Cynghanedd In Blank-Verse

Cymraeg’s consonant sounds – abreast voweled peaks
stretch harmonic-wreathed ‘n Celtic writ. Hed’n-
ismic green of verdance – lush expanses –
carpet across, cov’ring in moss, cove-ring-
ed coast that forms th’western wall. Th’waste rain-
fall flows, fitfully free, unto sea o’er
reams of language earth-born, and which rues th’burn-
ing flame in desp’rate pain – th’dragon’s claim to
speak its fire-tongue throughout the land it loves.

The cynghanedd is a Welsh-language form of poetry that centres on the sound arrangement within each line. There are various forms, but the two I used for this poem are cynghanedd sain and cynghanedd lusg.

Cynghanedd sain:

• Characterised by internal rhyme
• Line divided into 3 sections
• 1^st and 2^nd sections rhyme
• 3^rd section repeats the consonant pattern established in 2^nd section

Cynghanedd lusg:

• Final syllable of first half (or so) rhymes with penultimate syllable of second

Cymraeg’s consonant sounds – abreast voweled peaks            lusg
stretch harmonic-wreathed ‘n Celtic writ. Hed’n–                        sain    (w r t h d n)
ismic green of verdance – lush expanses –                                       lusg
carpet across, cov’ring in moss, cove-ring–                                       sain    (c v r n g)
ed coast that forms th’western wall. Th’waste rain–                    sain   (t h w s t r n)
fall flows, fitfully free, unto sea o’er                                                   lusg
reams of language earth–born, and which rues th’burn–          sain   (r t h b r n)
ing flame in desp’rate pain – dragon’s claim to                               lusg
speak its fire-tongue throughout the land it loves.

Image credit – National Trust