I can't believe it's been 20 years since first published. Very excited to get this new deluxe version out with 30 new poems and into by JDB. Diolch to Richard and Susie
@parthianbooks
for making it happen and to
@LucyPurrington
for the portrait- ymlaen
6 weeks ago I received a 2 inch gash across my throat from an immigrant......... He was a spinal surgeon and it enabled him to access my spine where he replaced two herniated discs and fixed a plate to stabilise my neck. He stopped the pain and gave me my life back
#OneWorld
Can't afford flood defences. Can't afford to replace flammable cladding. Can't afford to take coal waste tips away.cant afford libraries. Can't afford affordable housing. Can't afford NHS But can afford £369million for parasites to live in parasitic splendour -vile
Diolch Katie
@KTHopkins
your call out was the push i needed to sign up for my first welsh course with coleg gwent- it is time- 53 years in the making- i cannot wait and it is all down to you sweet katie- bore fucking da x
" People are returning to their homes in Khan Younis but they don't even recognise their streets. There is nothing to go back to" Hind Khoudary
@AJEnglish
'in the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine' hopefully still are., ❤️Separated by 45 years same spot in childhood garden. me and little bro today. Hold fast to the beautiful memories. X '
awoke with the sound of Welsh in my mouth- rather thrilling so late in life- correct me if i am wrong and indulge my simplicity but this is my first sentence in Cymraeg......' Dw i ddim yn hoffi Katie Hopkins'
This makes me smilecry. Not many photos of us all together -so special. Nick always has the remote. The gap is huge this time of year. But Mam is still here. Hold fast to love. Its all we leave with. Xxxx
There’s a new bright star in the sky tonight. Our dear mother Irene Jones passed away today after a long brave battle with Leukaemia. I m not able to respond to any messages as going offline for a while but if you wish to share a thought or memory please do. We love you mam x
Many will know that my dear mother would often sign her books and letters with 'Stay Beautiful'-my son,Evan, coming back home from London unannounced to reveal his new tattoo- in his Nan's handwritng-i had no words just felt the love and loss well up inside- so beautiful xx
Will be off twitter for a while as Nick and I lost our dear Dad yterday.Fiercely independent to the end it's very hard and I need to find some peace after a very difficult year.i know many of my friends here knew Dad and I just wanted to let you know.Hold onto those who hold youx
To all those men saying what Sarah Everard should have done ask yourselves one question "have you ever, ever been scared or disturbed or frightened by a woman walking near or following you?" no, thought not so shut up. Male violence must stop.
#SarahEverard
#ReclaimTheStreets
How do we mark a Mother"s birthday when they're no longer here? I've pondered this today. Would have been Mam' s 82nd birthday today. So I've cooked a vegetable stew the way she taught me and I post this photo as the light in her eyes lives on in these three beautiful boys XXX
I was bullied for years at school. Dreaded going. They made the 17 Yr old person in this photo feel fat, ugly, dysmorphic, useless, weak and desperate to please. I look back at this photo now and can't believe I let them. But I did. It's what they do.Bullies. Despise them
#bully
One of the last conversations i had with my dear mother was her telling me the way she made bread n butter pudding. Like her mother did for her. I needed her presence today so made it. So. As the world falls apart this warms me. Thank you Mam X
My dear Mam would have been 83 today.I miss her dearly. I think the best way to remember her is by one of the last poems she wrote and her beautiful face. Aros yn hardd xxx
I don't want this to be a self indulgent self pitying tweet.lost our dear Father a year ago to all who have lost a loved one. Hold fast.breathe deep.the desperate incandescence of grief's darkness reminds us to watch carefully. Cariad John Allen Jones x
James and I are truly moved by the responses and comments about the album today. We all can keep the story of Victor Jara alive and continue to stand up against injustice -
'My singing comes from the scaffoldings
used to reach the stars.'
Victor Jara
Thank you/Diolch/Gracias
390,000 streams of 'Boy From The Plantation' - income from Spotify £30.
Now, As a poet I'm not used to getting much anyway but this is disgusting. Imagine being a young band starting out. Unfair. Unjust. Immoral.
#Spotify
#MusicStreamingInquiry
Just like to thank the wonderful NHS staff at Llandough Hospital Orthopedic Centre for treating my neck and shoulder condition with an ultrasound guided injection today utterly superb. Professional and warm. And diolch to my little bro for accompanying me 🙏
#NHS
Hello it's Evan here. My Dad asked me to write a message to let twitter know he is having a break from it. The last year has taken its toll and he will be taking time to focus on writing and to have a rest.He won't be able to reply to any messages I'm afraid.Thank you. Heddwch.x
It would have been our mother's 81st birthday today. Nick and I decided to celebrate Mam's life through words as she touched so many with hers. So if you want to write a few or tweet some of hers today please do. ' Put your make up on and be early' we love you Mam x
Manic Street Preachers have scored their second number one album in the UK with ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’.
