| ALF GARNET | ALF GARNET |
| Pol Hodge | trans. Pol Hodge (from Cornish) |
|
Yth esa le, Halgarnek y hanow, pur gernewek, y'n golonn a Gernow. Hag unn jydh teg, y teuth tus kevoethek, diworth an est, gans towlenn euthek. Dhe dhrehevel chiow ha moy chiow chiow dhe'n kledh ha chiow dhe'n deghow. Mes neb hanow res o dhedha kavoes, - onan sowsnek, der oll aga galloes. Heb prederi "The Forge" o dewisys ha gans henna an ober gorfennys. Mes den a dheuth konsler Konteth Karrek, den fur ha gwir, heb own bos kernewek. Ev a vynnas hanow yn kernewek. Yn hwir prag na? Nyns o an le sowsnek. Ev a vynnas an hanow Halgarnek rag Halgarnek awos y vos kernewek. Yn-medh tever, "Ni a spen an arghans ytho henwyn 'vydh herwydh agan hwans." An gorthyp o "Ni a dryg yn Kernow yn mysk hy yeth," herwydh an den a'n pow "Ha gans henna y tal bos Halgarnek dhe fyttya an kyrghynnedh kernewek." "Da lowr, da lowr" Hag yn-medh an devoryon "dhe'n dus teythyek y worra a wren ni." Heb an yeth wir, prederi yn sowsnek a wrussons i ha skonya Halgarnek. Tus kemmyskys, pellwolok gans Kernow. Halgarnek dhe... Alf Garnet yn hanow. Agan konsler, a wra ev, an den mas, pesya heb lett bresla rag y wlas? Hag a wrav vy sywya an dus teythyek hag ankevi ow yeth vy kernewek? Na - aga hyjya! Aga hyjya oll! |
There was a place, its name was Algarnick, so Cornish, and in the heart of Cornwall. While one fine day, there came powerful people, from the east, with an awful plan. To build houses and more houses, houses to the north and houses to the south. But some name they had to find - an English one, with all their power. Without thinking, "The Forge" was chosen and with that work was finished. But a man came, a Carrick County councillor, a wise and true man, without fear of being Cornish. He wanted a name in Cornish. In deed why not? The place was not English. He wanted the name Halgarnek for Algarnick because it was Cornish. Said developer, "We spend the money therefore names will be decided according to our criteria." The answer was "We live in Cornwall in the midst of her language," according to the patriot. "And therefore it should be Algarnick to fit into a Cornish environment." "OK, OK," said the developers "To the local people we will put it." Without the true language, thought in English they did and rejected Algarnick. People mixed up television with Cornwall. Algarnick became... Alf Garnet in name. Our counsellor, will he, the good man, continue without faltering, to fight for his country? And will I follow the local people and forget my Cornish language? Na - Fuck 'em! Fuck ‘em all! |
Copyright © Pol Hodge 1996 - publ. Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek Fentenwynn