John Watt Poet Lyric

Notes About The Poem

Leaving Wales

Wales to me is her Celtic tribal history,	
Wales to me is walks upon her shores.
Wales to me is her druids, saints, and mystery,	
the soil I tread, the salt that leaves my pores.	
	
We drove an hour from Brecon down to Cardiff,
a plane to catch, a new job to begin.
She dropped me off but lingered for a long, long kiss,
I miss her now; my love, my lady Gwyn.
	
In my window seat, I glimpse a fishing trawler,
as Bristol Channel meets the Celtic Sea.	
My heart grows lonesome as the boat grows smaller,	
I long for Wales and all she means to me.	
	
	I miss her valleys, I miss her plains and lush, warm hills, 
	I miss her beauty that would make me stop and stare.
	I miss her gardens, her leeks and lovely daffodils,
	I miss my Wales, and the sweetheart I left there.
	
I'll be thinking of her Welsh cakes and her laverbread,	
I'll be thinking of our trips to Aberystwyth.
I'll be thinking of the beer we love, the tasty Cwtch red ale,
I'll be thinking of the one I'd drink it with.	
	
I'd love to throw some darts and sing within her pubs,
I'd love to watch her rivers, lakes and coast.
I'd love to watch some matches of her rugby union clubs -
But the one I love is the one I'm missing most.
	
	I miss her valleys, I miss her plains and lush, warm hills, 
	I miss her beauty that would make me stop and stare.
	I miss her gardens, her leeks and lovely daffodils
	I miss my Wales, and the sweetheart I left there,
	I miss my Wales, and the sweetheart I left there.


Written 16 June 2020

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Aditi Mishra July 7, 2020 at 9:04 AM Back to congratulate you on your win dear friend. So happy to see this one in the list :) John Watt July 7, 2020 at 12:30 PM I'm honored by the repeat visit, Aditi, and blessed by the kind words.

Sam Kauffman July 5, 2020 at 1:15 PM Back to say congratulations, John. A lovely song! John Watt July 5, 2020 at 1:30 PM Thanks, my dear friend. I've been singing the 'Ash Grove' tune all weekend!

Julia Ward July 5, 2020 at 4:57 AM One could certainly think you had been to Wales and were pining for Gwyn as you wrote it! Your power of imagination coupled with facts about the country made an intriguing read for me. Thank you, John, and congratulations on gaining a place in my contest. John Watt July 5, 2020 at 1:27 PM Wow, my deep gratitude for selecting this as one of your winners, Julia. I also appreciate your lovely comment. It was a joy to imagine myself longing for such a beautiful homeland. Diolch yn fawr for sponsoring!

Sam Kauffman June 30, 2020 at 6:42 PM Did you really think you could slip this beautiful song by the musician's notice? It is a lovely song with great meter and cadence. Great hook! I can almost hear you singing it - hope you are going to put this to music with a Celtic flair. Good luck in the contest! Out of the park and into the parking lot my friend! John Watt June 30, 2020 at 6:54 PM To think, I almost got this one by you for a seeing-eye double, but nothing gets past your hot corner! Maybe we should be using cricket references since this is about Wales... anyway, thanks for the great compliment, my songwriting buddy! Blessings ~ John

Darlene De Beaulieu June 28, 2020 at 2:09 PM Hello John Watt, you can always return there for a visit. Explore the sites you miss. also visit the girl you left behind. Enjoy your day my friend. John Watt June 29, 2020 at 1:48 AM Darlene, thank you so much for the visit today. Hope you are well, and enjoying your day my friend ~ John

Tom Cunningham June 24, 2020 at 5:13 PM Wow, from the comments I see you have not been to Wales. I'd have said it was written by a Welshman. I go there regular as my daughter lives in Cardiff. Brilliantly written John. Tom John Watt June 24, 2020 at 5:35 PM If I ever do visit I shall know whom to ask for advice. You, Wendy, and Brian will make excellent travel advisors! Thanks for the lovely words, Tom.

Wendy Watson June 21, 2020 at 5:04 PM Hello John I felt a melody coming on right from the start and by the end, felt uplifted and a little homesick! My favourite verses were the first, and the chorus but I enjoyed the whole poem. Da iawn ti! John Watt June 21, 2020 at 7:30 PM Diolch yn fawr, Wendy! I hope I didn't misrepresent your homeland in any way. I imagine it's not easy to sing Aberystwyth, but it provides a convenient rhyme for "with"! So glad you liked this, I really was hoping you'd have a chance to see it. Thanks for the lovely comment, my friend!

