A bilingual collection of poetry celebrating the A470 road winding through Wales became an unexpected bestseller.
Encouraged by this success, a niche publisher is now launching a new bilingual anthology, this time highlighting the diverse rivers that flow across Wales.
Afonydd (Rivers) is a tribute to the rivers of Wales, ranging from majestic to modest, from scenic to spoiled. The anthology includes well-known rivers like the Severn, as well as lesser-known streams such as the Adda in North Wales, which has been largely redirected into culverts by human activity.
Cherry Potts, director of Arachne Press, explained that the enthusiasm and positive reception of A470: Poems for the Road/Cerddi’r Ffordd during their tour in Wales inspired the team to pursue another project centered around Welsh themes.
“Rivers quickly emerged as the next subject,” Potts noted. “We sought poems that spoke specifically about individual rivers, avoiding generic depictions, and we also wanted to address the environmental threats facing our waterways.”
“What makes both books powerful is their focus on personal experiences tied to recognizable places. While Afonydd may not serve as a navigational tool like A470, visiting each river through the poems was a profound experience,” she added.
The call for submissions drew about 400 poems, from which 50 were selected. Of these, 18 were originally written in Welsh and 32 in English. Poems received in one language were translated into the other, with each poem presented next to its translation, starting with the original language.
Ness Owen, the editor and translator, remarked, “The range of submissions mirrored the variety of the rivers they depicted—from deeply personal to political, from humorous to mythical.”
Poet and lavender farmer Rae Howells contributed a piece about Pennard Pill, a river flowing into Three Cliffs Bay in South Wales.
Howells, who typically writes in English before translating to Welsh, found the process challenging yet rewarding. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to engage with my Welsh heritage creatively,” she said.
She noted some translation difficulties, such as finding an equivalent for “some nights” in Welsh, which lacks a direct translation that fits the intended meaning. “Compromises are sometimes necessary in translation,” Howells explained.
Howells believes that the rivers of Wales are perfect metaphors for the country’s narrative. “Rivers, like the central road, symbolize the essence of Wales—connections, people, politics, resource management, and the preservation of history and legends,” she stated.
“It’s quite innovative for a publisher to give equal importance to both English and Welsh in a single volume, a practice not commonly seen in Welsh or even UK publishing, where Wales often seems sidelined,” Howells added.
The book is set for release on May 29 but is currently available for pre-order from Arachne Press. Bookshops will have the opportunity to order or take pre-orders starting next week.
Similar Posts:
- Unveiling the Magic: “The Song of Arachnid” by Gillian Allnutt – Poem of the Week
- Explosive Drama Unleashed: “The Red Rogue of Bala” Stuns at Theatr Clwyd Mold
- North Carolina Rivers’ Cleanup: Helene’s Fury Leaves Endless Damage!
- Climate Crisis Hits Alaska’s Arctic: New Mining Road Threatens to Tip the Balance!
- Alaska’s Ambler Access Road: Key Insights from AP’s Impact Report!
Fatima Clarke is a seasoned health reporter who bridges medical science with human stories. She writes with compassion, precision, and a drive to inform.
