Owen Gruffydd facts for kids
Owen Gruffydd (born in 1643, died in 1730) was a Welsh poet. He is partly known for a sad poem he wrote. This poem was about the Welsh language becoming less popular in the early 1700s.
Not much is known about Owen Gruffydd's early life. We know he was born in a place called Llanystumdwy. This village is in Caernarfonshire, Wales. He probably lived most of his life there and in nearby areas. Gruffydd worked as a weaver, making cloth. However, he was more famous for his amazing poetry skills. He also became known as a genealogist. A genealogist is someone who studies family histories.
Owen Gruffydd's Poems
Most of Gruffydd's poems were written to honor important families. These families lived in the countryside around him. He wrote these poems in an old Welsh style. This style had been used by poets for a long time. He also wrote other kinds of poems. These were more popular with everyday people. An example of these were his carols for Christmastide, which is the Christmas season.
Some of Gruffydd's selected poems were printed in books. These books include Carolau a Dyriau Duwiol (published in 1688). Another book was Blodeu Gerdd Cymry (published in 1759). A collection called Gwaith Owen Gruffydd came out in 1904. This book was put together by O. M. Edwards. Many of his poems are kept safe today. You can find a large collection of his works. They are stored at the British Museum and the National Library of Wales.
Later Life
As Owen Gruffydd grew older, he slowly lost his eyesight. Because he could not see well, he would tell his poems to friends. His friends would then write them down for him.
