Two poems by Idris Davies,

Two autograph poems, [1951], by Idris Davies, entitled 'In Glasnevin Cemetery' (ff. 113-116) and 'Mists upon the sea' (f. 117), first published in Dock Leaves, 3.8 (Summer 1952), 28, and ibid. 2.6 (Michaelmas 1951), 36, respectively.
Both appear in The Collected Poems of Idris Davies, ed. by Islwyn Jenkins (Llandysul, 1972), pp. 60-61, 167, and in The Complete Poems of Idris Davies, ed. by Dafydd Johnston (Cardiff, 1994), pp. 161-163.

Idris Davies (1905-1953), poet and schoolteacher, was born in a Welsh-speaking household and community in Rhymney, Monmouthshire, but spent much of his life living and working in London. It was, however, the industrial landscape of the South Wales valleys which was to have the greatest influence on his work, in which Davies frequently denounces the grimness and desolation of the surroundings while also reflecting the idealism and protest of its people during a time of great economic, social and religious change. His first volume of poetry, Gwalia Deserta (London, 1938), written at Rhymney, took as its theme the South Wales valleys during the Depression years of the 1930s. The Angry Summer, written at Meesden in Hertfordshire and published in 1943, is considered to be Davies's finest poem. Tonypandy and Other Poems (London, 1945) was completed while Davies was teaching in Treherbert in the Rhondda valley. In 1947 Davies returned as schoolmaster to his native Rhynmney, where he continued to write, broadcast and lecture. Selected Poems (London, 1953), the last volume to be produced during Davies's lifetime, was published less than a month before the poet's death in April 1953. Some of Davies's later material appeared posthumously in The Collected Poems of Idris Davies (Llandysul, 1972).

Arranged alphabetically by title at NLW.

Mr Lawrence Rawsthorne, Head of Libraries and Archives; County Hall, Mold; Donation; December 1999; A1999/148.

Idris Davies (1905-1953), poet and schoolteacher, was born in a Welsh-speaking household and community in Rhymney, Monmouthshire, but spent much of his life living and working in London. It was, however, the industrial landscape of the South Wales valleys which was to have the greatest influence on his work, in which Davies frequently denounces the grimness and desolation of the surroundings while also reflecting the idealism and protest of its people during a time of great economic, social and religious change. His first volume of poetry, Gwalia Deserta (London, 1938), written at Rhymney, took as its theme the South Wales valleys during the Depression years of the 1930s. The Angry Summer, written at Meesden in Hertfordshire and published in 1943, is considered to be Davies's finest poem. Tonypandy and Other Poems (London, 1945) was completed while Davies was teaching in Treherbert in the Rhondda valley. In 1947 Davies returned as schoolmaster to his native Rhynmney, where he continued to write, broadcast and lecture. Selected Poems (London, 1953), the last volume to be produced during Davies's lifetime, was published less than a month before the poet's death in April 1953. Some of Davies's later material appeared posthumously in The Collected Poems of Idris Davies (Llandysul, 1972).

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 23699E, ff. 113-117.

Usual copyright laws apply. Information regarding the ownership of Idris Davies copyright can be found at http://tyler.hrc.utexas.edu/ (viewed June 2009).

Enclosed in an envelope marked 'From G. F. Sims (Rare Books) Hurst, Berkshire, England' (see f. 117a).

For other Idris Davies poetry see NLW MSS 10810-11D, 20770E, 22397-408, 23539E.

Published