- I have been a multitude of shapes
- Before I assumed a consistent form.
- I have been a sword, narrow, variegated,
- I have been a tear in the air,
- I have been in the dullest of stars.
- I have been a word among letters,
- I have been a book in the origin.
-
From a translation of the Welsh medieval text of The Book of Taliesin, a sixth century Welsh bard and courtly singer.
 *
It is said that the Iron Man of Mynydd Tir y Cwmwd sings in the wind. I can believe it too: bold laments of long ago battles, a proud Celtic warrior fending off invading Roman governors and power-hungry English kings. Sadly, the cause was lost on both fronts, although at least these days Cymru,* Wales, has its own Welsh Parliament, and Cymraeg, the Welsh language, is nurtured, learned in schools and spoken widely with great pride. And so it should be. It is one of the world’s wonderful languages, the words formed from the rush of sea on rocks, the wind whistling down from the heights of Yr Wyddfa** (Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain). Under past times of English domination much was done to stamp out the Welsh culture altogether. It is what invaders do – belittle, ban, override heartfelt expressions of a conquered people’s culture.
{*roughly pronounced Kumree and **Ur Oithva}
You can read the rest of this earlier post about the Iron Man of Llanbedrog at Warrior Wind-Singer of Llyn
copyright 2015 Tish Farrell
This Sunday at Lost in Translation, Paula’s ‘Black & White’ word is ‘winding’. Please follow the link to take part her challenge and see more winding renditions.
Tish Farrell 
He is watching over his domain for all eternity.
It surely feels like that, Gilly. And then I had a thought that (whatever the artist’s intentions) the Iron Man might in fact be a warrior woman. Really rather epic.
What an amazing sculpture….and words. I have a great love for Wales, and so thank you very much. Janet.
Can’t think of a better angle to immortalise the Iron Man. Beautiful poetry too, Tish. I wonder if you have Welsh ancestors too? Thank you for another voyage into the past.
Many thanks, Paula. I’d like to think I had some Welsh ancestors, perhaps way back in prehistory.
what a beautiful sculpture! with a slight sepia edit, a silhouette against that moody sky is so powerful.
Glad the Iron Warrior made an impression, Klara. Thanks for your very nice comment.
Wonderful in B&W Tish. I love reading your posts, you are a terrific writer. I too think this might be female or at least hermaphrodite – with the bones and sinews portraying the strength of the warrior. I like the way (s)he stands guard over the land. And the way you describe the Welsh language //the words formed from the rush of sea on rocks, the wind whistling down from the heights of Yr Wyddfa// though I find Welsh very difficult to pronounce!
Yes the bones and sinews, and a magnificent guardian being, and thank you for enjoying my posts 🙂
Another beautiful and informative post, Tish. I never know what to expect when I come for a visit but I aways leave a bit more enlightened about the world in which we live. Thank you.
What a lovely thing to say, John. Thank you. I must hop over to your place and see what’s cooking. I’m still tucking into the results of your last year’s homemade honey mustard. It’s delicious.
I appreciate a lot your posts !
They not only present wonderful pics , but also give me plenty of info, about places I’ve never visited!
Thanks for the share…
You are most welcome 🙂
I come too late. All my praise has already been heaped upon you. I especially second Jude.
Never too late, Meg. Glad you could make it 🙂
And I’m even later but I don’t care 🙂 🙂 Staggeringly lovely in black and white, Tish. The first line of the prose made me smile, and I was about to retort that I’ve been some funny shapes too. Then I realised where I was… in the land of Tish 🙂
Tishland, now there’s a place to conjure in, and especially when I’ve given my wand a good sorting out…who knows what might happen here 🙂
Awesome photo
A great post, Tish! Love the wind singer and would’ve definitely liked to meet the word-wise bard 🙂
The iron man sings In the wind – and in the blogosphere!
Oh I like that, Yvette.
😊💕
Beautifully written post Tish, lyrical as the welsh language. Certainly has a female warrior look with the flowing skirt.