The great Welsh poet Waldo Williams has a connection to Rhoscrowther. He drew inspiration for one of his most famous poems, 'Cofio' (Remembrance), from the landscape and heritage of the area. Composed in 1931 when Waldo was visiting friends at Hoplas Farm the inspiration came to him as the sun was setting over the fields he was working in. He was inspired by the beautiful view from the fields of Hoplas, looking over Cheveralton valley towards Rhoscrowther Church, West Angle Bay (Kilpaison Bay), North Hill and St Anne's Head to the West. Another Waldo Williams' poem titled Daw'r wennol yn ôl i'w nyth (The swallow will return to her nest) was inspired by part of the nearby Casltemartin Parish.
In May 2016 at Rhoscrowther Village Hall, there was a televised event to commemorate the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Waldo Williams. The plaque can be viewed on the wall of the Grade II listed Old School Room building in Rhoscrowther, adjacent to St Decuman's Church. The event was hosted by Cymdeithas Waldo Williams (Waldo Williams Society) and included a lecture from Professor M. Wynn Thomas. The plaque was unveiled by the late former First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, and his brother Prys Morgan and the event was televised on the S4C Heno programme.
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May 2021 marked 50 years since the death of Waldo Williams. In line with the Waldo Williams' Society's commemorations, members of the community paid tribute to Waldo and his great works by hanging labels on trees with lines from his poems written on them, to represent 'tree leaves' as in his famous book of poetry Dail Pren. Lines from Cofio, inspired by Rhoscrowther and Cheveralton valley, were written on labels that were hung next to the plaque dedicated to Waldo in Rhoscrowther.
Remembrance (Cofio)
Translation by Alan Llwyd
Courtesy of Waldo Williams Society
If you would like to read this amazing poem in Welsh, then please visit the Waldo Williams Society website.
Waldo's poetry has been the subject of many different artistic performances. It has long been a popular choice at Eisteddfodau and there are many different examples of the poem Cofio being performed as a song (these can easily be found on YouTube). The poem has also been used by the composer Andrew Cusworth and set to music and performed by the St David's Choir. Cofio, and the story of Waldo's inspiration for it, is also part of a separate poem written by Rhoscrowther author and artist Gwyne Howell James. In it he describes his journey home around the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Kilpaison and Rhoscrowther. Click here for a leaflet showing places of interest connected to Waldo.
If you would like to visit and see the view of the landscape that inspired Waldo Williams' poem, it is marked on our locations of interest page.
One fleeting moment as the sun is setting,
One gentle moment as the night falls fast,
To bring to mind the things that are forgotten,
Now scattered in the dust of ages past.
Like white-foamed waves that break on lonely beaches,
Like the wind’s song where no one hears the wind,
They beckon us, I know, but to no purpose –
The old forgotten things of humankind.
The artistry and skills of early peoples,
Small dwelling-places and enormous halls,
Old well-told tales that have been lost for ages,
The gods that now no mortal could recall.
And little words of languages long-vanished,
Lithe words once lively on the lips of men,
And pretty in the prattle of small children,
No tongue will ever utter them again.
Oh, earth’s innumerable generations,
Their sacred dreams and fragile sanctity,
Is the heart silent that was once acquainted
With sadness and with gladness and with glee ?
Often at close of day, when I am lonely,
I long to know you all, bring all to mind;
Is there a heart or memory still to cherish
The old forgotten things of humankind?