Poetry has always been significant in Wales. Here are some of the country's best known bards.
Dannie Abse
Jewish Welsh writer, acutely aware of his dual roots. He cherishes the unusual and eccentric in humans and has written 12 volumes of much-loved poetry, as well as several novels.
Jewish Welsh writer, acutely aware of his dual roots. He cherishes the unusual and eccentric in humans and has written 12 volumes of much-loved poetry, as well as several novels.
Gillian Clarke
Writes lyrical, often ironic, poems that draw on landscape, family and Welsh myth. Links her body and emotions with nature, creating a distinctive female voice that has influenced younger poets.
Writes lyrical, often ironic, poems that draw on landscape, family and Welsh myth. Links her body and emotions with nature, creating a distinctive female voice that has influenced younger poets.
Tony Curtis
Professor of poetry at the University of Glamorgan who writes in Welsh and has published over 20 books including Seren (The Arches).
Professor of poetry at the University of Glamorgan who writes in Welsh and has published over 20 books including Seren (The Arches).
Menna Elfyn
Political poet with a passion for the Welsh language and identity, whose work vividly describes imprisonment and liberation. Describes herself as a Christian anarchist.Menna is appearing at the festival.
Political poet with a passion for the Welsh language and identity, whose work vividly describes imprisonment and liberation. Describes herself as a Christian anarchist.Menna is appearing at the festival.
Peter Finch
Writes innovative, experimental poems, often involving performance and sound recording. Has published more than 20 collections.
Kathryn Gray
Gray shot into the limelight when her first collection The Never Never was shortlisted for the prestigious TS Eliot Prize. The modern world comes living and breathing out of her poems, which skilfully combine quick-fire associations and emotional complexity.
Gwyneth Lewis
Writes in Welsh and English, and plays with meaning and form, for example, by laying out poems like faxes and grappling with Americanisms in the Welsh language.
Gwyneth is appearing at the festival.
Writes innovative, experimental poems, often involving performance and sound recording. Has published more than 20 collections.
Kathryn Gray
Gray shot into the limelight when her first collection The Never Never was shortlisted for the prestigious TS Eliot Prize. The modern world comes living and breathing out of her poems, which skilfully combine quick-fire associations and emotional complexity.
Gwyneth Lewis
Writes in Welsh and English, and plays with meaning and form, for example, by laying out poems like faxes and grappling with Americanisms in the Welsh language.
Gwyneth is appearing at the festival.
Robin Llwyd
Author of Rebel ar y We, the first volume of poetry in the Welsh language to be published on the web.
Author of Rebel ar y We, the first volume of poetry in the Welsh language to be published on the web.
Deryn Rees-Jones
Young writer who produces vivid poems full of striking characters and unexpected images.
Young writer who produces vivid poems full of striking characters and unexpected images.
Lloyd Robson
Irrepressible performance poet-artist-musician, powered by urban energy.
Irrepressible performance poet-artist-musician, powered by urban energy.