#3 - Winter Dance Party

Fay Roberts explores the events and emotions surrounding a famous plane crash.

Oh, what a way for rock ’n’ roll to die;
determined to take destiny in hand,
they flew up, shrouded by an angry sky.

Their parting words seem more than somewhat wry;
old instruments have failed to save three bands.
Oh, what a way for rock ’n’ roll to die

Now mothers faint while others scream and sigh.
That way of breaking news is firmly banned.
They flew up, shrouded by an angry sky

While those whose guilt should prick are somewhat shy,
a ringing silence floods across the land.
Oh, what a way for rock ’n’ roll to die.

The pilgrims flock to see with brimming eyes;
memorials are raised by fervent hands.
They flew up, shrouded by an angry sky

Those loved ones left behind still asking why
as new songs break and foam across the strand.
Oh, what a way for rock ’n’ roll to die;
they flew up, shrouded by an angry sky.

-FR

A poster of the gig, from the Wikipedia article. Image description in alt-text.

#26 – A Matter of Interpretation

Neu: Materion Dehongli

The Gog Magogs is part of what passes for a mountain in Cambridgeshire, complete with a myriad odd tales – the nomenclature is suitably confusing, considering that a) the legend to which it appears to pertain is i) based in Cornwall or Devon (to do with the legendary invasion of the Trojans to found Britannia), and ii) probably a corruption of the Welsh for “Madoc The Giant”; and b) getting some precision over which bit is Gog, which Magog, and why they’re even called that is a thankless task that Wikipedia, for one, shuns. Then we tack on the whole Biblical thing about who even Gog and Magog are supposed to have been/ be, and three conspiracy tales later (this year’s theme has seen me visit a surprising number of them in my cryptid research and I can only imagine that the secret service agent assigned to my internet browsing history must be having a more interesting month than usual) sees me throw my hands up and pluck this mash-up from the depths of recent forays into online conversations in flexible tongues (with grateful thanks to the custodians of this particular rhyming dictionary, a ymddiheuriadau i unrhyw siaradwyr Cymraeg ma).


“The giants’ mothers came from overseas;
“Their father cast them forth for being bold.”
Their guide’s face twists, like talking of disease;
They shiver in the damp, persistent cold.

They root him out at last, curled up in sleep.
“Mound to men come forth!” they rattle, proud.
“It’s prophesied your death shall sain our keep!”
“O dewch, come on, mae’n gynnar – not so loud!”

He sighs, his height unfurls, their heads reel back.
Hands tighten on their weapons, shoulders square.
“Proffwydoliaeth? Nah, I’ll dodge that cac.
“You want this spot? Dim ots, I’ll move up there…”

Y Gwirionedd Hanes? Anodd iawn.
Mae’n amlwg weld nad yw ein wlad yn llawn.

– FR

Corineus or Jack? Pwy sy'n cymrawd bach hwn?