Blog

21st October, 2016

Friday Poem – ‘Elegy for David Beynon’, Leslie Norris

Aberfan Friday Poem Elegy for David Beynon by Leslie Norris

Today marks 50 years since the Aberfan disaster, 21 October 1966, when a mountain of coal waste slid into Pantglas school and 19 houses, killing 144 people, 116 of them children.

Today is a day of solemn remembrance, and in this spirit, our Friday Poem is ‘Elegy for David Beynon’ by Leslie Norris, written after a teacher who died trying to shield five children from the slurry.

Leslie Norris was born in Merthyr Tydfil in 1921, and many of his works transform local incidents into poems of great depth and significance. ‘Elegy for David Beynon’ is among his most anthologised poems, and with its poignancy and sincere emotion, it is not hard to see why.

Friday Poem Elegy for David Beynon Leslie Norris

‘Elegy for David Beynon’ is taken from Leslie Norris: The Complete Poems, edited by Meic Stephens.

We had a wonderful evening reflecting on the essays in ‘The Waters That Raised Us’ at @ffotogallery in Cardiff a few months ago. We were joined by contributors @tayloredmonds, @kathrynellentann, @cjwagstaff1, @moedwards_, @sofia_brizio and @joshuajoneswrites who read from their work and answered questions from the audience. If you’re yet to get your copy of this important anthology, you can find it in your local bookshop!
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#TheWatersThatRaisedUs #Events #SerenBooks #BooksFromWales #NewBooks #Cardiff #Water #Essays #LoveReading #CaruDarllen #NationalYearOfReading2026 #GoAllIn2026 #Ymgolli

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We had a wonderful evening reflecting on the essays in ‘The Waters That Raised Us’ at @ffotogallery in Cardiff a few months ago. We were joined by contributors @tayloredmonds, @kathrynellentann, @cjwagstaff1, @moedwards_, @sofia_brizio and @joshuajoneswrites who read from their work and answered questions from the audience. If you’re yet to get your copy of this important anthology, you can find it in your local bookshop!
.
#TheWatersThatRaisedUs #Events #SerenBooks #BooksFromWales #NewBooks #Cardiff #Water #Essays #LoveReading #CaruDarllen #NationalYearOfReading2026 #GoAllIn2026 #Ymgolli

We’re delighted that @bethanyhandley_ won an Eric Gregory Award for her poetry pamphlet ‘Cling Film’! Administered by @thesocietyofauthors the Eric Gregory Awards recognise outstanding collections by poets under 30, and are a valuable supporting step in their careers. ‘Cling Film’ is available now in all good bookshops!
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Photo by Adrian Pope.

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We’re delighted that @bethanyhandley_ won an Eric Gregory Award for her poetry pamphlet ‘Cling Film’! Administered by @thesocietyofauthors the Eric Gregory Awards recognise outstanding collections by poets under 30, and are a valuable supporting step in their careers. ‘Cling Film’ is available now in all good bookshops!
.
Photo by Adrian Pope.

Back in March we had a fantastic time celebrating publication of ‘Muslim Wales’ by @azimwales with an event at Cardiff University. Talking to @hananelizabethissa, he shared fascinating insights into the research underpinning his book in front of a packed lecture theatre. Thank you to Hana Zaman for capturing these snapshots of the event and to everyone who joined us! The event was also supported by @muslimwales. The book is available now from bookshops across Wales and beyond!
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#MuslimWales #Books #Events #Launches #SerenBooks #History #WelshHistory #BooksFromWales #Cardiff #CaruDarllen #LoveReading #NationalYearOfReading2026 #GoAllIn2026 #Ymgolli2026

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Back in March we had a fantastic time celebrating publication of ‘Muslim Wales’ by @azimwales with an event at Cardiff University. Talking to @hananelizabethissa, he shared fascinating insights into the research underpinning his book in front of a packed lecture theatre. Thank you to Hana Zaman for capturing these snapshots of the event and to everyone who joined us! The event was also supported by @muslimwales. The book is available now from bookshops across Wales and beyond!
.
#MuslimWales #Books #Events #Launches #SerenBooks #History #WelshHistory #BooksFromWales #Cardiff #CaruDarllen #LoveReading #NationalYearOfReading2026 #GoAllIn2026 #Ymgolli2026

We’re over the moon that @maggiepoet has been named winner of the #JhalakPoetryPrize 2026 for her collection ‘I Sing to the Greenhearts’. In the words of our poetry co-editors, “This vivid, powerful collection deserves this recognition... We’re proud to have published it and of Maggie’s connection to Wales.” Maggie’s book is available in bookshops and on our website!
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@jhalakprize @books.wales @inpressbooks #JhalakPrize #Poetry #PoetryLover #PoetsOfInstagram #PrizeWinner #SerenBooks #BooksFromWales #LoveReading #CaruDarllen #NationalYearOfReading #GoAllIn #Ymgolli

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We’re over the moon that @maggiepoet has been named winner of the #JhalakPoetryPrize 2026 for her collection ‘I Sing to the Greenhearts’. In the words of our poetry co-editors, “This vivid, powerful collection deserves this recognition... We’re proud to have published it and of Maggie’s connection to Wales.” Maggie’s book is available in bookshops and on our website!
.
@jhalakprize @books.wales @inpressbooks #JhalakPrize #Poetry #PoetryLover #PoetsOfInstagram #PrizeWinner #SerenBooks #BooksFromWales #LoveReading #CaruDarllen #NationalYearOfReading #GoAllIn #Ymgolli

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