Celebrating the anniversary of Cranogwen’s birth with a new video poem
‘Dywed, beth oedd ei chyfrinach?’ is a commissioned poem by Hanan Issa, National Poet for Wales, and Casi Wyn, Bardd Plant Cymru 2021 – 2023. They performed the bilingual collaboration on 10 June 2023 when the new statue of Cranogwen was unveiled in Llangrannog – the video is a celebration of that special day.
The poem was commissioned by Literature Wales to celebrate three things, namely the new statue, Cranogwen’s contribution with her creative activity and raising her voice for women’s rights in Wales and the commendable work of the Cranogwen Community Sculpture organization volunteers realizing the ambition of erecting a monument to the poet from Llangrannog.
This was the third sculpture commissioned by Monumental Welsh Women of a ‘real woman’ to be erected in an outdoor public space in Wales and is a creative and ambitious celebration that echoes elements of Cranogwen’s many innovative achievements. Cranogwen was the first woman to win a poetry prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
The statue by the sculptor Sebastien Boyesen can be seen in the centre of Llangrannog, in the newly renovated community garden, not far from where Sarah Jane Rees was buried in the church cemetery.