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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

Poem by Hanan Issa, national poet of Cymru. Includes references to Gaza, & trans rights. Rejected as being too political for Senedd opening ceremony, attended by King Charles III & Queen Camilla. ‘Too political’ to be heard, in a political forum, surrounded by politicians?! Disgraceful censorship.

To Grow
Gwinllan a roddwyd I'm gofal yw Cymru fy ngwlad,
Iw thraddodi i'm plant, ac i blant fy mhlant, yn dreftadaeth dragwyddol.
My country of Wales is a vineyard, given into my keeping. to be handed down to my children and my children's children, as an inheritance for all time.
Saunders Lewis
'Llan' is a simple seed. A word for gathering, glade, or garden.
In Wales, the llan of trees or people is sacred. Words variegate, infused with the contents of Ceridwen's cauldron,
they interlace like clasped hands and soon those words till the soil, birth shoots, sting like poison or soothe as antidote.
The toil continues and a country stirs. A gardener's task
is the growth of hope, yn dreftadaeth dragwyddol.
For Wales' caretakers, gofalwyr, khulafa that fresh soil beckons - Oh how this garden could bloom! But a poet's role is to notice:
In the summer I saw a bryn sliced in half. One side sat scorched as the other sulked in sodden green. What new taunting. of both flame and flood, must we add to our land vocabulary?
Caretakers watch for lurking wolves, they wait for a gate left open, to plant their weapons here, yn fy ngwlad. See their gazes drift to cursed seeds scything at Gazan children. Weed them out!
But gardeners know the risk, know you can prune too much - Cutting trans healthcare, closing endo centres, such harsh stunting when brambles of fascism scuttle across this sanctuary.
We say the river has a mouth but ask the aber, will she smile through cracking lips
as her dregs are slurped up by a datacentre and
and and. This poem sounds overgrown now. Planting too much can cause a clamour, cause vibrant words to lose their colour.
Often we confuse them for clunky hedges, thorny metaphors.
Gardeners are the caretakers of hope. Sometimes fresh-turned soil is mistaken for mud. But beneath it, your planted bulbs are dreaming - of promise and seasons to come.
We hope for Ceridwen's gift. Hope she scatters her inspiration
and knowledge like dew drops across the land. Perhaps Vo…

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Yes! Thank you for this, the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories have always been a great favourite for me and all my family. What day is it?” asked Pooh. “It’s today,” squeaked Piglet. “My favorite day,” said Pooh.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

‘Haf bach Mihangel’ - literally ‘Michael’s little summer’ because it often occurs around Michaelmas Day 29 September (‘Indian summer’ is the equivalent in English).

A peaceful seaside scene with a person walking along a shingle-covered beach. The calm water stretches beneath a bright, cloud-dappled sky, with wooden groynes and coastal homes lining the shore in the distance.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Michaelmas Day 29th September. Not found mention of Michaelmas or St Michael in his poems, but RS Thomas studied theology at St Michael’s College Llandaff, was later vicar of St Michael’s Manafon, then St Michael’s Eglwysfach. Also he died just 4 days before Michaelmas. ‘A Day in Autumn’ - #RSThomas

Text of poem -

A Day in Autumn.
It will not always be like this, The air windless, a few last Leaves adding their decoration
To the trees' shoulders, braiding the cuffs Of the boughs with gold; a bird preening
In the lawn's mirror. Having looked up From the day's chores, pause a minute, Let the mind take its photograph Of the bright scene, something to wear Against the heart in the long cold.
- RS Thomas

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Yn dathlu Diwrnod Owain Glyndŵr heddiw, Tywysog olaf Cymru a sylfaenydd senedd gyntaf Cymru. Celebrating Owain Glyndŵr Day today, the last native Prince of Wales and founder of the first Welsh parliament.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Given your Cymru connection you might already know of this, but I thought I’d make sure …

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Wow that’s such a beautiful painting! And I recognise it, I was there in April 2024 and took this photo…

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

“This day winding down now At God speeded summer's end…” (Author’s Prologue by Dylan Thomas)

Author's Prologue by Dylan Thomas.
This day winding down now
At God speeded summer's end
In the torrent salmon sun, In my seashaken house On a breakneck of rocks
Tangled with chirrup and fruit,
Froth, flute, fin, and quill At a wood's dancing hoof, By scummed, starfish sands
With their fishwife cross
Gulls, pipers, cockles, and snails,
Out there, crow black, men Tackled with clouds, who kneel To the sunset nets, Geese nearly in heaven, boys Stabbing, and herons, and shells That speak seven seas,
Eternal waters away
From the cities of nine
Days' night whose towers will catch
In the religious wind
Like stalks of tall, dry straw, At poor peace I sing
To you strangers (though song Is a burning and crested act,

