They told their stories after darkness fell…
Reflections on Pipestone Creek Dinosaur Bone bed.
foto©robcullen2025
….
I’ve wondered whether on some high mountain somewhere,
There lies millions of bones and the billions of remains
Of animals and beings not selected by Noah for his Ark.
…
The endings of lives, of those who were not chosen, not selected.
Desperately climbing to the highest mountains and headlands,
In their hopeless attempt to avoid the following encroaching waters.
…
How many bone graveyards must there be? Forgotten death yards.
When only so few were chosen two by two, one male, one female.
And so many who hadn’t heard the news of the great flooding.
…
Imagine the scene at the ramp and Noah’s selection – that word again selection.
And of those being told that two of your kind have been chosen but not you.
Of being told there’s no more room; there’s no more space for you and yours.
…
Imagine how difficult it was to tell a T-Rex and the dinosaurs they weren’t wanted.
Blue whales, Sperm whales, Dolphins and the Sharks in amusement watched on.
Fleas bit someone’s knees, ants bit into floating wood, Midges did what they do.
…
But what was it like on that mountain height? – It wouldn’t have been silent for sure.
Standing there with so many others, left and discarded, angry and disconsolate,
Watching the inevitable rise of engulfing waters slowly seeping, waters creeping.
…
Even the birds that could fly and were left behind would eventually fall,
Flying endlessly with nowhere to go in a world of salt water seas.
Thank God there were fish. Thank God for his wisdom that there were fish.
…
Oh to be a fish! Oh to be a fish in times like these and to swim in the depths,
Far below the waves and not have to see these times and the murder of children,
Not have to see the genocide of a people, of the murder of so many Gaza children.
…
Twenty-five thousand murdered children of Gaza where will their bones lie?
Eighty thousand men, women and children murdered before the eyes of the world.
What will be the name of the bone yard – the graveyard of the People of Gaza?
…
©robcullen20525
Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza. VoicesontheBridge – Saturday 21st June 2025 6.30pm. … @StoryvilleBooks, Mill Street Quarter, Pontypridd. An Evening of Poetry and Music To Support the Children of Gaza!
Des MannayDisabled, Welsh writer of colour will be performing his work.
Des MannayDisabled, Welsh writer of colour. Poetry collection, “Sod ’em – and tomorrow” (Waterloo Press). An Associate Editor ‘Poetry Wales, co-editor ‘ Angry Manifesto’ journal. Prizewinner in 4 competitions, shortlisted in 7. Performed at many venues/festivals, in numerous poetry journals, in 49 anthologies. and Judge in ‘Valiant Scribe competition”.
Voices on the Bridge is organised and presented by Rob Cullen – Reading and performing will be Sabrin Hasbun, Patrick Jones, Abeer Ameer, Mike Jenkins, Rob Cullen, Tracey Rhys, Greg Cullen, Ben Wildsmith , Fiona Cullen, and Leanne Evans.
VoicesontheBridge is an evening of poetry, spoken word and song. This event is stacked with great poets & speakers book early to ensure your place!
Elizabeth Heath of RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be speaking about the upcoming Palestinian youth visit to RCT and they will have a stall with info leaflets.
Menna Elfyn couldn’t be with us but has generously donated 20 copies of – Y Bachgen a’r Wal – The Boy and the Wall – a book creeated by the young people at Lajee Centre near the city of Bethlehem.
Three local artists have donated paintings to be autioned on the night Barabara Castle and Jenna Cullen.
Great news Gerhard Kress has donated £410 he raised from the sale of his art work!
There will also be food and music. Heads up bring cash if you’re eating.
The event could not take place without the support of the wonderful @StoryvilleBooks. Big thanks to Jeff!
Watch out for further posts with more information about the evening.
Tickets are £10 online – £12 on the door. Tickets can be bought online with Storyvillebooks.
We hope you can join us and support the urgent need of the children of Gaza.
This is not a fundraiser for Hamas.
This is an event to provide funds to support the Children of Gaza.
