Cathedrals, castles and celandines

A lovely week in Pembrokeshire, visiting beaches and castles, walking the dog in the ancient woodland on our doorstep and relishing the beautifully colourful spring hedgerows alive with wild daffodils, primroses, early violets and - my childhood favourites - celandines. No wonder the area inspires so much poetry - a good selection of which can be found in "The Poetry of Pembrokeshire" edited by Tony Curtis (Seren 1989),with poems dating from the seventh century up to the late 20th. One I particularly like is by A. G. Prys-Jones.

 "St. David's Cathedral" 

"Austerely beautiful it stands

In this green-bastioned glen,

The jewel of the fabled Western land

Beyond the haunts of men ..."

Our visit there last Friday, paying due homage at St. David's Shrine, was certainly atmospheric. I also felt very inspired to write by our visit to Carew Castle - home to some amazing stories, including one about the bad-tempered custodian killed by his pet Barbary ape and another about the sacking of the castle and the capture of Princess Nest, a not unwilling victim and a very adventurous lady who eventually gave birth to 21 children!

A fertile ground for inspiration!