It’s not going to win any prizes, but here’s a little something I penned in honour of Gelert the hound, hero of a traditional Welsh tale. The hound give name to the picturesque village of Beddgelert (Gelert’s grave) in Snowdonia.

Gelert saves the babe from the wolves

Beddgelert

A moss covered stone
Is there to atone
For the trust of a Prince
– Lost and then won

On a rainy Welsh day
The Prince and his Bride
‘Neath mist-topped Yr Wyddfa
Took the hunt for a ride

Their infant son they did leave
In the care of his nurse
With her eyes on her lover
It could not have been worse

A moss covered stone
Is there to atone
For the trust of a Prince
– Lost and then won

The nurse and the lad
Took a walk by the brook
To the care of the child
They neglected to look

Brave Gelert did lead
The hunt that wet day
‘Till his loyal sixth sense
Did lead him astray

A moss covered stone
Is there to atone
For the trust of a Prince
– Lost and then won

Missing his hound
And with quarry at bay
The master returned
To a scene of dismay

Brave Gelert’s muzzle
Was covered with blood
With wagging of tail
He thought he’d done good

A moss covered stone
Is there to atone
For the trust of a Prince
– Lost and then won

The Prince thought the worst –
Of the infant no trace
Only blood and gore he could find
In his rest place

In anger and grief
The Prince drew his bow
Turn’d his once loyal friend
Into food for a crow

A moss covered stone
Is there to atone
For the trust of a Prince
– Lost and then won

Once damage was done
The Prince heard a cry
Under bed and ‘neath wolf
His son he did spy

In the blink of an eye
Did the Prince comprehend
In his haste to avenge
He’d murdered a friend

A moss covered stone
Is there to atone
For the trust of a Prince
– Lost and then won

A moss covered stone
Is there to atone
For the trust of a Prince
– Lost and then won