Category: Poetry

Castell Coch 1

Castell Coch, South Wales

Fortress or folly?

You must weigh the evidence.

It’s still beautiful.

Castell Coch* (Red Castle) in Tongwynlais, near Cardiff, Wales, was taken over by the Marquis of Bute during the Victorian era and remodelled by William Burgess. Some have claimed it to be a folly, but the exhibition within the castle suggests that it was a Norman fortress before being remodelled into the fairy tale castle of today.

The misty look at the right hand side of the photograph is just that. If not mist, it is low cloud; it was raining quite heavily during our visit. The castle seems to attract such mistiness. As can be seen in the image, it stands on a hillside in a small forest. And yet the mist only adds to the nature of the place.

* Pronunciation tips for non-Welsh speakers:

  • The ll sound is made by forming an l, and blowing over the sides of the tongue.
  • The o is sounded long as in post, in this instance.
  • The best description I can give of the ch sound is that it is like clearing the throat!

Be Careful What You Wish For

Barbed Wire Sunset

Anger that cannot be expressed in words of single syllables

Spoken with such venom as to frighten e’en the brave

Words, frustration-born and vicious, defamation in their wake

To punish those whose motives are only true and just

Speech that tolerates no mercy with honour cast aside

Respect a mere illusion the upright to deride

Assassinate the character of those who came to help

Creating phantom sickness to cover true intent

Wild accusations flying ‘gainst those who came to rescue

Whose only “crime” is caring, who saved you from yourself

A soap box, neatly positioned to spout specious arguments

Before so-called friends, while victims stay publicly silent,

Protecting the integrity of those dishonouring them

And of those who would suffer most

And why?

Perhaps a need to justify a conscience seared with sin

Perhaps because of jealousy barely hidden deep within

Perhaps because of knowing the ignored advice was wise

Perhaps because the innocent are unable to defend themselves

Brazen conduct masquerades as indignation

Against the protectors of future generations

A challenge thrown down to those who turn the other cheek

Be careful what you wish for, oh would-be assassin

You might just get it

And who will you hide behind, then?