Old Welsh wisdom crooned from her loving spoon,
amid the scent of laverbread,
myth and magic aroused the dragon's tune,
and sent me smiling to my bed.
Myth and magic aroused the dragon's tune,
o'er the valleys and in my head,
old Welsh wisdom crooned from her loving spoon,
and sent me smiling to my bed.
Old Welsh wisdom crooned from her loving spoon,
daffodils bow to words she said,
myth and magic aroused the dragon's tune,
and sent me smiling to my bed.
Myth and magic aroused the dragon's tune,
upon the harp whose music fed
old Welsh wisdom crooned from her loving spoon,
and sent me smiling to my bed.
Author notes
Lovespoon
A lovespoon is a wooden spoon, often very complex, carved from a single piece of wood by a young man and presented to his sweetheart as a token of his affection. Although the earliest surviving one dates from 1667, the custom was widespread in Wales before that date.
The spoon may be plain or intricately decorated with various symbols - birds, hearts, wheels, balls - each representing good luck, the blessing of children, wealth, health, etc.
The custom of young men carving lovespoons has, perhaps understandably, died out, but they are today a popular souvenir of Wales. Some of the early love spoons can be seen on display at the Welsh Folk Museum in Cardiff.
Laverbread
Laver is an edible seaweed that has a high mineral salt content, particularly iodine and iron. It is used for making laverbread, a traditional Welsh dish.
400g laver
60g butter
60ml orange juice
salt and black pepper
Method:
The best thing is to get fresh laver from the sea shore (though shop-bought will also work). If using fresh soften by plunging in lightly-salted boiling water and cook for about 40 minutes, or until the laver begins to break down. Drain, allow to cool then wring in a tea towel. At this point melt the butter in a pan and when hot add the laver and fry for about 8 minutes. Add the orange juice, season and allow to heat through before serving as an accompaniment to roast lamb.
Daffodil
If the link between the leek and the Welsh is obscure, how about the Daffodil. Possibly the reason why the daffodil is used as an emblem is that the word for daffodil and for leek are the same in Welsh (Cenhinen = Leek, Cenhinen Pedr = Daffodil). This confusion means that both have been adopted as national emblems.
It is said by some that the daffodil is encouraged more by the English government, as it does not have the nationalistic overtones that the leek has, with its association with the defeat of Saxons.
Welsh Harp
The harp is regarded as the national instrument of Wales. The harp has been used through the ages as an accompaniment to folk-singing and dancing and as a solo instrument.
Some manuscript sources provide information about the harp and its music around the medieval period in Wales. By the end of the 18th century, the triple harp - so called because it had three rows of strings - was widely known as the Welsh harp because of its popularity in Wales.
In a list
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
-
Thank you for your entry
It seems you have altered my form a little bit by making one of the refrain lines only 8 syllables but I like it. The poem did not suffer any poetic language for being about your grandmother and your use of alliteration was felt nicely throughout.
Good job on the form with the altered syllable count. The rhyme scheme was well developed
Unfortunately I did not get enough entries so I have to delete this contest but I wanted to comment and give you the score you would have gotten otherwise.
I encourage you to keep writing to read and comment.
God Bless
TammyCriteria
20-18
Exceptional
17-14
Innovative
13-10
Commendable
9-6
Competent
5-1
Emerging
Score
Prompt Development
Expresses and develops meaningful and original perspective on prompt
Expressive and developed treatment of the prompt
Adequate focus and development
Some focus on prompt but lacks development
Unfocused and unclear
20
Organization
Form of poem appropriately and powerfully addresses the subject , each line focuses on prompt
Form of poem is appropriate to the subject, focus maintained throughout
Form of poem is appropriate to the subject focus maintained throughout
Form of poem is appropriate to the subject, focus maintained throughout
Form is poorly constructed, focus is not maintained throughout
19
Poetic Language & Imagery
Sensory details and figurative language create vivid images that contribute significantly to the meaning of the poem; sound devices such as rhyme, alliteration, or onomatopoeia are used effectively to contribute to the meaning of the poem
Sensory details, figurative languages and sound devices contribute to the meaning of the poem
Sensory details, figurative language and sound devices may be overused, underused or inappropriate to the topic
Confusing or inappropriate use of sensory details, figurative language or sound devices
No use of sensory details, figurative language or sound devices
20
Use of Language
Word choice is vivid and exact throughout; grammar, mechanics and usage are correct, enhancing the thoughts and images
Precise word choice; no error in grammar, spelling and mechanics
Word choice occasionally vague, repetitive or imprecise; few errors in grammar, mechanics or usage
Word choices tend to be vague, repetitive or imprecise;
Consistently difficult to understand due to errors in grammar, mechanics and usage
20
Overall Impact
Poem captivates and inspires reader; is an excellent representation of the prompt/form
Poem attracts reader’s attention; is a good representation of the prompt/form
Poem is adequate and provides a reasonable representation of the prompt/form
Poem lacks inspiration
Poem fails to inspire
20
Total
99/100
-
Such a beautiful entry!
I love both poem AND presentation. It is simply gold in my book!
Love
Myra
-
ah, the enchantment of Welsh history. . .
I like the ancient voice of this poem. . .and I'm interested in the form - do tell. Good work, friend poet
♠ Lady Elinor
-
-
Thank you
Tammy has changed the name of the form but the notes are here
http://allpoetry.com/column/2356379
-
-
I'm glad I stopped by and read this Sis. A beautiful poem and fantastic ANs as well. I am guilty, and many years ago was one of the tourists that bought a Welsh loving spoon as a souvenir and I still have it, I was fascinated by the intricacy of the carving and I still am.
All the best in the contest.
Suz
-
-
Thanks my twin
Have a few spoons my self Sis, the tourist industry keeps the tradition alive I think.
Hugs
Jem
-
-
I read the poem, then I looked at the wonderful spoon, then I read the poem again, then I read all the wonderful historical information and I read the poem again. How incredible to have this wealth of culture before me! How sad no one still carves these spoons: what skill and craftsmanship and patience and devotion a lover had to carve such things to a beloved! All of this information is a beautiful setting to a beautiful poem! You know I have always loved anything with dragons in it, and anything with folklore in it, and anything that has to to with a culture or nationality or antiques! I feel myself most blessed to have read this! Thank you for sharing your beautiful heritage and your profound love for it with us. How wonderful wonderful and surpassing wonderful! You've made my very dreary morning lovely indeed!
-
-
Thank you Purrs
We Welsh are big on dragons especially red ones Purrs.
-
-
Wow! Thank you for wonderful ANs- I greatly enjoyed the poem and the notes.
I have Welsh ancestory and this was so fun to read. Im not sure the kids would appreciate Laverbread, but it sounds very interesting
Kris
-
-
Thanks Kris
Laverbread tastes better than it sounds.
-
-
Nice one!
-
-
Thank you M
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 12 of 12
