Bubbling brooks crisscross the landscape, scouring their paths into the earth. Among the green hills of Llandybïe, the twinkling of water sings in harmony with the rhythmic clang of iron upon iron. Their joyous song intertwined in the daily rhythm of one Evan David.¹

While water is life, for this blacksmith, it is also livelihood. Day in and day out, the rushing of streams collide with the great creaking wheels that powered industry: Blaenau, Efail-fach, Ivy Bush, Gelli’r-fawnen, Llandyfan, Lliw, Iscennen, the Pound.² Smithies of all sorts, kept afloat by the grace of abundant waters. And, one day, an ode to the waters that sustained his life spilled forth from the point of Evan’s quill.

Llandybïe’s rivers
are one of the wonders,—
Marles, Llwchwr Fach,
Nant y Wrach and Gwine,
Nant y Ci and Fferrws,
Lash and Ffynnon Gwenlais,
And Gwyddfan splits into two,—
And behold a parish cleared.
But fountains flow
Yes, more than I can count,—
From Llandyfan to Felin Fach,
And many bubbling gutters.

Afonydd Llandybïe
Sydd un o’r rhyfeddode,—
Marles, Llwchwr fach,
Nant y Wrach a Gwine,
Nant y Ci a’r Fferws,
Lash a Ffynnon Gwenlais,
A Gwyddfan yn rhannu’n ddwy,—
A thyna’n plwy ni’n arllws.
Ond mae ffynhonne ‘ntarddu
Oes, mwy nas gallaf gyfri,
O landyfan i’r Felin Fach,
Ac amryw fan gwteri.

1. Evan David the blacksmith of Tygwynbach, Llandybïe, is my 5x great grandfather, from whom my surname comes. ↩︎
2. According to Gomer M. Roberts, Evan David worked at the smithy near the village pound. 1959. Roberts, Gomer M. Hanes Plwyf Llandybie. Translated by Ivor Griffiths. ↩︎
3. Translation mine. If you have any feedback on the translation, let me know in the comments, but be nice! ↩︎