All monies raised will be donated to UNICEF.
This is a formidable group of poets, writers, artists – Don’t miss it – Book Early.
This event is part of The Pontypridd Great Big Community as Super Power Day.
More Bridges less Walls!
VoicesontheBridge. Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza. Saturday 21st June 2025 6.30pm. … An Evening of Poetry and Music. @StoryvilleBooks, Mill Street Quarter, Pontypridd. … Support the Children of Gaza!
Ben Wildsmith – writer, journalist and musician – will be performing as only Ben does!
Ben is a Nation.Cymru columnist, writing about politics and rugby twice a week. His book, Flags & Bones, was published by Cambria Books in 2023 and pulls together his irreverent journalism. He’s a Hay Festival Writer at Work and has published short fiction . Ben is currently working on a memoir about adoption and identity which will be published by Calon in 2026. He’s been a performing musician since he was 15 and his album ‘Damn My sense of Humour will be released in 2025. He lives in Rhondda Fach with his wife, Susie, and a mounting sense of dread.
Voices on the Bridge is organised and presented by Rob Cullen – Reading and performing will be Sabrin Hasbun, Patrick Jones, Abeer Ameer, Mike Jenkins, Rob Cullen, Tracey Rhys, Greg Cullen, Des Mannay, Fiona Cullen, and Leanne Evans.
VoicesontheBridge is an evening of poetry, spoken word and song. This event is stacked with great poets & speakers book early to ensure your place!
Elizabeth Heath of RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be speaking about the upcoming Palestinian youth visit to RCT and they will have a stall with info leaflets.
Menna Elfyn couldn’t be with us but has generously donated 20 copies of – Y Bachgen a’r Wal – The Boy and the Wall – a book creeated by the young people at Lajee Centre near the city of Bethlehem.
Three local artists have donated paintings to be autioned on the night Barabara Castle, Jenna Cullen.
Great news Gerhard Kress has donated £410 he raised from the sale of his art work!
There will also be food and music.
This event is part of The Pontypridd Great Big Community as Super Power Day.
The event could not take place without the support of the wonderful @StoryvilleBooks. Big thanks to Jeff!
Watch out for further posts with more information about the evening.
Tickets are £10 online – £12 on the door. Tickets can be bought online with Storyvillebooks.
We hope you can join us and support the urgent need of the children of Gaza.
This is not a fundraiser for Hamas.
This is an event to provide funds to support the Children of Gaza.
All monies raised will be donated to UNHCR.
This is a formidable group of poets, writers, artists – Don’t miss it – Book Early.
More Bridges less Walls!
Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza. Saturday 21st June 2025 6.30pm. VoicesontheBridge @StoryvilleBooks, Mill Street Quarter, Pontypridd. 6.30pm. Support the Children of Gaza!
Leanne Evans is a proud Welsh Poet who has had a shared love of words since childhood, following in the footsteps of her poetic grandfather. Leanne has a love of animals, lives with her husband, and and 2 cats near Blackwood.
Voices on the Bridge is organised and presented by Rob Cullen – Reading and performing will be Sabrin Hasbun, Patrick Jones, Abeer Ameer, Mike Jenkins, Rob Cullen, Tracey Rhys, Greg Cullen, Des Mannay, Fiona Cullen, and Ben Wildsmith.
VoicesontheBridge is an evening of poetry, spoken word and song. This event is stacked with great poets & speakers book early to ensure your place!
Elizabeth Heath of RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be speaking about the upcoming Palestinian youth visit to RCT and they will have a stall with info leaflets.
Menna Elfyn couldn’t be with us but has generously donated 20 copies of – Y Bachgen a’r Wal – The Boy and the Wall – a book creeated by the young people at Lajee Centre near the city of Bethlehem.
Three local artists have donated paintings to be autioned on the night Barabara Castle, Jenna Cullen.
Great news Gerhard Kress has donated £410 he raised from the sale of his art work!
There will also be food and music.
This event is part of The Pontypridd Great Big Community as Super Power Day.