A huge thank you to everyone involved for making this happen.
Today marks 2 years since my beautiful Mother left us. Picked these flowers from my parents' garden then found this photo of my Mam in front of similar. Keep going back to those last few days. But it is the life we must also remember.The last is not what lasts.She lives on xxx
It was grief awareness week last week.I struggled to share anything as felt too overwhelmed having lost both parents in 14 months.Heres a writing idea to celebrate your loved one.What smell would you take to a desert island and why?Here s mine. For my dearest Mother xhold fast❤️
Very hard message to write. But here goes .... for friends and supporters of my dear mother Irene Jones who have asked me - no flowers but donations to St David’s Foundation Hospice Care and Wales Pony and Horse Rescue,Hengoedpeace. Love. Always. Xxx
This Is my son Ethan. School wrote him off. Times were tough.he picked up a guitar. He played it.
Never had an arts Council grant or bursary or funding to create shit that nobody sees. He plays guitar. He would be embarrassed me saying this. But hey fuck it. It's what Dad's do.
Thank you everyone. I know my mother felt your energy and words x ‘...what we have been is what we are mother of millions and fathers of forever as what breaks, shall become for we are the traces left for the next, the next’ x
Today would have been my dear Mother's 84 th birthday. She bravely fought to the end. Her indefatigable spirit lives on in her grandchildren and sons. For those struggling with grief no easy answers. However remembering your beautiful beloved in words can help. Sometimes x
What a difference a day makes. 🙏Very grateful to all the staff at University of Wales hospital Heath for such wonderful care and professionalism. Also very moved by everyone's kind and thoughtful words here .Very heartwarming -Thank you. I shall rise again 💙
#NHS
today would have been my father's 86th birthday. Grief arises at the strangest of times.Yesterday the smell of gloss paint reduced me to tears.loss is around us all at the moment.Tell people you love them. Write them poems.i never got to show my Dad this one. X
I have posted the poem I shared yesterday
@YesCymru
march in Merthyr as many have asked for it. Truly moved by the responses as it was rejected by many publishers and laughed off as rhetoric by certain poets. Diolch to all who listened and felt it.
3 years ago today I found out of my then wife's betrayal.6 words that destroyed a marriage.i realised she has been gaslighting me for years. It broke me. Didn't trust anyone for a long time. I woke one day and thought I deserve better. We all do. Don't put up with it. Be you x
the Manics have announced 2 shows at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on 4th & 5th Dec 2020.
The first night will be a free show for NHS staff, the second, tickets on sale to the public, with all profits going to NHS Wales charities.
Tickets available on Friday 10th April @ 7pm.
Kept a diary for over 50 years after having left school at 14 and taught himself to read. Worked hard all his life never nought anything for himself never threw a plug away reused everything. His last written words were 'night my love' to his departed wife. Yes I miss him x
Thought it was time for a little piece of happiness again. And thanks to this wonderful human I now know it can exist. We only have a limited time on this earth. Hold on x
#Nevergiveup
2 years ago today I found my Father dead in bed . It is a moment I will never I celebrate his brave life. He lived it on his own terms. Resilient resourceful and independent to the end. A great father to me and Nick. the real writer of the family he
When one of your sons texts you footage him at the
#TrumpVisitsUK
#TrumpProtest
from Trafalgar Sq you know you’ve done something right as a parent ⚡️⚡️⚡️
1/2 a year ago today, Friday (the day not date) my mother lost her valiant battle against Leukaemia.I have to admit i have struggled immensely with the fall out of grief and loss. We need to talk more of it.Thoughts to all who carry such unspoken pain. hold fast x
Oh my god. I signed off an email about some writing work with cymer ofal (take care)
When I just re read it the auto correct had morphed my gentle phrase into...
