My response to Donald Trump and his executive orders -
SOUL TRANSPLANT
(RUH ZARA'A)
'These don't look like children to me- We should do dental testing to certify the age of refugees'
David Davies MP
MAY THE SYRIAN SOIL
BENEATH YOUR FINGERS
FUSE WITH THE WELSH EARTH
TO MELD INTO A NEW GARDEN
MAY YOU TAKE REFUGE IN TRYFAN'S CRAGS
AND WANDER WILD UP PEN Y FAN
MAY YOUR BREAD RISE
WITH THE BLOWN BEACH WINDS OF OGMORE AND
RHOSSILLI
MAY YOU BRING SUNSHINE TO OUR VINEYARDS
MAY THE TEIFI ELAN AND TAFF
BRING YOU HOME WHEN YOU ARE LOST
ON WINDING AFTERNOONS OF MIST
LET THE SLATE MOUNTAIN OF BLAENAU FESTINIOG
BUILD A ROOF TO PROTECT YOU
FROM THE NIGHTMARES OF YOUR PAST
LET THE DEEP RESERVOIRS MOAT
YOUR FEARS
LET THE TONGUES OF BEVAN AND GLYNDWR
BE YOUR ADVOCATE AGAINST
THROATS OF FRENZY
LET CYNGHANEDD CHIME WITH ARABIC
TO FORGE OUR NEW LANGUAGE
MAY YOUR CHILDREN GROW LIKE THE
RINGS OF THE LANGERNYW YEW
SUTURED AND SECURED TO LAND
MAY YOU SPICE OUR LARDER WITH BAHARAT
FALAFEL AND FATTOUSH
AND LET US SHARE FOOD AT ARTHUR'S TABLE
AND
SEEK SHELTER IN CARREG CENNEN'S SECRET TUNNEL
AND AWAKE AS A POET
FROM THE SLOW SLUMBERS OF CADAIR IDRIS'
DAWN DRENCHED SLOPES
ANDLET THE SALTED ARC
OF CARDIGAN BAY
SOOTHE THE SCARS OF YESTERDAY
ANDMAY YOU STAND UPON
THE ACHING ARCHES OF PUMLUNON
TO VIEW THIS TINY MASSIVE LAND
FROM WHERE
THE SEVERN, RHEIDOL AND WYE BIRTH THEIR JOURNEY
AND YOU TOO, CAN FLOW
MAY THE CRADLING ARMS OF THE CAMBRIANS
STRENGTHEN YOU
SNOWDON'S MIST SHAWL YOU
AND THE VALLEYS CWTCH YOU
AS 'NA THELYNBERSEINIOL FY NGWLAD'
(NOR SILENCED THE HARP OF MY COUNTRY)
BECAUSE
IT NOW HAS A NEWSTRING
FROM AN END TO
A JUST BEGUN
FOR
WE ARE ALL TRANSPLANTED
FROM SOMEWHERE
BROUGHT BY THE BREEZE
FROM SEA TO SHORE
SETTLED ON FALLOW GROUND
GRATEFUL FOR THE SUNLIGHT
WAITING FOR THE RAIN
AND WHEN THEY TRY TO BURY US
WE DIG DEEP
SPROUT ROOTS
CLING TO OUR PAST
ANDFROM THE LIVED PRESENT
INVENT OUR FUTURE
YOURS AND MINE
COME,
LET US CULTIVATE OAK AND OLIVE TREES
SIDE BY SIDE