2026 Day 59

2026 Dedh Nawnjek ha Dogens

De Sadorn, ethves warn ügens mis Whevrel
Saturday, 28th February

Modrep ow gour a ros dhebm an folen paper ma. Ma pictour an den ma ow cregy war vos hor ow gour. Piw ew an den? Nathaniel Davey ew ev, an den a wrüg mos dhe'n eglos Baldhu ha gweles bedh Billy Bray. Ev a scrifas an gwersow ma ha's danvon dhe'n paper nowodhow a'n pow. An sewyans a veu lies alüsen dhe brovia mòna rag men co brâs. Na vadna vy treyla gwersyow Gorhok Nathaniel. 

My husband's aunt gave me this piece of paper. The picture of this man is hanging on the wall of my husband's sister. Who is the man? He is Nathaniel Davey, the man who went to Baldhu church and saw Billy Bray's grave. He wrote these verses and sent them to the local newspaper. The result was many donations to pay for a big memorial. I will not translate Great-Great-Grandfather Nathaniel's verses!

REQUIEM FOR BILLY BRAY

 

Billy Bray, most famous of Cornish Local preachers, might today be lying in an unmarked grave but for a visit from Mr. Nathaniel Davey, then stationmaster at Perranwell Station, paid in 1875 to Baldhu Churchyard.

 

Mr. Davey was saddened by the neglected state of Billy’s grave that he set down his feelings in verse, which was duly published in the local press. Correspondents hastened to respond to his suggestion of a memorial for the grave, and a granite stone was erected four years later.

The original verse is written in a beautiful long rounded hand that is so rare today. The paper, parting at the folds, has now turned yellow with age but the original black ink still gives its message clearly to the world.

 

“Alas, is this thy grave, this humble mound

And art thou shrouded here in clay?

Doth moulder here, the sacred dust

Of the once famous Billy Bray?

 

Yes, here’s thy grave beneath this turf

Neglected, almost lost to view,

A few green clods mark out thy bed

In the churchyard of old Baldhu.

 

No monument nor sculptured stone

Nor trophy o’er thy head arise,

No simple tablet from thy friends

To shew the spot where thy dust lies.

 

Where, then, thy people’s boasted love?

Amongst them all is there not one

To place some token o’er thy grave

Or o’er thy head a simple stone?

 

Yet no inscription o’er thy grave

Could wider spread thy honest fame.

No spacious vault nor painted stone

Can add new lustre to thy name.

 

But one small boon thy memory craves,

For one so faithful and so dear,

Some sign should tell the future age

That Billy Bray lies buried here.

 

2026 Day 58

 2026 Dedh Etek ha Dogens

De Gwener, seythves warn ügens mis Whevrel

Friday, 27th February 

Progother a bris o Billy Bray. Nag o ev pronter clehys a'n Eglos Pow an Sowson. Tho ev esel Cristòdnyon a'n Beybel. Termyn ev a veu maw, derevys emann veu va gans y sira wydn,  Methodist. Bes termyn ev a veu den yonk ev a wrüg eva re ha codha en myschew, gen ombla. Ev a veu genys en seytek cans pajar ügens ha peswardhek en teylû balweyth. Den bal, ev o den a'n bobel. Ev a cessyas heb eva hag ombla ha treylya Cristyon a'n Beybel en etek cans trei warn ügens. Y brogathow en chapel o pigüs. Leun a nerth o y ordenals meurgerys, gen cana, donsya ha garma. Ev a wrüg derevel y japelyow y honan ha gweres dhe düs amendya aga bownans.  Ev a verwas en etek cans eth ha trei ügens, hag encledhys ew ev reb eglos Baldhu. Seyth bledhen woja hedna tho y vedh overdevys ha heb bos merkys. Den a'n pluw, henwys Nathaniel Davey, a dhallathas galow dhe rei dhodho men co vas.

Billy Bray was a famous preacher. He was not an ordained Anglican priest. He was a member of the Bible Christians. When he was a boy, he was raised by his grandfather, a Methodist. But when he was a young man he had drunk too much and got into trouble, by fighting. He was born in 1794 in a mining family. A miner, he was a man of the people. He stopped drinking and fighting and became a Bible Christian in 1823. His preaching in chapel was exciting. His popular services were full of energy, with singing, dancing and shouting. He built his own chapels and helped people to improve their life. He died in 1868 and was buried by Baldhu church. Seven years after that his grave was overgrown and unmarked. A local man called Nathaniel Davey started an appeal to give him a suitable memorial.

2026 Day 57

 2026 Dedh Seytek ha Dogens

De Yow, wheffes warn ügens mis Whevrel

Thursday, 26th February

Nag ew da genam treylya cottha, saw da ew genam golyow. Pedn-bloodh vy ewa ha theram ow colyas! Nehewer my eth dhe'n wariva gans ow mab. Nei a viras orth "Hamlet" gen Shakespeare. Marthys da ew an gwary, ha marthys da ew an derevel. Sempel ha vas. An gordhûher o pur blegadow. Ma lies laverans e'n gwary ew ajwonys dhen. "Ogh trû, Yorick trûan."

I do not like getting old, but I do like a good celebration. It's my birthday and I'm celebrating! Yesterday I went to the theatre with my son. We watched "Hamlet" by Shakespeare. The play is wonderfully good and the production is wonderfully good. Simple and effective. The evening was very enjoyable. There are many sayings in the play that are familiar to us. "Alas, poor Yorick."

