Last Thursday, I, along with several other Arachne poets, read our work from the A470 anthology, at the Hours bookshop, which is located in the grounds of Brecon Cathedral.

What a wonderful location for a bookshop – and café (that perfect combination of books and cake!)

And, as it happened to be dry and warm, what a marvellous venue for a poetry reading!

We received a very warm welcome from owners Leigh and Nicky, and the audience was also extremely appreciative, asking several questions, which showed their interest in the poems and the bilingual aspect of the work. (Here’s Clare, with the mic, answering one of those questions. And you can also see Gareth Writer-Davies, Stephen Payne, Sion Aled and Sian Northey).

I wonder if there’s a name for a gathering of poets?

And here I am, reading ‘Blodeuwedd Crosses the Road’, in English and Welsh again. I think it went okay!

I feel so privileged to be included in this anthology, and to be part of the A470’s journey through Wales, this summer. The readings in Brecon, and in the National Library were both such lovely events, one of the nicest things about them being the feeling that new friends have been made.

So, as ever, thanks to Arachne for publishing, and Cherry, Sian, Ness for editing. And a big thank you to ‘The Hours’ (https://www.thehoursbrecon.co.uk), for hosting us.

The A470 anthology is on its third re-print now, copies available in a number of bookshops, but also direct from Arachne’s website – https://arachnepress.com