In the second of an occasional series for Welsh learners we are pleased and proud to present Dwy Afon / Two Rivers by Mike Jenkins. Mike is an acclaimed poet from Wales who is himself a Welsh learner and he has agreed to provide an occasional poem for the site in both Welsh and English to help AmeriCymraeg students and independent learners. Mike has been in Portland recently for the AmeriCymru/PSU event 'Culture Wars' and the Wordstock literary festival. Go to this page for a video of the Culture Wars panel discussion. Meanwhile you will find a selection of Mike Jenkins works on the Welsh American Bookstore here:-

Interview With Mike Jenkins

Y Llyfrgell Ym Mhargod / Bargoed Library

Capel o geiriau,

cynulleidfa o lyfrau

y seddau gyda'u cefnau galed;

weithiau, dyma'r ysgrythur newydd

piben yr organ ond dim swn,

cerddoriaeth yn y brawddegau ym mhobman

llechen yw'r cyfrifiadur:

chiliwio am y gwirionedd yna

mae'r drws ar agor i bawb nawr,

meddyliau yn eistedd yn lle y cor.

Chapel of words.

congregation of moods

the pews with their hard backs;

new scriptures sometimes stacked

organ pipes yet no sound,

music from sentences all around

tablet of the computer:

searching for truth there

you'll find an always open door,

your thoughts can sit in place of the choir.

( written first in Welsh & non-literally translated by the author )