The event could not take place without the support of the wonderful @StoryvilleBooks. Big thanks to Jeff!
Watch out for further posts with more information about the evening.
Tickets are £10 online – £12 on the door. Tickets can be bought online with Storyvillebooks.
We hope you can join us and support the urgent need of the children of Gaza.
This is not a fundraiser for Hamas.
This is an event to provide funds to support the Children of Gaza.
All monies raised will be donated to UNHCR.
This is a formidable group of poets, writers, artists – Don’t miss it – Book Early.
Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza. Saturday 21st June 2025 6.30pm. VoicesontheBridge @StoryvilleBooks, Mill Street Quarter, Pontypridd. 6.30pm
Voices on the Bridge is organised and presented by Rob Cullen – Reading and performing will be Sabrin Hasbun, Patrick Jones, Abeer Ameer, Mike Jenkins, Rob Cullen, Tracey Rhys, Greg Cullen, Leanne Evans, Des MannayDisabled, Welsh writer of colour, Fiona Cullen, and Ben Wildsmith.
VoicesontheBridge is an evening of poetry, spoken word and song. This event is stacked with great poets & speakers book early to ensure your place!
Elizabeth Heath of RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be speaking about the upcoming Palestinian youth visit to RCT and they will have a stall with info leaflets.
Menna Elfyn couldn’t be with us but has generously donated 20 copies of – Y Bachgen a’r Wal – The Boy and the Wall – a book creeated by the young people at Lajee Centre near the city of Bethlehem.
Three local artists have donated paintings to be autioned on the night Barabara Castle, Jenna Cullen.
Great news Gerhard Kress has donated £410 he raised from the sale of his art work!
There will also be food and music.
This event is part of The Pontypridd Great Big Community as Super Power Day.
The event could not take place without the support of the wonderful @StoryvilleBooks. Big thanks to Jeff!
Watch out for further posts with more information about the evening.
Tickets are £10 online – £12 on the door.
We hope you can join us and support the urgent need of the children of Gaza.
This is not a fundraiser for Hamas.
This is an event to provide funds to support the Children of Gaza.
All monies raised will be donated to U.
This is a formidable group of poets, writers, artists – Don’t miss it – Book Early.
Book Early! VoicesontheBridge Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza 6.30pm Saturday 21st June 2025 @StoryvilleBooks, Mill Street Quarter, Pontypridd.
Organised and presented by Rob Cullen of VoicesontheBridge. Reading and performing with Mike Jenkins will be Sabrin Hasbun, Abeer Ameer, Patrick Jones, Rob Cullen, Leanne Evans, Des Mannay, Tracey Rhys, Fiona Cullen, Ben Wildsmith and Greg Cullen.
VoicesontheBridge is an evening of poetry, spoken word and song. This event is stacked with great poets & speakers book early to ensure your place!
Elizabeth Heath of RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be speaking about the upcoming Palestinian youth visit to RCT and they will have a stall with info leaflets.
Menna Elfyn couldn’t be with us but has generously donated 20 copies of – Y Bachgen a’r Wal – The Boy and the Wall made by the young people at Lajee Centre near the city of Bethlehem.
Three local artists have donated paintings to be autioned on the night Barabara Castle, Jenna Cullen and Gerhard Kress and the sale will be donated to the fundraiser.
There will also be food and music.
This event is part of The Pontypridd Great Big Community as Super Power Day.
The event could not take place without the support of the wonderful @StoryvilleBooks. Big thanks to Jeff!
Watch out for further posts with more information about the evening.
We hope you can join us and support the urgent need of the children of Gaza.
Tickets are £10.
VoicesontheBridge Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza 6.30pm Saturday 21st June 2025 @StoryvilleBooks, Mill Street Quarter, Pontypridd.
VoicesontheBridge is a great fan of Abeer’s work and its great that she will be reading at our event again!
