When the hearth heat of summer leaves,
the cold creeps in, all unwelcome kisses.
So get the blankets, get the cardies,
start turning up the dial
-no that’s too much!
Light a candle not a lamp, my love.
Savour the taste of tomatoes and salty chips.
Even the hum of hairdryers.
For when the heaters shiver alive and that sallow
golden amber dilates pupils swollen with £ signs,
this tired world fevers watching its people freeze.
Ah Ceridwen, gather the neighbours around al misha’al.
Come, we have saved you a space near yr aelwyd.
Sing us songs of little sosbans and hope that we never find:
“When you see me, cry” scratched into a wall somewhere.
***
The cost of energy crisis is set to impact thousands of lives across the UK.
Many will struggle to stay warm over winter and our country’s ability to produce staples like salt and tomatoes will be greatly reduced.
If you or someone you know needs support, you can find information on this website or get in touch with an advisor today by calling the free helpline on 0800 702 2020.
Visit the Advicelink Cymru website where you can find out more about getting support.
***
This poem has been translated into Welsh by Grug Muse. You can read the translation, Cynhesu Byd Eang here.