Englyn penfyr, én-glin pén-fir or short ended englyn in the old style, is the 1st codified Official Welsh Meter, anEnglyn. The oldest Welsh poetry in manuscript (early 9th century) was found written in the margin of the Juvencus Metrical Version of the Psalms, preserved in the Cambridge University Library. It is said to be stanzas written in praise of the Trinity in the englyn penfyr meter. Both the Englyn penfyr and the Englyn milwr are associated with “primitive Britain” and were out of vogue by the 12th century.
The englyn penfyr is:
- stanzaic, written in any number of tercets.
- syllabic, a 10 syllable line followed by two 7 syllable lines.
- rhymed, mono rhymed, the main rhyme (the dominant rhyme of the stanza) of L1 found in the last half of the line followed by caesura end rhymes with L2 and L3.
- composed with an addendum, a “gair cyrch” in L1 (syllables in the last half of a line that follow the main rhyme marked by caesura. The gair cyrch end rhyme is to be echoed or consonated as secondary rhyme in the 1st half of L2. The caesura often appears as a dash.)
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Y wlad mewn gwisg o flodau -yn galw Dwy galon i lwybrau Yr ifanc drwy yr hafau
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x x x x x x x A x b x x b x x x A x x x x x x A |
The countryside, in its floral dress, calls two hearts to roam the paths of the young through summer days. by Dosbarth Tanyroes “Y Flwyddn” 20th century found in Singing in Chains by Mererid Hopwood |
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Mud laps by Judi Van Gorder Ripples in the mud pool fanned ~ far and wide spreading inside-out to land in small laps upon the sand. |
Oprah by Judi Van Gorder She sings her own tune – in touch with her soul she shares her goal, grasps the moon with wisdom none can impugn. |
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First Light by DC Martinson Night before a Christmas morn – stars tarry; Hymns carry a world so torn To be saved by God’s Yet-born. Night before a Christmas morn – all is seen Red and green. Our hearts, forsworn, Still are gifts to God’s Low-born. Night before a Christmas morn – in the dark, Holy spark. Candles have borne Ev’ry soul to God’s High-born. |
Dreams by Stephen Arndt Come, let the ember lights burn low; no more _____Let flames roar and flare, for so _____Drowsing dreams may freely flow; And let me dream what lies in store (I know _____Men can’t show me that far shore _____Which my plodding might explore). Our dreamings mimic what might be, for they _____Mold the clay to cast a key _____Opening new worlds to see. I am not deaf to what dreams say. Watch me: _____I am free to stop and stay _____Or to wend my winding way. Are dreams like dice on which to bet? How few _____Pay what’s due on piled-up debt! _____What they grudge is what you get. I know my dreams may not come true, and yet _____Why forget that if they do, _____I shall fly to where they flew? |
Pasted from http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?showtopic=987
My thanks to Judi Van Gorder for years of work on this fine PMO resource.
My attempt
Evil Must be Fought (Englyn penfyr)
I’d really like to preach peace – but I can’t.
Can’t chant for the wars to cease.
Can’t call to disband police.
When attacked you must defend – or else die.
You ask why do some descend?
Evil and greed I contend.
When evil tried to impose – and by force
I’d endorse those who arose,
though it was not peace they chose.
© Lawrencealot – December 10, 2014
Related Welsh Form are HERE.
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