The Battle of Bryn Derwin by Ieuan Cilgwri

The Battle of Bryn Derwin

Noontide comes, banners unfurled and snapping in a summer wind, soldier and horse steam in the pass
As eagle's scream, even Gwyn ap Nudd, Lord of Mischief, draws near as tensions build to a burning froth
Men of Llyn, the fisher-folk and husbandry of Eifionydd brought from coast and inland dale are moving at the hasty dike
Set against; the Wolf of Perfeddwlad and at his rear, spears gripped , the bitter war-band of Yale and war filled Alyn Vale
Massed in shadow at the rounded hill march up sons of Mon and Arfon bearing Llywelyn`s arms

The heralds come, they blazon `Stand forth today in Prince Owain`s name, we call upon Llywelyn..`
He comes, replies, `I await you here, yet arms you bring to parley, go back to your homes - give up here and leave here while you may..`
Unabashed they return `You are called, aye by the true heir of Gwynedd, he claims the land by dint of rights enshrined – he is the eldest of all Griffith’s sons...`
`But where in Wales lay this charge while Owain purred on King Henry`s lap as Welshmen swung in gibbets high and breathed their last by Conwy`s mouth?` came Llywelyn`s hot riposte
`I hear within an English King whose plots would shrink our land to naught. Until all of Welshdom`s swallowed whole with riot, flame but worst that this destruction sown within`

The herald pauses, `Yet, nevertheless, we say to you; you will fail in this today! Even now our ranks are swelled from folk armed and moving from the southern fiefs`
The young Lion roars; `Neither fear from numbers or your empty threats will keep us back today. We are hard from fighting border wars, and we`ll win this field you`re keen to press...`
`Yet not from me will this come to be without a rue for those who`ll die - greater threat gathers in dimming east and Wales will want it`s sons intact!`
`Let Red Owain know the debt he`s meted, before this field begins. Let him consider first the justice earned as he wastes our hapless lives`
`And I would spare all Griffith’s sons from invoking the Cain's dread name; yet surely I do but wish in vain to hope his wrath will cool`

As Owain burns, yet Dafydd whispers, `See brother mine, pray use thy rage, the foe has took our bait. Our spear will soon be at his chest and we will shear his proud locked mane..`
`The hour has come, do on your helm, lead on our doughty men, triumph now to gain our rights from this upstart Prince of thralls...`

The sun wheels high, fell battle’s joined, steel on steel and mortal flesh is butchered on the bone
Horses scream, thundering in the pass, lances smite the wooden shield
Cries and bellow, kin slays kin and dead men fall in crumpled piles - Gwyn is sated far underground
High time of strife, the men of Llyn now break and flee afar the slaughter red

Bloody rout and ragged retreat, columns break as Owain`s stunned , Dafydd`s Knight`s are scattered - their charge is broken on the rise
And no mightier shout, since Goronwy called out, fills the bowl as battle’s closed
And Owain`s flame is cooled indeed, hid from the sun to burn his life on Padarn`s waters dark
Errant Dafydd flees in shame, flying to the English crown, a terrible pact made on the young Leopard`s deadly will

Llywelyn`s star climbs in the West, as in the East they note its rise
The wounds are seared; nation’s banner high, the Welshman cleaves, for now, as one
But as Wales cheers, a mighty doom it's slumber moved heads towards a crushing fate
And Sunset comes, a golden blaze brings hope of heaven to a troubled land
Yet Abel`s blood cries on the ground and wait it's turn in Derwin`s pass