‘May and November’
In this episode we discuss one of Dafydd ap Gwilym’s nature poems, namely the famous cywydd which contrasts the month of May with the ‘dark angry’ month. While considering two connected themes which are central to Dafydd’s work, love and nature, we note that the poem welcomes May as it signifies the beginning of summer – the season which allows him to meet his lover(s). We examine the way in which Dafydd personifies the month of May and suggest that he uses some aspects of praise poetry, making these traditional elements part of his original composition.