A comprehensive selection of the work of Ruth Bidgood, taken from eight previous poetry collections written between 1972 to 2004, together with 25 new poems, many poems inspired by the landscape and history of Powys.

Detholiad cynhwysfawr o gerddi Ruth Bidgood, o wyth casgliad cynharach o gerddi a ysgrifennwyd o 1972 hyd 2004, gyda 25 cerdd newydd, nifer o gerddi wedi cael eu hysbrydoli gan dirwedd a hanes Powys.

Ruth Bidgood is one of the very finest poets in Wales and she, together with Gillian Clarke and Christine Evans, have the great merit of being immediately accessible. She has lived for many years in Powys and in her work evokes the landscape, history, mythology and people of this large, urban region of Wales in a highly individual way. It comes as no surprise to learn that as well as being a poet she is also a historian, for the past is the one overall theme in this generous selection – 270 pages – which has been superbly produced by Wales's leading literary press.

Her preoccupation with myth is exemplified in, for example, ‘Hare at Pennant’, which was inspired by Saint Melangell's well-known attempt to protect a hare from its pursuers. On the other hand ‘Emu's Egg’, a great favourite of mine, focuses on an actual event nearer our own time.

John, a poor Breconshire farmer, decides to emigrate to a better life in Australia. A friend is prepared to accompany him but it is he alone who eventually leaves, John having experienced a failure of nerve.

John was dead by the time
a letter came and an Australian parcel,
exotic, unique – an emu’s egg,
black, the size (his children said)
of two teacups put together.
It stayed on the farm for years,
Then got broken.

A further poem which greatly appealed to me is ‘Tourists’, in which the poet has chosen a subject close to my heart; the literary travellers who came to Wales during the Romantic period.

Although I have only had the opportunity to mention three poems here, I hasten to add that there is no unevenness of quality. All the poems are the work of a highly original mind, and if for any reason you have not yet discovered Ruth Bidgood's work you have an enormous treat in store.

Dewi Roberts

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.