At the City's Edge: the Wetlands of WalesLeave a comment

At the City’s Edge: the Wetlands of Wales – episode 2

mabjones

 At the City’s Edge: The Wetlands of Wales is a podcast of poems, stories, discovery, discussion, music and sound art exploring the importance of the Welsh wetlands, which are now under threat. With special guests for this episode: Dr Kate North and Benjamin Marriott. This episode is in honour of all the animals we have lost and is dedicated to Remembrance Day for Lost Species. Created and hosted by Mab Jones, with support from the Royal Society of Literature and a Literature Matters Award 2019. This podcast will soon also be available on iTunes and Spotify. Please follow the hashtag … Continue reading At the City’s Edge: the Wetlands of Wales – episode 2

Poetry in the Arcades1 Comment

Poetry in the Arcades

mabjones

You may, recently, have seen me asking certain questions on social media: questions about ‘poets of Cardiff’ – what this phrase means to people, and which writers people think of when we use this phrase. That’s because I was asked, a short while ago, to curate poets and commission poems from them for a new project – Poetry in the Arcades – in which these new verses would be put on display in the classic old arcades of the city. In the end, after much thought, I decided to go with a definition of ‘Cardiff poet’ as someone who ‘voices … Continue reading Poetry in the Arcades

At the City's Edge: the Wetlands of Wales, Cardiff Wetlands1 Comment

At the City’s Edge: the Wetlands of Wales – episode 1

mabjones

 At the City’s Edge: The Wetlands of Wales is a podcast of poems, stories, discovery, discussion, music and sound art exploring the importance of the Welsh wetlands, which are now under threat. With special guests for this episode: Steve Andrews, and Wynn Griffith. Created and hosted by Mab Jones, with support from the Royal Society of Literature and a Literature Matters Award 2019. This podcast is also available on iTunes and Spotify. Continue reading At the City’s Edge: the Wetlands of Wales – episode 1

Cardiff Wetlands, Uncategorized1 Comment

Earth Day / Welsh Wetlands

mabjones

When you think of all the life that Earth has sustained – is sustaining – will sustain, across the whole of time; when you think of the near infinity of flora and fauna blooming and being upon, above, and within the Earth right at this moment; when your mind reaches up to the thin wing bones of a bird, let’s say the albatross, which are of a span so wide as to allow it to glide thousands of kilometres without pause; and then think down to the deepest dwelling creatures of the sea, as deep as we can ourselves fathom, … Continue reading Earth Day / Welsh Wetlands

International Dylan Thomas DayLeave a comment

Rufus Mufasa and clare e. potter: two of the best Welsh writers celebrate spring news / views!

mabjones

I do not blog a lot, but when I do, it’s to impart unto you, gentle reader, either my own news or news which I believe is of great value, importance, significance, and excitement. All these emotions, and more, for the following! Two very fine writers (who happen to be women. Who happen to hark from Wales. Who also happen to be astounding performers of their poems. And who I happen to have the great pleasure of knowing) have celebrated, in the first case, news; and in the other, views, as follows: First up: the bold, brilliant, and beautiful Rufus … Continue reading Rufus Mufasa and clare e. potter: two of the best Welsh writers celebrate spring news / views!

UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Christmas Eves

mabjones

“Well,” said Dee, hanging another bauble from the already festooned tree, “that’s all very well and good, but who d’ya think’s gonna get the blame?” Di, from her chair, laughed. The chair was made of the finest bone, an assortment gathered and grouped together from all the animals of the world, and it shone brightly, almost gaudily, clicking a sort of rhythmic beat as its occupant wheezed and cackled. In Di’s equally bony, skin-wrinkled fingers was a tiny glass no bigger than a thimble, and in this was a bright jot of liquid. “If we give up – really, if … Continue reading The Christmas Eves

Cardiff Wetlands1 Comment

Cardiff Wetlands Writer in Residence

mabjones

I’ve recently been able to announce that, in agreement with Cardiff Harbour Authority, I am now Writer in Residence at Cardiff Wetlands. This is a non-contractual role which I am undertaking for my own inspiration and development. Why Wetlands, though? some of you have asked…. Well, previously, I was Writer in Residence at the National Botanic Garden of Wales; so, this new, nature-based position seems like a perfect follow on from that. However, unlike the National Botanic Garden, this little fringe of mud, moisture, and metre-high wild grasses isn’t well known to many, remaining a mystery even to Cardiff-born city slickers … Continue reading Cardiff Wetlands Writer in Residence

UncategorizedLeave a comment

The World’s Longest Love Poem

mabjones

This year, as part of International Dylan Thomas Day, 14 May, I was able to realise a recent dream of mine – to create the world’s longest love poem. Not by my own hand, but by the combined pens of people around the world, as part of Love The Words, the literary competition element of Dylan Day. Thanks to writers from all around the world, we managed to beat the current record and create that poem, which you can view now on Discover Dylan Thomas.com, the website of Dylan’s grand-daughter, Hannah Ellis. Entitled The Love Club (after a phrase from … Continue reading The World’s Longest Love Poem

UncategorizedLeave a comment

Cardiff Uni courses – let 2018 be the year of the writer!

mabjones

I teach the following 10 week courses at Cardiff University. They are currently open for enrolment, beginning Thursday 18th January. Each course is worth 10 credits at Level 4 (undergraduate level). Life Writing Draw on your own history and experience to tell the story of your life. Whether you want to engage readers, share your history with family and friends, or simply write for yourself, this module will give you the methods and means of composing compelling life writing, autobiography and memoir. https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/part-time-courses-for-adults/courses/view/life-writing   Reading and Writing Poetry This course adheres to the sound advice that if you want to … Continue reading Cardiff Uni courses – let 2018 be the year of the writer!