The Lost Words Poetry Box Trail - Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Poetry boxes have been placed around the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to encourage people to reconnect with nature and write their own poem to share their experience with passers-by.

Inspired by the Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words exhibition, the trail is one of the activities being organised by the National Park Authority to encourage people to enjoy a few moments in the Pembrokeshire Coast’s great outdoors.

People are invited to open the box, take out the notepad, read what others have written and write down a few lines about the moments they’ve had connecting with nature. They then pop it back in the box so the next person can enjoy their literary creations, whether it’s an acrostic spell song like you see in The Lost Words or just a few lines describing what you’ve seen or heard.

The poetry boxes can be found at Castell Henllys, Sychpant, Strumble Head, Oriel y Parc, St Davids Airfield, Haroldston Chins, St Brides, Carew Castle and Skrinkle Haven.

Map of Pembrokeshire showing locations that have a poetry box on The Lost Words Poetry Box Trali 2023

The Lost Words Poetry Box Trail Gallery

Here are some of the entries that have been left along the trail!

Image of a poem written on lined paper. It reads: Still seas. Light glistening on the surface like dappled gemstones. Crystal clear view down to the undulating ripples of sand. It tempts me in, treading carefully I feel the surface of the water on my skin Like silk, the cold is refreshing, but still makes me gasp I plunge into its depths instantly no longer feeling the cold but find the warm sections on the surface caressed by the Sun.

Poem written in Catalan in a notepad. The poem is signed 'Ama'

French poem written in a notebook. It is signed Zelda and date 27 July 2023.

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: Today the sea is crashing everyone is playing and I can ear the singing of the birds. Today is a happy day. Eis age 8. 27th July 2023.

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: 4th August 2023. We are 6 and a dog Each one of us lost in our own world as we clamber across rocks, look out to sea, The constant sound of the waves sound of the waves assisting our escape from our everday lives. For me, I feel safest by the sea, life seems full of endless possibilities, unconstrained by the hemming in of hills. By Anne Peart

Acrostic poem written in a notepad. It reads: The Cricket Camouflaged in the Reeds, the Interesting patterened Chirping creature Kicks its legs and Emerges from the Thicket by Rosie (13), Billy (8), Lucy and Rich.

Acrostic poem written in a notepad. It reads: <ul> The Bramble</ul> Bushy and Rambling Bramble Aggressive and Monstrous Burdened with Lovely fruit to Eat. By Billy (8), Rosie (13) and Lucy

Acrostic poems that reads: The Adder. Ambi Dextrous? Don't think so! Evidently Rejected limbs. By Richard

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: Ragwort, knapweed, bramble clover All these we saw on our ramble Butterfly, beetle, ladybird and bee Just a few of the creatures we see Willow, ash, gorse and sloe, Watching our step as we go.

Poem written in a notepad. It reads: 2 Aug. The slender grace of the kite Meandering over the airfield at height With occasional flashes of orange-red To remind us of the servicemen, long dead

A drawing of a bird and a poem drawn/written in notepad. The Poem reads: Swallows and stonechat Whitethroat, common blue, goldfinch. Peace.

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: Ladybirds crawling on the ground What other creatures could be found? Birds in the sky, beetles down low, grass waving in the inverse flow Feel the freeze for hours and hours, look at the pretty little flowers Aidan Browne age 4. 3rd August 23

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: If you are being a grown up, you'll know never to forget that it's never really who you are You are the waves swaying, pushing over vast expanses Like magma from the centre of the earth Ploughing over hillsides and smashing it all to smithereens. You are the sun, cold and silver light Slicing through matter Into darkness beyond You are the lighthouse Always there Always pulsing Steady and awake Aidan 41

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: Sea spray rises up From jagged shoreline below The ghosts of big waves Hilly (41) Bethan

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: If you are playing monkeys and you want to say "look at the bird" you have to say "oo-oooo" and hold your hand out in the shape of the bird And if you want to describe what the bird is doing You have the bird is doing You have to copy the movement of the bird with your hand and if you do this gliding in the current of air In perfect control, tensing, poised ready to dive and every finger, a feather at one with the wind, you can for a moment, become the bird

Haikus written in a notepad. They read: The water washes away the hard jagged rocks This is the ocean. Lucas age 12 Sky blankets like sleep Harsh wind and jagged ocean Tear me from my rest Aidan age 41 I want you to stop making me write a poem Just stop it now, dad Jake age 5

Poem written in Cymraeg (Welsh) in a notebook. It reads: Mae'r mor yn swyno yn rhuo yn mynnu sylw

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: The wind rolling through the trees Pulsing warm air among the green leaves Dark clouds forming ahead of a summer yellow warning. Long grass going to seed turning golden brown Standing tall before the summer rain falls

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: Sun ghosting through clouds Ponies snorting in the meadow Clouds racing overhead into the blue Birds twittering in the breeze Leaves shimmering on the trees Brambles laden with berries red and black, shining Lichen, pale and smothering across dark bark Gifts of nature and creation, ours to enjoy in the peace of valley Inspiring delight and contentment when we stop for a while. Maggie 19th August 2023.

Poem written in Cymraeg (Welsh) in a notebook. It reads: Ger y nant yn pigo mwyar a hela cnau, dan cysgod Ffald y Brenin, Yr Arglwydd yw fy mygail ni fydd eisiau arnaf' Des a Maggie 19/08/23. There ar ealso drawing of blackberries and acorns

poem written in a notebook. It reads: I wish I was... I wish I was a little bee With hairs upon by tummy I'd climb into a honey pot and make my tummy gummy

Poem written in a notebook. It reads: Recipe for wellbeing: Put your phone in our pocket. Now breathe in - deeply - taste the salt - taste the tang - and remember this moment Lock this image into your memory Take it out on a day of need - and enjoy

Poem written in a notebook. it reads: Sea mist rolls in and stays all day Leaving Newgale, the ocean voice recedes muffled by heavy air And i am left with the uphill seound of my labouring breath Then settles into gentle rhythm It's just me and the path, retracing steps homeward The view obscured and fire ravaged hillside, charred remains. Small bursts of colour, yellow gorse peppered with heather pinks Signs of life, half blown dandelion clock, seeds sown to time, whispering hope Round the corner is a field full of sun Reflecting on September warmth, miles covered, salty skin, birdsong, red admiral wings brush my cheek, a blessing Contented fatigue, nature's gift. This is the reason I am here, lost words found in wondering. Uttered prayer of movement brings still to the mind. -Emma, Cardiff

Go to Geiriau Diflanedig - The Lost Words exhibition page

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Illustration of a barn owl flying over a woodland carpeted with bluebell flowers with a fox lurking in the background. Image is from The Lost Words - Bluebell iii © Jackie Morris

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