R. Williams Parry
Robert Williams Parry (6 March 1884 - 4 January 1956) was one of Wales' most notable poets in the twentieth century.
His life
R. Williams Parry was born in Talysarn, in Dyffryn Nantlle, a first cousin to T.H. Parry-Williams and Sir Thomas Parry. He later studied in Aberystwyth for two years and left without any qualifications, but became a primary school teacher for some period of time. In 1907 he returned to his studies in Bangor University and earned his grades in 1908. He continued to work as a teacher and later became involved in Bangor University itself.
His work
He earned widespread recognition as an established poet when he won the chair at the 1910 National Eisteddfod for his poem 'Yr Haf' ('The Summer'). He published two collections of poetry; Yr Haf a cherddi eraill (1924) and Cerddi'r Gaeaf (1952). Some of his most notable works include 'Y Llwynog' ('The Fox'), 'Eifionydd' and Englynion coffa Hedd Wyn. In the latter he laments, using the traditional four-line verse, or englyn, and cynghanedd the death of the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. Evans was posthumously awarded the Chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
- "The chair ... today stretching out its arms in a long peace of silence for the one who hasn't come."
Bibliography
Books by R. Williams Parry
- Yr Haf a cherddi eraill
- Cerddi'r Gaeaf