A new poem by National Poet of Wales about Flooding and Extreme Weather
Hanan was so moved by stories about the impact of flooding in Pontypridd after storms Dennis and Bert, she wanted to convey the situation in the area through a video poem. She collaborated with film maker Ruslan Pilyarov, and the piece, ‘Homes that Float’, was released on International Day of Action for Rivers, 14 March 2025.
The River Taf flooded in Pontypridd in November 2024 causing extensive damage in the town and in over 300 properties. This was just four years after the area was seriously affected by the devastating floods of Storm Dennis. The poem is supported by significant research, and Hanan is grateful to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for providing information on hydro-climate risks, and the owners of Storyville Books, Pontypridd, for their generous sharing of experiences.
The heartbreaking pictures of the effect of the flooding in Pontypridd that were shared on the news, and the questions the residents of the area raised about how to protect their town for the future reflected situations in all parts of the world.
Hundreds of communities around the world have been destroyed and lost due to extreme weather, floods and droughts. Some of the countries most at risk of river flooding are India, Bangladesh, China, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt and Brazil*.
In her terrifying portrayal of the Wales of the future, Hanan enables us to understand, in real terms, the destruction that is already facing these countries.
Hanan Issa says: “We pride ourselves on being the second most progressive country in the world when it comes to recycling and that is a wonderful achievement. But what will it matter if this land we all care for so much is lost to water?
2050 is startlingly close and yet on this issue, those in power do a lot of hand wringing and not much else.
Many of my fellow poets are pouring their worries about this issue into their writing – if poets truly are the midwives of reality, here’s hoping we see much more tangible action before it’s too late.”
Ruslan Pilyarov says: “Working on ‘Homes that Float’ was really special for me. Getting to collaborate with Hanan Issa and blend poetry with film felt like a powerful way to tell this story.
“Hearing from people who’ve been directly affected by flooding and bringing their experiences to life on screen was both a challenge and a responsibility. It really reinforced how important it is to use art to highlight real issues.”
Leusa Llewelyn, Artistic Director of Literature Wales said: “Literature is mostly a form of entertainment, but some of the most notable literary works also carry warnings. In this brilliant and frightening poem, Hanan is voicing our fears, warning us of the situation facing Wales if things continue as they are, and conveying a world that scares us into action.
We are incredibly grateful to Hanan for the opportunity to share a poem like this, and we sincerely hope it will drive positive change.”
‘Homes that Float’ was translated into Welsh by Ifor ap Glyn. You can read the poems here and watch the video here.
Further Reading
*World’s 15 Countries with the Most People Exposed to River Floods | World Resources Institute