The fire of birds in
The world's turning wood, For my swan, splay sounds),
Out of these seathumbed leaves
That will fly and fall
Like leaves of trees and as soon
Crumble and undie
Into the dogdayed night.
Seaward the salmon, sucked sun slips, And the dumb swans drub blue My dabbed bay's dusk, as I hack This rumpus of shapes For you to know How I, a spinning man, Glory also this star, bird
Roared, sea born, man torn, blood blest.
Hark: I trumpet the place, From fish to jumping hill! Look:
I build my bellowing ark
To the best of my love
As the flood begins, Out of the fountainhead Of fear, rage read, manalive,
Molten and mountainous to stream
Over the wound asleep
Sheep white hollow farms

To Wales in my arms.
Hoo, there, in castle keep,
You king singsong owls, who moonbeam The flickering runs and dive The dingle furred deer dead!
Huloo, on plumbed bryns,
O my ruffled ring dove in the hooting, nearly dark With Welsh and reverent rook, Coo rooning the woods' praise, who moons her blue notes from her nest
Down to the curlew herd!
Ho, hullaballoing clan
Agape, with woe
In your beaks, on the gabbing capes!
Heigh, on horseback hill, jack
Whisking hare! who
Hears, there, this fox light, my flood ship's Clangour as I hew and smite (A clash of anvils for my Hubbub and fiddle, this tune On a tounged puffball)
But animals thick as theives
On God's rough tumbling grounds (Hail to His beasthood!).

Beasts who sleep good and thin, Hist, in hogback woods! The haystacked Hollow farms in a throng Of waters cluck and cling, And barnroofs cockcrow war!
O kingdom of neighbors finned
Felled and quilled, flash to my patch Work ark and the moonshine
Drinking Noah of the bay, With pelt, and scale, and fleece:
Only the drowned deep bells Of sheep and churches noise
Poor peace as the sun sets
And dark shoals every holy field.
We will ride out alone then,
Under the stars of Wales, Cry, Multiudes of arks! Across The water lidded lands,
Manned with their loves they'll move
Like wooden islands, hill to hill.
Huloo, my prowed dove with a flute!
Ahoy, old, sea-legged fox,
Tom tit and Dai mouse!
My ark sings in the sun
At God speeded summer's end
And the flood flowers now.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The leaning tower at Castell Caerffili - it leans at a greater angle than the one in Pisa!

A photo of a historic stone castle tower with crenellated walls, set against a bright blue sky. The tower is leaning at a substantial angle. Two visitors stand at the base of the tower, surrounded by the castle ruins and a paved pathway.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

@pmondrian.bsky.social I thought you might be interested to see this photo I took 8 years ago of a building in the town of Niagara Falls

The photo shows the back of a commercial building with a colorful geometric mural inspired by Mondrian-style blocks. There are parked cars in the foreground, an IHOP sign on the building, and part of a large Ferris wheel visible in the background.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

🕊️☮️🙏 Hiroshima August 6, 1945 ‘Pact’ by RS Thomas (published in Uncollected Poems, Bloodaxe Books 2013)

Text of poem -

Pact.
This is my child; that is yours. Let peace be between them when they grow up.
They are far off now; let it not
be through war they are brought near. Their languages
are different. Let them both learn it is peace
in the hand is the translation of peace in the mind.
RS Thomas

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

We’re enjoying cool woodland walks during our latest heatwave in Cymru, and we even met Gandalf! #FforestFawr #Caerdydd #Cymru

The photo shows a carved wooden sculpture of a wizard or wise old man standing in a forest. The figure has a long flowing beard, a pointed hat, and holds a staff, all carved from a single tree trunk. Tall trees and dappled sunlight in the background give the scene a peaceful, woodland atmosphere.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Blodyn cenedlaethol Cymru yw'r cenhinen bedr 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Diolch, thank you, that Kanji looks good! What would it be for Cymru? Many people in Cymru prefer the Welsh word ‘Cymru’ to the English word ’Wales’ for their country - if you’re interested to know more, please take a look at the attached brief explanation. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👍😊

The word Wales doesn't come from the Welsh people themselves. It comes from the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) word wealas, which meant "foreigners" or "strangers" — a label given by outsiders to the native Brittonic people who already lived here.
By contrast, Cymru is the name the Welsh people have always used for themselves. It comes from the older Brittonic word combrogi, meaning "fellow countrymen,"
"compatriots," or essentially "companions" — people bound together by shared land and identity.
So there's something really powerful in that difference. One name reflects how a people were seen from the outside — as "other" or
"strange." The other reflects how they saw themselves - as connected, united, and belonging together.
That's why it feels important, and quite nice, to think of Wales as Cymru: it centres the idea of community, friendship, and shared identity, rather than a label imposed by others.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Here’s a lovely quote from Rowan Williams at the RS Thomas and ME Eldridge festival in Aberdaron last weekend – “poems are never finished, only abandoned“.

