Kestrel's Nest

Trawsganu Kynan Garwyn. m. Broch.

(Trawsganu Cynan Garwyn mab Brochfael)

Book of Taliesin f.22r-f.22v, 45-6

According to Sir Ifor Williams this was the earliest poem in the Book of Taliesin that was written by the historical Taliesin. Cynan Garwyn was king of Powys. Trawsganu, literally 'cross-singing', means a 'satirizing' in modern Welsh but at the time of writing probably simply meant a poem that ended on the same word as it began, equivalent to an Irish dunad.

Bibliography

1 Kynan kat diffretam arllofeis ket.45.10
2 kanyt geu gofyget.Gwrthelgwn trefbret.45.11
3 kant gorwyd kyfretaryant eu tudet.45.12
4 Cant llen ehoeco vn o vaen gyffret. 
5 Cant armell ym arffet.A phympwnt cathet.45.13
6 Cledyf gwein karrecdyrngell gwell honeb.45.14
7 cant kynan kaffat.kas anwelet45.15
8 katellig ystret.kat anyscoget.45.16
9 kat ar wy kyrchet.gwaywawr ebrifet. 
10 Gwenhwys a ladet.A lafyn gwyarlet.45.17
11 kat ymon mawr tec.erglyt a molet.45.18
12 Tra menei mynetgworwyd a gworgret.45.19
13 kat yg cruc dymet.aercol ar gerdet.45.20
14 Nac ny rywelet.y biw rac ffriw neb. 
15 Mab brochuael brolet.Eidywet eidunet.45.21
16 kernyw kyfarchet.ny mawl ieu tyghet.45.22
17 Dystwc aghyffretynyd am iolet.45.23
18 Myg kynnelw o gynan.kadeu ergynnan.45.24
19 Aeleu fflam lydan.kyfwyrein mawrtan. 
20 kat ygwlat brachan.katlan god aran.45.25
21 Tegyrned truancrinyt rac kynan.45.26
22 lluryc yn ymwan.eissor llyw heechan.46.1
23 kyngen kymangan.nerthi athwlat lydan.46.2
24 kigleu ymdidan.pawb yny gochvan.46.3
25 kylch byt gwochuan.keith ynt dy gynan. 

 

Bibliography:
Text:
Evans, J Gwenogvryn, Facsimile & Text of the Book of Taliessin (Llanbedrog, 1910), pp.45-6.
Williams, Ifor, Canu Taliesin (Caerdydd, Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1960), I.
Williams, Ifor, The Poems of Taliesin, English Version by J E Caerwyn Williams (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1968), I.
Text and Translation:
Evans, J Gwenogvryn, Poems from the Book of Taliessin (Llanbedrog, 1915), pp.90-95. (Highly unreliable)
Pennar, Meirion, Taliesin Poems (Llanerch, 1988), pp.41-46.
Translations:
Skene, W F, The Four Ancient Books of Wales (Edinburgh, 1868), pp.447-8. (Unreliable)
Clancy, J P, The Earliest Welsh Poetry (London, Macmillan, 1970), pp.23-4.
Ford, Patrick K, The Celtic Poets (Belmont, Mass, Ford & Bailie, 1999), pp.162-3.
Study:
Koch, J T, 'When Was Welsh Literature First Written Down?', Studia Celtica vol. xx/xxi, 1985/86, pp.43-66.