing the first of them we did some ridge walking so reaching the other two peaks didn't require quite as much effort.

Your poem brought great memories of that day flooding back to me. Thank you. 

Turlough

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

thank you. Pleased it brought back good memories. My son-in-law has done a lot of trekking, supervising, organising youngsters on Duke of Edinburgh scheme ventures there. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I always like going on one of your walks Rhiannon, even if only with words and pictures. You live in such a beautiful part of the world!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. Glad to share. I'm always so glad to remember that we have been able to have such an outing once  more. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

"Skylarks trill intensely above and drop down
into the bracken where presumably they have their hidden nests."

A highly visual and evocative poem. Always a pleasure to join you virtually in a ramble, Rhiannon. I remember the Black Mountains from a holiday in the past. As others say, such a stunning part of the world.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Paul. I'm glad this little piece brought memories back of the area. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Very beautiful Rhiannon, thankyou so much for sharing. And the photos are gorgeous too, you are great photographer as well!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed! Rhiannon