Nos Calan Gaeaf, the night before winter
we sit cwtched over bowls of cawl
hot steaming broth
by tradition lamb with vegetables
whatever comes to hand
leeks, carrots, tatws, swedgon
cabbage or kale, shredded
deep green leaves though
not the pale stuff
that disolves in the stewing
before it gets to the bowl
a dash of herbs perhaps
and a touch of pepper
the cwtching and the steam
make this as much an experience
of inhalation as of taste
And when the last drop is gone
the liquid focus turns to cwrw
that's ale if you're Sais
and the singing begins
not all hymns and arias
anything counts, all is game
so long as voices are raised
Amid the singing, thoughts turn
to those who sat in years past
drinking cawl and cwrw
and raising their voices
but sit and eat and drink
and sing no more
though in the flickerng light
of candle and lamp and fire
seem once more present on this night
Cynthia Pauline Jones, October 30th 2014
A poem for halloween... written for a reading at a Halloween-themed evening organised by my local Writers Group on October 30th 2014. In Wales, the night of October 31st has traditionally been celebrated as Nos Calan Gaeaf which translates as The Night Before Winter. A short glossary may be helpful:
Cwtch – to huddle, hunch over, or cuddle
Cawl – a stew or broth, as described in the poem
Tatws – potatoes
Swedgon – swede, or rutabaga
Cwrw – beer
Sais – English
