Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Winter -- Anonymous

Guest poem sent in by Dave Fortin
(Poem #1433) Winter
 Wind piercing, hill bare, hard to find shelter;
 Ford turns foul, lake freezes.
 A man could stand on a stalk.

 Wave on wave cloaks the land's edge;
 Shrill the shrieks from the peaks of the mountain;
 One can scarce stand outside.

 Cold the lake-bed from winter's blast;
 Dried reeds, stalk broken;
 Angry wind, woods stripped naked.

 Cold bed of fish beneath a screen of ice;
 Stag lean, stalks bearded;
 Short evening, trees bent over.

 Snow is falling, white the soil.
 Soldiers go not campaigning.
 Cold lakes, their color sunless.

 Snow is falling, white hoar-frost.
 Shield idle on an old shoulder.
 Wind intense, shoots are frozen.

 Snow is falling upon the ice.
 Wind is sweeping thick tree-tops.
 Shield bold on a brave shoulder.

 Snow is falling, cloaks the valley.
 Soldiers hasten to battle.
 I go not, a wound stays me.

 Snow is falling on the slope.
 Stallion confined; lean cattle.
 No summer day is today.

 Snow is falling, white the mountain's edge.
 Ship's mast bare at sea.
 A coward conceives many schemes.
-- Anonymous
The recent winter and snow related poems made me think of this one, from a
13th c. Welsh manuscript (but probably dates from the eleventh century or
earlier).  It's a reminder that winter meant much more than pretty snowflakes
and scenic landscapes in pre-industrial times.  To most folks winter was a
lean time, full of hardships.  I also like this poem as it has the sub-theme
of the wounded warrior who is stuck at home unable to fight while his supposed
friends fight a winter battle (or is he the scheming coward of the last
stanza?).  Like the Old English "Wanderer" and "Seafarer", the poet leaves us
guessing at what's going on, which is part of what makes this so intriguing.

This translation is from the Oxford Book of Welsh Poetry in English.  Just to
give a taste of the alliteration and rhyme schemes, here's the last three
stanzas in the original Middle Welsh:

Otid eiry, toid ystrad;
Dyfrysynt cedwyr i gad;
Mi nid af, anaf ni'm gad.

Otid eiry o du rhiw;
Carcharor gorwydd, cul biw;
Nid annwyd hafddydd heddiw.

Otid eiry, gwyn goror mynydd;
Llwm gwydd llong ar for;
Mecid llwfr llawer cyngor.

Dave Fortin

24 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Fred Simon said...

I really like this poem. There's something about the translation --
partly its spareness -- that makes it seem so modern despite its actual era.

-Fred Simon

Ideas de negocios said...

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, but I am firmly convinced of this and love to learn more about the subject. If possible, acquire knowledge, would you update your blog with more information? It is very helpful to me

Секс Знакомства said...

Секс Знакомства секс знакомства , Интим Знакомства секс знакомства , Знакомства для СЕКС секс знакомства , секс знакомства

Agen Bola Online said...

Thank you for posting such a useful website. Your weblog happens to be not just informative but also very stimulating too. There are a limited number of people who are capable of write technical articles that creatively. we are on the lookout for information regarding this topic. We ourselves went through several websites to find knowledge with regard to this.I will keep coming back !! Agen Sbobet Agen Ibcbet

Judi Bola said...

I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is really great. Agen Sbobet 338A

kata kata romantis said...

I have not much time to visit many websites. But today I found this site accidently. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Cung cấp thực phẩm chức năng bổ trợ sức khỏe cho người dùng hiệu quả nhất tại muathuoctot. Những mặt hàng ví dụ như: kem chống rạn da stretch mark
kẹo cai thuốc kirkland gum
thuốc dhea
thuốc điều trị bệnh sỏi thận
thuốc chống ung thư
thuốc nở ngực an toàn

Anonymous said...

nice
Obat Wasir Tradisional untuk Ibu Hamil
Obat Ambeien Tradisional untuk Ibu Hamil
Obat Wasir yg Tradisional untuk Ibu Hamil
Pengobatan Wasir Tradisional untuk Ibu Hamil
Pengobatan Wasir yg Tradisional untuk Ibu Hamil
Obat Wasir Tradisional Mujarab
Obat Wasir Tradisional Ampuh
Obat Wasir Tradisional Mujarab dan Alami
Obat Wasir Tradisional Mujarab dan Ampuh
Pengobatan Wasir Tradisional Mujarab
Obat Wasir Tradisional Terbaik
Pengobatan Wasir Tradisional Terbaik
Obat Wasir Tradisional Terbaik dan Aman
Obat Wasir yg Tradisional Terbaik
Obat Wasir Tradisional Terbaik dan Ampuh
cara menghilangkan kutil di vagina
cara menghilangkan kutil pada vagina
obat untuk menghilangkan kutil di vagina
pengobatan untuk menghilangkan kutil di vagina
cara menghilangkan kutil kelamin di vagina
pengobatan kutil kemaluan
pengobatan kutil kemaluan alami
pengobatan kutil kemaluan ampuh
pengobatan kutil kemaluan yg ampuh
pengobatan kutil kemaluan yang mujarab
cara menghilangkan kutil kelamin
obat menghilangkan kutil kelamin
pengobatan menghilangkan kutil kelamin
cara ampuh menghilangkan kutil kelamin
cara alami menghilangkan kutil kelamin
obat gonore yang manjur
obat gonore yang ampuh
obat gonore yang alami
obat gonore yang manjur dan ampuh
obat gonore yang manjur dan alami
obat ambeien atau wasir keluar darah
obat ambeien keluar darah
obat alami ambeien atau wasir keluar darah
obat wasir keluar darah
obat ampuh ambeien atau wasir keluar darah
obat kutil kelamin de nature
obat kutil kelamin de nature yg alami
obat alami kutil kelamin de nature
obat ampuh kutil kelamin de nature
obat tradisional kutil kelamin de nature

Unknown said...

Nice to read your article. I am looking forward to sharing your adventures and experiences.
how to cure heartburn how to cure high blood pressure

unsgu said...

Info yang diberikan bagus sekali, semoga menjadi berkah dan bermanfaat bagi kita semua Dimensions and Weights , minimalist house interior exterior , maximum engine power capacity , minimalist home interior design

unsgu said...

Terimaksih telah berbagi infonya,,sukses selalu review honda cb500 untuk info and websitenya,,,and be the best to the next info,, review kawasaki vulcan

Post a Comment