Dyfan Lewis is the winner of the Coron at the Eisteddfod AmGen.
The poet, who is originally from Craig-cefn-parc, but now living in Caerdydd, came out top in a competition which attracted 19 entries.
The Coron, designed and created by the Eisteddfod’s craftsperson, Tony Thomas, is presented for a collection of poems, not in Cynghanedd, of up to 200 lines on the subject of Ar wahân (separate or apart).
The adjudicators were Aled Lewis Evans, Elan Grug Muse, and Elinor Wyn Reynolds.
Judge, Elan Grug Muse said, “This is a complete collection, with the standard consistent over a dozen poems, which manage to deviate from the expected and worn paths, to new and sometimes unexpected directions.
Elinor Wyn Reynolds praised the winning work in her written adjudication, saying, “This is a series of intelligent and strong poems; his use of words and expressions is economical. They have a definite unity, and create a multi-layered and mature collection of poems that deserve to be read many times.”
Aled Lewis Evans delivered this evening’s adjudication, and discussing Mop’s collection in the Cyfansoddiadau a Beirniadaethau, he said: “I liked this poet’s subtlety: emotion held tightly and harnessed effectively. We see the ability to crystallise the virtue and promise and mystery of Cardiff from time to time, but also to capture the new wave of confidence. The poet grasps us with the concepts and narrative in this sequence. It's a straightforward and clever expression, without trying to be flowery.
“Although we all had our personal favourites individually, the three of us had placed Cysgod, Crwydryn, and Mop in the top class. Following an appreciative discussion about the whole competition, we came to the agreed view that Mop wins the Eisteddfod Crown this year."
Dyfan Lewis was raised in Craig-cefn-parc. He went to Ysgol Gynradd Felindre and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryntawe before studying Welsh at Cardiff University.
He started sharing his creative work in 2018, with a pamphlet of poems and photographs named Golau. During that year, he also won the short story and the essay prize at the National Eisteddfod in Caerdydd. Mawr, another pamphlet of poems was released in 2019, and last year he published a book of travel essays, Amser Mynd after receiving a bursary from Literature Wales.
He publishes his work through his own press - Gwasg Pelydr. Gwasg Pelydr now curates creiriau.cymru, an "online cultural labyrinth" that welcomes submissions from all types of artists.