Poems for Peace

Poems for Peace

05 July 2021

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A special, trilingual, event was held last night (4 July 2021), with poets from Wales and the Basque Country sharing their poems on the theme of peace.

This was an event by Academi Heddwch Cymru and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, with Wales PEN Cymru, Euskal PEN and Wales Literature Exchange.

We heard from three poets from Wales: Menna Elfyn, Hywel Griffiths and Mererid Hopwood, and three Basque poets: Itxaro Borda, Leire Bilbao and Kirmen Uribe, discussing and reading their poems.

Mererid Hopwood is also the Secretary of Academi Heddwch Cymru, and she gave an introducation and context to the event.

Menna Elfyn is one of Wales’ foremost poets. She is the President of Wales PEN Cymru and is also the Welsh poet whose work has been translated into the largest number of languages – now nearly fifteen languages.

Hywel Griffiths is a poet, novelist, geographer, and senior lecturer in geography at Aberystwyth University. He writes about various topics – the landscape and people of Wales and the world, family, politics, and the Welsh language – and in various strict and free measures.

Itxaro Borda is a Basque poet, novelist, columnist, playwright, and translator.

Leire Bilbao is a poet and author of books for children. Her work has been translated into several languages and has appeared in various anthologies.

Kirmen Uribe is a leading poet, novelist and playwright. He visited Wales in 2015 as part of a project between the Center, Bangor University, Swansea University and Wales Literature Exchange. His work has been translated into many languages, including into English by Seren here in Wales.

A recording of the event will be on our website soon.