3 minutes 30 seconds
Programme Note
I have known Mike Jenkins since I was a teenager. For as long as I have known him I have also known his poetry. When I read Geiriau Yn Fy Mhen I knew this was a poem I wanted to set to music. I am incredibly thankful that Mike has allowed me to use his poem and the text of the poem is printed below, along with an English language translation.
Geiriau Yn Fy Mhen
Mae ‘na eiriau yn fy mhen
fel adar sy’n hedfan :
rhai prin, rhai cyffredin
adar du yn y wybren wen
ond pob un gyda phluen
s’yn lliwgar fel y paun
dw i’n dal rhai
yn fy nwylo weithiau;
yn sydyn , mae nhw wedi mynd
dw i’n ceisio darganfod
ble mae nhw’n byw:
dinas neu bentre? mynydd neu goed?
mae ‘na eiriau yn fy mhen
yn canu o chwedlau a hanes;
caneuon trist, caneuon hapus.
Words In My Head
Words in my head
like birds circling:
some rare, some common
black words on white air,
each one with feathers
colourful as peacocks
I hold some of them
in my hands at times;
suddenly, they take off
I try to find
where they are living:
city or village? woods or mountain?
words in my head
sing of myths and history;
some sad, some happy.
Score available from Composers Edition
