Only when we learn  the alphabet
And with a pencil trace the letters form
Do we break the words from their music

Murmured sweetness from a mother’s lips
Continuously we take in feelings warm
Do we need to learn  an alphabet?

Later we take words in little sips
Hoping to remember, not to harm
Can we slash the words from their music?

Even the miaowing of a cat
Seems like  living speech to  babes in arms
Do we need to learn  an alphabet?

We must accept  our language, that is that
We can’t invent a new  one all alone
But do not  part the words from their music

The human world is built up stone by stone
Leaving   here  a  project we can hone
Only when we learn  the alphabet
Do we take the words from their music

 

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jun/07/cerys-matthews-poetry-and-music-closely-think

 

“The Welsh word “cerdd” can be translated as either “verse” or “music”. It covers both meanings, because, as we know from history, when the great bards were performing their poetry it would be accompanied by music. The two were always intertwined and music, poetry, spoken word and performance have been a part of our society for centuries. The festivals called “eisteddfod” combine literature, music and poetry. These cultural competitions were not just for the rich or educated, but were held in pubs and other meeting places and brought everyone together. They are part of an oral tradition entrenched in Welsh society as it is in many other cultures, as diverse as the Somali tradition of oral storytelling or praise poetry in India and Pakistan.”