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 A Sonnet for Nye

                                London was used to trouble from the Valleys
                                People who lived close, loved song and word,
                                Despised the big men's promises and lies.
                                With them the socialist vision struck a chord.
                                Colliers, who hated class and privilage,
                                Whose work was filthy, dark and perilous,
                                Spared a portion of their paltry wage
                                To pay a stricken neighbour's doctor's bills.
                                They sent their man to Parliament. Who dares
                                Wins. A fierce man with a silver tongue,
                                He hammered stammered words in the hallowed air
                                Of the House, an Olympian among them,
                                Stuttering his preposterous social dream
                                Translated from 'a little local scheme'.

Gillian Clarke, National Poet of Wales, from A Recipe for Water (Carcanet, 2009 - buy the book here.)

Today is National Poetry Day, and the theme this year is Heroes and Heroines. The great Welsh politician, Aneurin Bevan, founder of the National Health Service, is one of Gillian Clarke's great heroes, as he is to many people in Wales.

For more information about National Poetry Day, visit the websites below. Also see the What's On section of this website to find out about literature events in your area.

National Poetry Day website

The National Poetry Day website is the main hub of activity for National Poetry Day 2009. Here you can find education resources, e-cards, links to partners of NPD, the National Poetry Day blog, and a list of UK-wide events. If you are taking part in or planning a poetry event on or around National Poetry Day why not add your event details to the website: www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk

National Poetry Day blog
The National Poetry Day blog returns with regular updates from poets, poetry organisations and publishers in the run up to National Poetry Day. Visit: http://www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk/blog/15/

National Poetry Day Facebook Fan Page
National Poetry Day is encouraging Facebook fans to comment on the BBC poll to find the Nation’s Favourite Poet, discuss their own poetry heroes and heroines, share events news, write reviews and send poetic e-cards to friends and family. You can join the National Poetry Day fan page here: http://tinyurl.com/n82zz8

National Poetry Day on Twitter
National Poetry Day is tweeting at www.twitter.com/PoetryDayUK. Follow us to keep in touch with poetry news, be notified about new blog posts, keep in touch with events, share your thoughts on the BBC Nation’s Favourite Poet and tweet links to poetic e-cards.