Englyn

by S. L. P. Van der Veer

Autumn 2002

The englyn (eng’-lin; pl. englynion) is one of the three classes of Welsh poetry, along with the cywydd (DS-Summer 2001) and the awdl. Each of these three forms have eight variations, which were first codified in the 14 th century by Einion Offeiriad, and subsequently modified by others around 1450 (either Dafydd Ddu Athro or Dafydd ab Edmwnd, depending on the source). These twenty-four meters became the accepted “strict-meter” poetry forms.

Of the eight englynion, six are quatrains, usually in monorhyme or consonance (i.e., the consonants immediately preceding the last accented vowel sound are the same, as are the consonants immediately following it - ex., pit and pat). Line length is typically seven syllables, although combinations of 6, 7, and 10 syllables are also common. Since the 12 th century, the most popular form has been the englyn unodl union (eng-LIN een-OHDEL een-ih-OWN, “straight one-rhymed” englyn), a quatrain of 10, 6, 7 and 7 syllables. The rhyme in the first line is placed 1-3 syllables from the end of the line, and the end-word must alliterate with the first few syllables of the second line.

The englyn unodl crwca (eng-LIN een-OHDEL crook-AH ,“crooked one-rhymed” englyn) differs from the englyn unodl union only in that the syllable count per line is 7, 7, 10 and 6.

Englynion are traditionally short poems to praise an important person or lord, or satirize a rival.

The Nameless

by S. L. P. Van der Veer

 

Long ago, his people erred;

to this land did evil fare.

The rift they closed, but left one behind, ensnared ~

and no more magic dared.

 

The name-mage from home did flee,

followed by the entity.

He gave his life for his ancestors’ deed.

Our paths crossed too briefly.

 

Nameless, it could not be found.

Threadless, it could not be bound.

He named it his own, and his life unwound…

the sacrifice astounds.

 

Though from battle he refrained,

still a hero he became:

Song-finder, the namer of the nameless,

mage novice, entity’s bane.

For Additional Information

Rowlands, Eurys I. Poems of the Cywyddwyr.

Williams, Gwyn. An Introduction to Welsh Poetry.

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