Cyber oral
Don't think I ll be getting that commission😳
First time I heard this I was sat in a rainy Asda car park after my Father died- James sent it via email the opening chords made me cry - lots of grief lots of hope lots of love in this song. Beautiful video by
@kierboyo
#victorjara
#eveninexile
The Duke of Kent must have been busy winning medals however could he fit in all his duking duties...... Oh I see.... They were given to him. One when he was just 2 years old. Brave soul indeed
#queensplatinumjubilee
How I remember my dear Mother who would have been 85 today-in the last few months of her life she wrote Night Photographs which many of you kindly bought.From the proceeds she would send £10/£20 notes to various charities- no fuss no pats on the back just send it off quietly❤️ x
How this little bundle of joy became a 6ft 3 digital genius who eats more than me is beyond me! But my youngest son is a star. Hold fast to the beautiful things in life. Precious. Happy 18 th birthday Elian Zephaniah Jones💙
FROM THESE HANDS
the first touch of love
i remember
the quiet walks to infant school
on rainy mornings in september
helping to write letters on lined paper
the place of a plaster on bloody knees
to make all seem better
the steamed sundays of ironing my best faded jeans
x
Going through old photograph albums with my Dad. This is from 1980/81 in West Wales.two observations:1/ I remember having a terrible body image after years of bullying and being called "fat pat" - strange as I look like a bean pole :2/ Nick modelling Waddle/Hoddle hair!
1 year ago today we said goodbye to my dear mother. There is no road map for grief. Thank you for everyone's kind thoughts and words. This is the end of the poem dandelion' x
#mothers
#love
#grief
# words
#healing
This can be a very painful lonely time as if the clock stops and you're stuck in limbo forever.worst for me being separated from my children,divorce and after losing both parents.But the minutes will pass and dark nights give way to morning light.keep going.This poem soothed me💙
All this anti English football team is frankly embarrassing. They're are in the final Wales is not. We lost. Willing Italy to do our dirty work vicariously is shallow and cowardly. Also Rashford and Sterling are inspirations for the next generation. So grow up Wales
#EURO2020
Remembering my dear Mother on
#InternationalWomensDay
an evacuee from London- an environmentalist, animal rights activist and lived life her own gentle beautiful strong brave feminine way. Love to all the other women who inspire and build a better world today 🌍🌻
Tonight from 9pm on Live Music Thursday you can hear James Dean Bradfield in conversation with
@danielleperry
talking about his new record, 'Even In Exile'. Here's the man himself tantalising our ears with some incredible new music... 🎶
@FDForum
@Manics
And this is the picture that spawned the title of my play and the million selling album. Walking on a Sunday morning with my children, Blackwood 1995.seemed a prophetic statement 🏴❤️
Have recently been through one of the most difficult times of my life. Decided to do something different - Asked the wonderful
@LucyPurrington
if she'd do some photos for some upcoming new works. She made me feel comfortable, real and human again. She is a true artist. Diolch x
Can't believe it's been 5 years since I found my Dad lifeless in bed.That moment will never go but I try to remember all the beautiful living. The last words he wrote in his diary on the night of 30 th July ( kept for 50 years) were to our dear Mother - "Goodnight my love" 💙
Nick and I would like to thank everyone who shared their words and memories of our dear Mother, Irene, today- we have shared with her beloved husband,, our father, Allen who loved them all- Thank you/ Diolch teyrnasu cariad/love reigns xxxx
4 years ago this wonderful woman left us.Irene Jones née Stockdale. The hole is huge.The silence roars. How I miss her. I like to remember smiling and laughing. X But if grief has taught me one thing it is that it is such a privilege to love and be loved. Stay beautiful indeed ❤️
Thank you. If it spreads the story of Victor Jara then I m happy. Diolch o galon to everyone who has bought streamed it.More importantly Victor was killed because of his songs. We won't beSo let us be grateful for that and use our voices for good,to question +progress
#victorjara
Next time you go and see the stereophonics
@stereophonics
remember kelly jones said yesterday ‘prince charles does a lot for welsh culture’. Yes of course. Thats why they held his 50 th party in buckingham palace.
If coronavirus has taught me one this it is this - be grateful for what you have as tomorrow it could be gone. Hold. Share. Love. Be. Stay in x
#coronavirusuk
i tried writing about it- not sure if it helped but i named it . it exists x
you are tourniquet
when i am wound
you are the stilling voice
if i lose my sound
this is how i remember her best x
Met this beautiful human being 6 months ago today. She brings me light and love and I am very grateful to have her in my life. Its never too late to find happiness.Ymlaen. Tack, Älskling Matilda x
All this posturing Wales this England that what a load of infantile bollocks. A football team from a country that is murdering its own people just played their souls out. Their fans cried and booed their anthem as players forced to sing. Brave and fearless. Celebrate that 🌟
Sorry i dont care if youre Welsh ,’a good lad’ or a decent footballer but no one deserves £400,000 a week. A week. Well maybe nurses, crossing guards and carers.
#greed
#marketforces
#AaronRamsey