However when Tudur Hallam did, he produced one thing award successful
When Tudur Hallam was informed, in August final yr, that he had most cancers, he discovered himself unable to jot down in Welsh. The poet, who has beforehand received one of many highest honours in Welsh language writing, stated his psychological block lasted months.
But, on Friday, he stood in a pavilion in Wrexham packed full of individuals, who had all risen to their toes, after he was honoured with the Eisteddfod chair for a second time, due to a chunk of labor he penned. He admitted he had felt conflicted whether or not to even enter the work as a result of the content material – about his analysis – was so emotional.
As he acquired the honour on the Wrexham Eisteddfod, his brother, Gwion Hallam, additionally addressed the gang with a heartfelt poem.
Tudur, a married dad-of-three stated: “I imagine writing generally is a nice assist to folks, and personally I needed to jot down instantly after the analysis, however I couldn’t.
“I feel I used to be in a state of shock, after which in January, after receiving unhealthy information that the therapy meant to purchase me time hadn’t labored, out of the blue the phrases began to stream from me.
“Now I’m glad I’ve created one thing optimistic out of a really troublesome scenario,” he stated. For our free every day briefing on the largest points going through the nation, signal as much as the Wales Issues e-newsletter right here.
He beforehand acquired the honour on the Blaenau Gwent and Valleys Nationwide Eisteddfod in 2010.
After the ceremony in Wrexham, he stated: “It was a really emotional event, particularly when the viewers stood for the second time. However after greeting my household, I relaxed somewhat and loved the ceremony. The Eisteddfod and the Gorsedd did all the pieces they might to make issues simpler,” he stated.
The viewers within the Pavilion heard that 15 poets competed this yr – the very best quantity since 1989 and so they needed to write an awdl (an extended poem) or a set of poems in full cynghanedd utilizing multiple conventional metre on the theme of “dinas” (metropolis”.
“I really feel blissful, proud that I competed as a result of I wasn’t positive whether or not I ought to submit the awdl or not. I’ve been fairly conflicted about it as a result of the content material of the awdl is so emotional, however right now seems like a celebration,” he stated.
“Profitable the chair or the crown is an achievement, and listening to that it was a powerful competitors makes me really feel extremely fortunate to have received, to be trustworthy,” he stated.
He determined to compete for the Eisteddfod chair and stated that the help of his household and medical doctors enabled him to take action.
The poet defined that he’s a coach for a ladies’ soccer workforce in Carmarthenshire, and their purpose is to win each match – particularly towards groups from the cities – so it was pure for him to start his poem with the workforce.
Within the poem, the workforce beats a workforce from Cardiff within the ultimate of a cup competitors, however then, the narrative switches to Glangwili Hospital, the place the coach receives a analysis of bone most cancers and metastatic most cancers within the liver.
In his adjucation, Peredur Lynch stated: ” He sang a tune from the deepest depths of his being, composing an awdl he by no means wished to jot down.”
Fellow choose Menna Elfyn stated it was “in contrast to every other awdl or poem I’ve seen win the Chair or the Crown on the Nationwide Eisteddfod”. She stated he wrote about his situation in a “uncooked” means “and not using a hint of self-pity”.
Llyr Gwyn Lewis added: ““In reality, I might a lot somewhat Y Gylfinir had by no means needed to write this awdl in any respect. He sang a tune nobody would ever want to sing—however having sung it, he did so with readability, memorability, and emotional energy, drawing on all his presents as a poet”.
Tudur, from Foelgastell in Carmarthenshire, is an emeritus professor at Swansea College, the place he taught and researched within the discipline of Welsh.
