I watched the preacher warm on words
and hwyl churned his open mouth
as to over Jordan did he lead
with exuberant eloquence

And when the fervour died a death
I wondered why across this land of Wales
the princes no more hunt their pagan treasure
Aneirin did he die in the olden glory?

still a faithful woman sang of the story
an Israelite who brought grapes to the chapels
and planted a thousand cypress in our valleys
something temperate in our cold Welsh rain

the next Sunday the preacher recalled his voice
and brought passion back into evangelical arms
while the cry of the beast screamed understanding
across the valleys and the farms.

Notes

Hwyl-an extempore and eloquent vocal delivery whose aim is evangelism

Aneirin-a sixth century Welsh poet who wrote of battle regarding the defeat of his people, the Gododdin.