16. Six couplets on the theme: Welsh History

1st: Peter N Williams, Delaware, USA

In thirty nine, in Newport town
The miners sent a message down

Iron workers too, joined in the fray
Upon that bleak November day

The host that marched in southern Gwent
Only on reform were bent.

A troop of soldiers waited there
Behind closed doors in Westgate Square

The Chartists hoped to do much good
They paid the price by spilling blood

Some by rifle, some by sword
A swift and terrible reward

2nd: Caroline Gill, Abertawe

Celtic Cymru A Celtic land with Celtic pride
was soon encroached on every side.

The Romans came in days of old
to build fine forts and dig for gold.

The monarchs on the English throne
erected castle walls in stone.

Then Henry Tudor, born in Wales,
became the talk of fireside tales.

The people farmed and ran the mines;
formed choirs and penned poetic lines.

Their words and deeds must all belong
to Wales, the Celtic land of song.

3rd: John Meurig Edwards, Aberhonddu

The Daughters of Beca They were indeed a crude and mottley band
Who rose against repression in our land.

Bishop William Morgan
He laboured for us in our hour of need,
And gave the people a Bible they could read.

Howell Harries
The world of God he carried far and wide,
And when he preached, the people feared and cried.

William Williams
Through hymns he taught us how to worship and to pray,
The worlds and melodies inspire us to this day.

The Merthyr Ironworkers
From poverty they rose as one to fight
Against the ironmasters and their might.

O.M. Edwards
His mission was to see our language thrive,
And through his writings helped it to survive.