Pen Dal Aderyn
It was years ago he hit her
smack in the face
she happened to be in the wrong place
at the wrong time
still coping
phantom nursing
minding her own
when he lurched stern first
cracked his hull against her girth
tossed at the tide
wits wild and undone
till he washed up at the pub
downed a round of jibe-talking
jeering where’s your balls boy?
and he called her Great Bitch.
I didn’t stop him
thought it would blow over
gulped beer
one ear to the crowd
that was puffed and roused
I shrank into the smoke
didn’t know the name would stick
didn’t know the shame
would keep me quiet
didn’t know the years they would goad
and hound her.
Sometimes I hear her howl
now split in two
and I whisper into the Sound
Myfanwy
I still remember your name.