An Englyn must conform to a number of rules.... they have to jump through various hoops, in a way.
I've often wondered what would happen if aliens visited Earth, or what was left of it, in 6 million years time, and all they could find was a collection of Englynion .... fel .....
So ...the aliens have got one of these collections ... and their computers could (maybe) work out what they actually say .... but could they work out what the "rules" were ?
By the way, there's a famous old archaeological joke that all ancient writings are about religion/cults/ceremonies etc. Ha! They haven't read City of the Sharp-nosed Fish obviously.
So ... I've got a collection of these things, despite the fact that it seems not to exist... could I work out what the "rules" were.
There's a few obvious ones. Are there any subtler ones ?
So, readers, I thought I would try it on you ... you can be the aliens, and I'll give you an englyn or three ( or more) and let's see if you can find out what the rules are.
There's nothing to stop you finding some of them on the net as well ... but no looking up the rules!
Well, not until you've given up anyway. Have a go first... if you want to that is.
There is one thing I ought to say first ... your average englyn is often crammed with obscure words, obsolete words, literary and rare endings etc .... but the "meaning" doesn't really matter as far as this experiment goes ... the rules are about the "structure" of the poem. They can be about all manner of things.. serious stuff, silly stuff, they can be odd, wild, boring, gripping, featuring snow, knees, hats, hospitals..... they can be about pretty lakes, ugly streets, famous people, famous places, bananas ( oh yes), litter, governments, cake, chimneys ... owt really.
Right then... here's a few of them to get you going .... they're all like the one up at the top on the gravestone ......the same structure ...
Y BANC ... Elias Davies
Nid hawddfyd yw byd y banc - er rhoddi
Fy rhyddid mor ifanc,
Islais rybuddia laslanc -
Gwylia grwt, rhagweli granc.
FFENESTR ... Dan Ellis
Golau ydyw i'r gwledydd - a siriol
Fel seren ysblennydd;
Haul huda i'r aelwydydd,
Inni'n rhad goleuni rydd.
MARTIN LUTHER KING ... Dic Goodman
Dros ryddid cwyd du broffwydi - o'r ing,
O rengoedd trueni,
Dynion fu mewn cadwyni
I gyfiawnhau d'angau di.
TYWYDD EIRA .... Lewis Owen Griffith
Rhew ac eira ar gyrion - Hiraethog,
A'r eithin yn wynion ;
Rhigol lwyd a llithrig lôn ;
Sobor yw taith ar 'sebon' !
OK .. now it's up to you ....