Gwyneth Lewis (1959- )
"Named Wales's National Poet--the first person to receive the honor--in 2005, Gwyneth Lewis is recognized as an accomplished poet who writes in both English and Welsh. Many of her verses, as a Contemporary Women Poets essayist explained, form an unusual combination of "contemporary life with Biblical incidents and lessons." The essayist added: "This method of updating, mixing the 'good news' of the gospel with the six o'clock news, often is the very point of her comparison, providing its conceptual occasion, and informing her style." Although the critic noted that Lewis does not employ the typical pattern of stanzas used in traditional Welsh verses, the poet is influenced by the Welsh "cynghanedd" style of putting consonants at certain points in her lines, and she also relies heavily on assonance and a rhythm reminiscent of Gerard Manley Hopkins or Dylan Thomas..." Read more 