Poem of the week: Storm in Brooklyn Subway by Menna Elfyn

"Storm in Brooklyn Subway appears in her wide-ranging new collection, Parch. Some of the poems in Parch have been translated into English by a distinguished cast of authors that includes Gillian Clarke, Robert Minhinnick and, an unexpected treat, RS Thomas. But Elfyn wrote many of the poems, including this week's choice, directly in English, celebrating, she says, the fact that the Welsh language is now accepted and respected as an official language in Wales, following many years of non-violent campaigns."

"She goes on to explain: This has allowed me to develop a feeling of affinity with the English language and, as a proud bilingual, I attest to Herta Muller's belief that holding one's own language up to the eyes of another leads to a solid relationship, a relaxed kind of love'. There are two poems which appear in their original Welsh alongside Elfyn's English translations: both are elegies, composed after the loss of her sister in 2020 and her brother in 2022."

"The collection's title, Parch, shouldn't be anglicised: it's the Welsh word which means respect. Parch can also be the title for a spiritual leader in a nonconformist chapel, informally translatable as Reverend. By association, I found myself suddenly remembering George Herbert and his poem The Church-porch and applying the concept of the porch as shelter and entrance more generally to Elfyn's collection."

A Brooklyn subway storm scene portrays a mottled crowd seeking refuge, then a sudden transformation into calm and grace that carries people home. Official acceptance and respect for the Welsh language is emphasized alongside a proud bilingual affinity with English. Personal elegies mourn the loss of a sister in 2020 and a brother in 2022. The Welsh word "Parch" means respect and can denote a spiritual leader, linking porch imagery to shelter and entrance. Recurring scenes depict collective activities such as queueing, building refuge from stones, and peaceful demonstrations, highlighting community and sanctuary.

Read at www.theguardian.com