roots home

by Gillian Clarke

Trees at Blaen Cwrt, photo by kind permission of David Thomas

Ring of gold, photo credit David Thomas

This weekend I have been reading the most recent book from Gillian Clarke, former National Poet of Wales, Queen’s Gold Medal winner, and as Carol Ann Duffy says ~

‘one of the most widely respected and deeply loved poets in the world.’

The new book is a mixture of essays and extracts from her journal.  It is honest, generous, wise and utterly heart-warming.

Gillian says about her journal ~

I write in it most days … to record, remember, rage and rhapsodise, a place for requiem and celebration.

She writes here about all the things that make home ~

poetry and poets          trees         family and friends         the longhouse         memories         language          the planet          Wales

‘Us’ ~ whether that’s Gillian and David with their beautiful life partnership of many decades,

or ‘us’ the community we might yet be, if we follow the example of the trees

and always, always words ~ the sound, feel, shape, rhythm, music and meaning of them.

This is a beautiful book that I love, I think you will, too.

For all the latest news about forthcoming events and to see the latest blog posts, sign up below.