This photo of Rowan Williams shows an older man with white hair, a white beard, and glasses speaking at a podium. He appears to be addressing an audience indoors, with a microphone in front of him and dark curtains in the background. Several audience members’ heads are visible in the foreground, suggesting a lecture, reading, or public talk.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

What a difference a day made at Aberdaron - Friday’s mist and rain, followed by Saturday’s sunshine and blue sky. Both so beautiful.

A misty coastal shoreline with scattered rocks and shallow tide pools in the foreground. Gentle waves roll in under an overcast sky, while grassy hills and a small distant settlement fade into the fog, creating a calm and moody seaside atmosphere.

A wide coastal bay viewed from an elevated vantage point, with a sandy beach curving around calm blue water. A small seaside village sits along the shore beneath green cliffs and rolling fields, while scattered beachgoers enjoy the sunny day under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Had a lovely day watching cricket in Caerdydd. Saw 2 warm-up matches for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: India did everything well to beat West Indies by 26 runs. Then Australia outclassed England & won by 5 wickets. India & Australia played with intent & purpose, but W.Indies & England were lacklustre.

This photo shows a cricket match in progress on a well-maintained pitch in Caerdydd. A bowler in a red uniform is delivering the ball to a batter in a dark green uniform, while several fielders in red are positioned close to the batter, ready for a catch. England team in red, Australia in dark green. There are trees and a partly cloudy sky surrounding the ground.

This photo captures a women’s cricket match being played in Caerdydd. A batter in blue is facing a bowler from the team in maroon, while fielders are spread across the lush green outfield. The venue features banners for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. India are wearing blue, West Indies are wearing maroon. A bright blue sky filled with scattered white clouds is in the background.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

That’s a lichen - Cladonia foliacea. At first I thought it was a flower.

A dense patch of pale greenish-white lichen covers the ground among twigs, fallen leaves, moss, and small rocks. The lichen forms a ruffled, leafy mat that contrasts with the darker brown and green surroundings.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The window behind the altar, Agios Oskarios church, destroyed by earthquake in 1953 Kallithea, Zakynthos

A weathered stone window frames a peaceful countryside view with olive trees, dry grass, distant hills, and a cloudy blue sky. The old masonry and cracks in the structure give the scene a rustic, historic feel.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Agios Oskarios church, destroyed by earthquake in 1953 Kallithea, Zakynthos

An abandoned stone church stands in ruins, its weathered walls framing a lush green courtyard and a distant valley landscape beneath a dramatic sky filled with large clouds.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

“…airy cathedrals Grew, trembling at the tip Of their breathing; delicate palaces Hung motionless in the gold, Unbelievable sunrise.” (from ‘Art History’ by RS Thomas, published in ‘Not That He Brought Flowers’ - Rupert Hart-Davis)

A lush green forest stretches upward toward the sky, with tall slender trees and fresh spring leaves forming a bright canopy overhead. Sunlight filters through the branches, creating a peaceful and vibrant woodland scene.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Disfiguring the landscape - “fenced in by cables and pylons…” “Bring on the dancing girls of the future, the swaying pylons with their metal hair bickering towards England.…” (quotes from poems by Welsh poet-priest RS Thomas)

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Yes, excellent! Here’s my photo from a few years ago, attempting to show its location in relation to the sea.

A grassy coastal cliff overlooks the sea, with waves below and a stone memorial plaque embedded in the hillside.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Disfiguring the countryside - “fenced in by cables and pylons…” “Bring on the dancing girls of the future, the swaying pylons with their metal hair bickering…” (quotes from poems by Welsh poet-priest RS Thomas)

A row of large metal electricity pylons carrying high-voltage power lines stretches across a rural landscape, with green fields below and a cloudy, overcast sky above.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Looking eastward from the Wales Coast Path - Penarth in the middle distance, Cardiff Docks beyond.

A calm coastal scene with a sandy, seaweed-streaked shoreline in the foreground, overlooking a wide bay. In the distance, a small town sits along the coast with a pier extending into the water, and low hills faintly visible beyond under a clear blue sky.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Strata, sand, sea and sunshine on the Wales Coast Path, near Larnog/Lavernock

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

A wonderful pair of ancient oaks on Craig yr Allt. Having witnessed so much over hundreds of years, perhaps they might say “this too shall pass “. #Caerffili #Cymru

A large, ancient tree trunk is covered in vibrant green moss. The tree has a gnarled appearance with many thick branches extending outwards. Beyond it is another similar tree. All the trees are leafless.

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Happy St David's Day! “Gwnewch y pethau bychain - Do the little things”. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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Michael Evans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mihangel ap Ifans @michaelcymro.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Coedwig ffawydd hardd ger Caerffili. A beautiful beech forest near Caerffili. #Cymru

A winding dirt path leads through a dense forest of bare beech trees with mossy trunks. The forest floor is covered in a thick layer of fallen copper-brown leaves and scattered branches.

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