Abeer Ameer is a poet of Iraqi heritage who lives in Cardiff. Her poems have appeared widely in journals including The Rialto, Magma, The Poetry Review, and Poetry Wales. Her debut poetry collection, Inhale/Exile, was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year 2022. She is currently working on her second poetry collection and regularly shares readings of poems on her YouTube channel.
This fundraiser to support the Children of Gaza is organised and presented by Rob Cullen of Pontypridd’s VoicesontheBridge. Performing wirth Abeer Ameer will be Mike Jenkins, Sabrin Hasbun, Patrick Jones, Rob Cullen, Leanne Evans, Des Mannay, Tracey Rhys, Fiona Cullen, Ben Wildsmith and Greg Cullen.
VoicesontheBridge is an evening of poetry, spoken word and song. This event is stacked with great poets & speakers book early to ensure your place!
Elizabeth Heath of RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be speaking about the upcoming Palestinian youth visit to RCT and they will have a stall with info leaflets.
Menna Elfyn couldn’t be with us but has generously donated 20 copies of – Y Bachgen a’r Wal – The Boy and the Wall made by the young people at Lajee Centre near the city of Bethlehem.
Three local artists have donated paintings to be autioned on the night Barabara Castle, Jenna Cullen and Gerhard Kress and the sale will be donated to the fundraiser.
There will also be food and music.
This event is part of The Pontypridd Great Big Community as Super Power Day.
The event could not take place without the support of the wonderful @StoryvilleBooks. Big thanks to Jeff!
Watch out for further posts with more information about the evening.
We hope you can join us and support the urgent need of the children of Gaza.
Tickets are £10.
Today the sky laughs at us!
©robcullen11112021
…
Today the sky laughs at us
and the trees are watching us everywhere
…
The wind blew the forest away
so there was nowhere left for people to hide
…
One day we will ask who will remember us?
….
©robcullen11112021
My Right Hand
…
my right hand
…
my right hand holds the towel tenderly stroking dry
the pacemaker tucked neatly in under bulging skin
a pouch the surgeon made while I watched the film
the day before wires were pushed from my groin
…
through the aorta with a camera filming inside me
guided to my heart I watched its voyage on the screen
above my head — then the announcement made
all arteries and veins clear — “vena amoris”
…
I remember wedding rings on the heart finger
my right hand holds the black as night coffee
sticky as thick molasses swirling in the cup
my right hand holds the spoon, lifts the cup
…
my right hand holds the knife blade holds the axe
guides the spade drives the steel into the soil
holds the pencil strokes the dog dries the dog
my right hand picks up the phone, opens the front door
…
touches my mother’s face a foto taken one Christmas day
my right hand turns the key starts the ignition starts the car
my right hand holds your waist cups your breast feels your heart
fills another cup with coffee holds it out for you feels your warmth
…
my right hand rubs tears from my eyes rubs tears from your eyes
gently smooths your cheek this is the hand that has a tremor
left overs from car crash PTSD flash backs night sweats nightmares
today it stopped — yesterday my right hand didn’t shake at all
…
my right hand feels the smile on my face the grin feeling the emptiness
of another shielded day my right hand feels the warmth of the earth
my right hand an honest hand wrinkled with age with some scars
some used to be blue with coal dust, a silver scimitar on my right thumb
…
from an accident in the street when the bike skidded overturned
the day after the coal had been delivered to Mrs. Jones No 9
the fading blue has gone only the memory remains unchanged
may be its healing nerve ends reconnecting forgetting editing out
…
my right hand raised in a wave as I watch each child leave after a stay
drive away a too short visit close the door on a cold day my right hand
holds you holds your look of sadness holds you tight as I watch tears
fall for each child’s leaving feel you come into my arms my right hand holds you.
…
this is my right hand that has not shaken another right hand in greeting
for a year this right hand will open the door shake a strangers hand once more
this right hand waiting to be shaken and shaken again by someone else
the right hand of a friend, someone close, someone else — long absent
…
this right hand holds a voice on the phone perhaps a ghost on a screen
this right hand is waiting to be held feel alive to hold the warmth of someone
else
…
©robcullen10052021
…
Celfypridd 