Fan a'r Lle

We asked Robin Thomson and Mog Chambers from the Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Trust to tell us about a few important characters from Merthyr’s past.

Mae Oriel Canfas yn oriel celfyddyd gyfoes wedi’i leoli yn Nhreganna, Caerdydd yn arddangos detholiad eang o ddisgybliaethau celf. Cwmni cydweithredol o artistiaid sydd yn rhedeg yr Oriel ac ar y safle mae stiwdios ac ystafell ddysgu, gwneud fe unigryw gyfoes orielyn yr Dinas o Gaerdydd.

“Beth bynnag ydy’r hanes ieithyddol personol, neu rhesymau personol dros beidio medru siarad y Gymraeg rŵan, y Gymraeg ydy hanfod y sir. Felly, yr iaith, mae rhai ohonom yn gallu siarad, yn gwbl berthnasol i bawb, ac yn perthyn i bawb. Ac mae hynna’n neges dy ni isio cael allan uchel ac y glir, ac un o ffyrdd gorau i wneud hynny, ydy trwy gynnal gŵyl fawr, yng nghanol y dre!”

When will the rain stop?
A rainbow reminder of the
Everlasting Covenant,
Sludge and devastation
Permeate through the
Settlement

The power and surge of
A river bursting its
Banks
Overflowing into areas
Where its presence once
Precluded now intrudes
And becomes the
unwelcome visitor

Nature, the world around us,
Life soaring through its flow
Why do we feel as though
We can control such forces
Impossible!

Their presence already here
Before our short appearance
Such beauty and wonder
Yet dangerous potential

We need to fit in with the
World we inhabit, not expect
The natural environment
To accommodate us

Only when this happens
Will we live in harmony
Devoid of threat

—

Chameleon
Cerdd a ysgrifennwyd yn dilyn y llifogydd yn y Rhondda a Thaf yn ystod storm Dennis yn 2020.

Mae Kath Jones yn aelod o Grŵp Awduron Creadigol RhCT.

Sleek reptilian river,

Valley’s arterial life giver

Running it’s course,

Brecon source

Roaring, dashing,

Boulder bashing

Wearing, grinding,

Twisting, winding

Bubbling, boiling,

Flooding, spoiling

Small; vast,

Turbulent past

Un-compliant; pandering,

Aimlessly meandering

Slowly moving,

Pebble smoothing

Leads; follows,

Beak dipping swooping swallows

Natural, fantastic,

Polluted with plastic

Mossy bank pillow,

Weeping willow

Wild, freed,

Japanese knotweed

Pools brimming

Summer swimming

Flies and midges,

Stone bridges

Shrub and tree,

Green arching canopy

Rocks and weirs,

Boating piers

Gushing, rushing,

Tree root brushing

Triumphantly raising its voice

To say

I am the Taff,

Here to stay.

—

River of Words

Mae Les Allen yn aelod o Grŵp Awduron Creadigol RhCT.

“We chose our house because of its proximity to the water. From the bedroom window if I lean forward just enough, I can see the river Taff. It is the first thing I see when I let the day into our home in the morning and it is the last thing I say goodnight to.

Its constant flow has been a calming and reassuring presence in the past year, a reminder that things pass. I now know there is a whole world that lives on the river, some of it is loud and visible, some of it is hidden under the surface and emerges only for the careful observer. But whether I am the careful observer or the distracted passer-by, I always know the river is there.”

“The beautiful Spring of 2020 coincided almost exactly with the first Covid lockdown. We were allowed out for exercise and I decided to take advantage of the newly acquired fresh air and the Spring sunshine.  For the first few weeks my walk took me over Blackweir Bridge in Pontcanna Fields then it was closed and I had to change my routine. This also caused me to take a different look at life and, although I had always enjoyed music, I had never considered writing songs before.  But I started composing them in my head and now have enough for two CDs.”

have you heard the Tales ?
About the prince of Wales ?
He opened Hopkinstown boys club,
Which I run as a martial art hub
It’s run by me and my son
We call it the dungeon
Teaching Styles from Krav Maga ,
Which has become very popular
To kung fu fighting hidden tricks
Or Filipino fighting with sticks
Or unwind with relaxing tai chi
List goes on what’s taught by me
The huge window at the top
Is becoming a attraction spot
People stop and wave Hi
As they jog or walk by
Or if driving past
They give the horn a blast
The taff flows but has no end
Enjoy this attraction spot my friend

“Since early days I would watch the Taff passing by. Imagining every ripple over a stone was a fish. The reality was, as we waded from one side to the other felt slimy, we didn’t care or didn’t realise about rats disease. We put ropes from trees over the river until one day the rope broke, I couldn’t sit down for week. We went to school by bus, always travelling by the Taff. Now maybe if I was still watching. I might see a fish. Would like to think so.”