Brian Strand June 20, 2020 at 2:03 PM One of the little jewels John, is the Gower coast,completely unspoilt,rockpools and all,scenery straight from a 30's/40's Enid Blyton book.Only downside,the prevailing westerlies can make summer holidays a bit hit&miss. John Watt June 20, 2020 at 5:18 PM Brian, it's nice to see your comment today about Wales, especially the tip about the Gower coast. I should like very much to visit someday. I confess my submission was a result of some vague memories of the British Isles 30 years ago plus some Google sleuthing. Appreciate you taking time to read and comment. God bless ~ John

Michelle Faulkner June 20, 2020 at 11:12 AM Your song of Wales is so enticing, especially that last stanza! I want to eat Welsh cakes and laverbread in her gardens of leeks and lovely daffodils now! Sounds like you must have visited there? John Watt June 20, 2020 at 12:04 PM Glad to know you found this enticing. I've been to England and Scotland, so I had to extrapolate a bit to come up with this. I would love to visit some day. Thanks for the visit.

Janice Canerdy June 19, 2020 at 6:33 PM A vividly descriptive, lovely masterpiece, John! Janice John Watt June 19, 2020 at 6:36 PM Janice, I'm grateful for your visit today and wonderfully affirming words.

Gordon Mcconnell June 19, 2020 at 3:07 PM A superb piece John, telling it well of the great features of Wales having lovely rhyme and flow. Blessings, Gordon John Watt June 19, 2020 at 3:49 PM Gordon, thanks for the visit and the thumbs up from one of my favorite British Isles denizens. I explained in another comment that though I've not personally visited Wales, I've been to England and Scotland, and thoroughly loved my time there. I hope to return some day. Blessings, my friend

Kim Rodrigues June 18, 2020 at 6:40 PM John, John...sounds like a winner to me! Fave! John Watt June 18, 2020 at 7:37 PM Thanks for the visits today Kim!

Jhinuk Mukherjee June 18, 2020 at 12:18 PM So touching. I almost felt the atmosphere and nature through your words. I haven't been there but your poem took me there... You are so talented and I loved the caressing emotions present in your poem it is very soothing. Lots of Love Jhinuk John Watt June 18, 2020 at 1:07 PM Your words are very gracious, Jhinuk. I'm grateful my words can take you to another land. Blessings, my friend.

Andrea Dietrich June 17, 2020 at 6:15 PM oh my goodness such sweet lyrical poetry from you, John. gosh, I would surely love this one if I were hosting a Wales contest!! did you know half my ancestors are pretty much WElsh? Soupmail right away! John Watt June 18, 2020 at 12:19 AM I didn't know that about your ancestry! I hope you are making an entry then, I imagine you have some great tales of family lore to draw from. I wonder if you have ever visited Wales? Thank you for the blessing of your thoughtful comments, Andrea

Carolyn Devonshire June 17, 2020 at 2:45 PM I hope you didn't really have to leave behind a lady you loved and a country of such beauty, John. These would be great lyrics for a song. The flow is smooth and the imagery stunning! Hugs, Carolyn John Watt June 18, 2020 at 12:17 AM No, the characters are fictional, but the British Isles are certainly worthy of commemorating in song, both for history and lush landscapes. Thank you for filling my cup with your kindness, dear Carolyn.

Aditi Mishra June 17, 2020 at 4:11 AM My dear friend, you master at weaving magic in lyrical form. I love how your words create an enchanting melody that echoes even after I have read them, leaving a lingering essence. Best wishes for the contest. This is a fave for me. Keep writing and inspiring. God bless you :) John Watt June 18, 2020 at 12:15 AM Your messages are always so uplifting and sincere, Aditi, for which I am so grateful. Thank you for thinking highly of this one, and honoring me with a fave. Let us both keep writing and exhorting one another towards our highest potential. Blessings ~ John

Connie Marcum Wong June 17, 2020 at 3:39 AM It is as beautiful as you relate John, even in the rain. I just was captivated by your vision of your obvious love for Wales. I am saving this beauty that sings in my heart in my faves John. Bravo! Blessings xxoo John Watt June 18, 2020 at 12:14 AM Wow Connie, thank you so much for honoring me with a fave. I take it you have been to Wales, then. I have enjoyed time in England and Scotland, the memories of which I was able to draw from for this write. Glad it evoked good memories for you, my friend!

Gershon Wolf June 16, 2020 at 11:15 PM Your melodic, rhythmical portrait of Wales gave me a feeling for the wonder of the isle. Thank YOU, John! Best wishes, Gershon John Watt June 17, 2020 at 9:55 PM So glad you enjoyed this, my friend. ~ John