Delightful poetry

The day was bright and sunny outside with chirping birds singing atop trees, I decided to re-arrange my library, discarding the books that were damaged with time and pages missing when I found a pocket-size little book at my feet, drawing my attention. It was delightful discovery, autographed by its poet, Eira Cerdellia Jones titled TIME WON'T FORGET. Standing in the mess of paper, I browsed through it only to find that poetry is not what we read or write about. Simplicity was the keynote. She was no scholar or literati but saw every day's life and beautiful environment as they were.

I was amazed by her ardour for her native land. Born and reared in Wales among five siblings by her father, Eira Cirdellin Jones is gripped by its beauty and beautiful landscape.

'There are no words that can express

Or describe the day. Time won't forget

When disaster came to the heart of Wales

To the village of Aber-fan.

The children now are all at rest.

Peaceful on the mountain's breast

Their silent graves are linked one by one

Above the village of Aber-fan'

(TIME WON'T FORGET)

Jones may have been sceptical knowing that people who enjoy poetry will not appreciate her work as a beginner up to the grade and standard with which they were familiar. Her poems are based on real-life and on personal experiences that have imprinted themselves in her heart such as the unforgettable Aber-fan disaster. The experiences of friends and acquaintances with whom she came into close contact have helped her produce such poems as THE COLLIER's FACE and HELL BENEATH THE EARTH.

'I sat upon a comfy chair

As cosy as can be

At my feet, so red and bright

A rearing fire be

And then I thought of the price of coal

The price of life I mean

For many, a miner has lost his life

To give our fires a gleam

(HELL BENEATH THE EARTH)

There is a lot of cruelty, sorrow; love, disaster and joy in the world and all these to the best of her ability, she tried and captured in her poems. She always thought that the best things in life are free and believed that we who have been lucky in health should count our blessings. Thanks to Jesus.

Eira Cordelia Jones adored her father who sacrificed immensely to bring her up and her siblings and attribute it the blessings she received from God.

'Years ago when we were young and abandoned by our mum

Five little children who were left alone

But our father, the dad in a million

Who sacrificed his own life, for us his children

Only one arm our father did have

The other he had lost in an accident

Oh, think; what a burden we be

Five little children to bring-up had he

The way was hard but struggle we must

But we had our that to watch over us

He taught us the right and what was wrong

And he gave us the strength to carry on

(MY DAD IN A MILLION)

And rightfully, Jones dedicated this little book to her father, My Dad in a Million. Yes, to her the most precious gifts in life are health and happiness and if all have these blessings, we have everything; the advice her father bestowed on her.

'I give thanks to you O Lord this day

And thanks be to you for my hand you guide

That I should write what's on my mind

To share my thoughts with all mankind'

Eira Cordelia Jones has made us look at poetry differently; the simplicity in them that TIME WON'T FORGET'