Menna Elfyn (Cell Angel) 'Rhif 257863 H.M.P.

MENNA ELFYN.(Translation from the Welsh by Gillian Clarke)

Cell Angel.

Rhif 257863 H.M.P.

Na chydymdeimlwcà mi,

nid Pasternak mohonof

na Mandelstam ychwaith,

Gallwn dalu fy ffordd o'r ddalfa,

,teirawr a byddwn yn y ty.

Gwesty rhad ac am ddim yw hwn,

ond lle cyfoethog,

ymysg holl ddyfrlliwiau teimlad,

barrau yw bara a chaws bardd.

Diolch frenhines, am y stamp ar sebon,

am uwd, yn ei bryd. Am dywelion anhreuliedig,

'rwyf yma dros achos

ond des o hyd i achosion newydd.

Don't pity me

I'm no Pasternak

nor Mandelstam,

I could buy my way out of here,

three hours and I'd be home.

It's a cheap hotel,

but a rich place,

amongst the watercolours of feeling,

bars are a poet's bread and cheese.

Thank you Queen, for the stamp on my soap,

for porridge, on time. For threadbare towels,

I'm here for a cause

but found new causes.