A short pamphlet with 5 alternative/performative birth stories for St David in response to the 11th century text by Rhigyfarch.
Commissioned by Ancient Connections in 2019 as part of their Wales/Ireland project.
Extract:
‘The storm is listening. It hears her prayers. It takes away pain, takes away terror. Stands there at the edge as it rolls in. Driving rain washing her mind clean of the strain to leave, to escape, to be lost. Her hands in prayer hold to the rock, the rock that fuses with her grip, that marks her presence here forever. Her hands reaching out to catch his head, his small dripping body, smothered with flesh, smothered with blood. Hands holding fast. Heart ripping open. Love that is not gentle or caring, peaceful or soft. But love that is fierce, a wild tigress, eats through flesh, her heart eaten open, heart bleeding open, scream the pain of it. My heart that knows you, heart screaming blood. My hands that know you, heart dripping blood. The rock that holds us. The earth beneath us, the sky above us. Rain washing us both, wind promising more, promising more, promising more, promising more, promising more, promising life.’
You can read the full pamphlet here.
Photo of me sharing the stories at St Non’s Well, just outside St Davids. Photo by Ruth Jones.
This pamphlet came out of another performance project I had undertaken to learn more about St Non. Read more here.
The pamphlet also inspired one of the songs, called ‘Non’ on the album ‘Voice of the Wells’ by Jo MacGregor and Dan Messore. Read more here.