Out soon!
Strangers Light.
In these times will we light the stranger’s candle?
It’s something that I’ve done
for as long as I’ve had a family.
Lighting a candle in a window
on Christmas Eve
for any stranger walking
home to their own family.
Or maybe a child of my own
making their own journey
in their own lives, in their own way.
–
©robcullen261225
Originally written in 2010.
Winter Solstice is close.
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
Launch of this anthology of radical poetry from Cymru.
Launch of this anthology of radical poetry from Cymru , with cover by Gus Payne, will be at Caffi Soar in Merthyr on October 11th , 1.30 pm. /
Lawnsiad y flodeugerdd hon yng Nghaffi Soar ,Merthyr , ar y 11fed o Hydref , 1.30 yp . Meic agored. Mynediad am ddim.
Croeso i bawb.
VoicesontheBridge
Just to let everyone know – The Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza marked the end of Voices on the Bridge. I am proud that over £1000 was raised! With big thanks to all the Poets & Speakers and especially to Jeff Storyville Books.
I decided to stop VOB for the personal reasons that I have a serous health problem ( caused if you want to know by prescribed medication).
Organising a poetry event like any monthly event is time consuming and I am so grateful for all the poets & performers that I’ve met and listened to along the way from 2016 until 2025. I am particularly grateful for the support of Dr Eric (Charles) Ngalle, PeterThabbitJones, MikeJenkins and FionaCullen.
That being said it is sometimes true that organising an event feels at time like a thankless task – there have been detractors and negative sniping! Indeed snide remarks about my poetry – and some very direct lack of generosity – All of it contributed to my decision to call it a day with Voices on the Bridge To those people I say – you didnt win!
As a friend once wrote “you have to remember that the person who decides to organise a poetry event with out pay, on their time – with all the stress experienced – does it out of love for poetry but doesn’t have to do it at all – and when they do decide to stop – then there is another hole where poetry will not be heard, appreciated and young and unpublished people will not be encouraged to take the chance!”
On the positive I have no regrets! I decided in 2016 to set up an event to encourage people to come and listen to poetry, spoken word and music in a place that at that time had little. So I want to thank everyone that I listened to – who performed without payment and gave their time and created something that was wonderful !
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!
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.
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.
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!
Celfypridd 