2026 Day 56

2026 Dedh Whetek ha Dogens

De Merher, pempes warn ügens mis Whevrel

Wednesday, 25th February

 

Gwyls ew an vorr (fordh) ow mos dhe'n mor. Ew hebma gwylfos? Nag ew. Thew Coos Melinjy, ogas dhe "Lergh an Sans". Na ello whei kerdhes etto, drefen bos an dor devrek (dowrek) ha leun a dollow. An osil coth ew gorherys gen best ha kewny. Nag ens ûsyes na velha rag gwil baskettys puskes. Pur glan ew an ayr. Ma kewny war lies gwedhen en keow ewedh. Da ew genam an liw - glas.

The road going to the sea is wild. Is this a wilderness? No. It's Bolingey Wood, near the Saint's Trail. You cannot walk in it, because the ground is marshy and full of pools. The old osiers are covered in moss and lichen. They are not used any longer for making fish baskets. The air is very clean. There is lichen on many trees in hedges, too. I like the colour - blue/grey/green.

2026 Day 55

2026 Dedh Pemdhek ha Dogens

De Meurth, pajwora warn ügens Mis Whevrel
Tuesday, 24th February

Hedhyw, my a gerdhas dhe'n vedhegva e'n drev. Res veu clojiores kemeres nebes samplys gooj. Wòja hedna thera termyn lowr rag kerdh yagh moy war an treth. Nag ew an treth pur vesy en mis Whevrel. Ma moy edhyn es persons. Trig ew, rag hedna tho an treth pur vrâs. Ma treth saw nag eus castilly treth en gwav. Gwenjek ew hei ha garow ha teg ew an mor. Leun a nerth!  Nag eus bes üdn person e'n dowr.  E'n gwelha pres, e veu kyttrin rag an viaj tre. Fatel ellama omglowas mar yagh bes mar skith e'n kettermyn? 

Today, I walked to the doctors' clinic in the village. A nurse had to take some blood samples. After that there was enough time for another healthy walk on the beach. The beach is not very busy in February. There are more birds than people. It's low tide, therefore the beach is very big. There is sand but there are no sandcastles in winter. It is windy and the sea is rough and beautiful. Full of energy! There is only one person in the water. Fortunately, there was a bus for the journey home. How can I feel so healthy but so tired at the same time?

2026 Day 54

 2026 Dedh Peswardhek ha Dogens

De Lün, tryja warn ügens mis Whevrel
Monday, 23rd February

A wrüga whei mires orth an Gwariow Olympyk Gwav? Diwedhys ens e'n eur-ma. Na vedh an menedhyow-na bos gweles genen na velha war agan scrînys. E veu Ceremony Degea leun a liw. A wrüga whei y weles? An Flamm Olympyk a veu divüdhys. Eus sport meurgerys dhewgh? Ero whei gwil sport gwav, skittra martesen? Hedhyw e'n jedh ma sportys nowydh. Meur a dermyn ew tremenys e'n ayr (awarra dhe wòles ha keyn war rag)!

Did you watch the Winter Olympic Games? They are finished now. Those mountains will no longer be seen by us on our screens. There was a colourful Closing Ceremony. Did you see it? The Olympic Flame was extinguished. Do you have a much-loved sport? Do you do a winter sport, skating perhaps? Nowadays there are new sports. A lot of time is spent in the air (upside-down and back-to-front)!

2026 Day 53

2026 Dedh Terdhek ha Dewgens

De Sül, nessa warn ügens mis Whevrel
Sunday, 22nd February

Ma sawarn wheg et ow esedhva. Wòja an enawel vrâs my a drohas nebes sethednow dhort an wedhen vian codhys ha gòrra anjei en lester a dhowr. Lebmyn ma flourys gwydn wheg. Ma flourys war remenat a'n wedhen war an dor, barrednow bian emesk bambou, ewedh. Ma'n howl ow spladna ha ma edhyn ow cana.  Ma rüdhek e'n topp an perbren. Jorna teg ew.

   There is a sweet smell in my sitting-room. After the big storm I cut some twigs from the little fallen tree and put them in a container of water. Now there are sweet white flowers. There are flowers on the remainder of the tree on the ground, little branches among bamboo, too. The sun is shining and birds are singing. There's a robin in the top of the pear tree. It's a lovely day. 

 

2026 Day 52

2026 Dedh Dewdhek ha Dewgens

De Sadorn, kensa warn ügens mis Whevrel
Saturday, 21st February

An lether-ma a veu dyllys e'n paper nowodhow "An Times". An kesscrifer a scrifas "ma olow remenat a'n tavas"! Ew hebma onan anodhans. Da ew genam an praga rag morvleydh porhbügel, saw nag eus othom dhe nei a ûsya an hanow "morvleydh" rag porhbügel. Ma porhbügoledh ow cuntel an brilly pecar'a bügoledh ow cuntel aga deves. Bügoledh an porth ens. Bettegens, na vedn bügel ow lenky y dheves! Ha na dal pescadoryon cachya porhbügel veth, drefen bos peryllys - moy avel agan tavas. 

This letter was published in "The Times" newspaper. The correspondent wrote "there are remnant traces of the language"! Is this one of them? I like the explanation for porbeagle shark, but we do not need to use the name "shark" for a porbeagle. Porbeagles gather the mackerel like shepherds gathering their sheep. They are shepherds of the harbour. However, a shepherd will not swallow his sheep. And fishermen should not catch a single porbeagle, because they are endangered - more than our language.

2026 Day 51

2026 Dedh Üdnek ha Dewgens

De Gwener, ügensves mis Whevrel

Friday, 20th February

Na ellama perdery adro dhe scrifa e'n eur-ma! Ma dhebm galar tydn et ow garr. Res ew dhebm whilas medhakneth. 

I can't think about writing at the moment! I have a sharp pain in my leg. I must look for medicine.

2026 Day 50

 2026 Dedh Hanter Cans

De Yow, nawnjegves mis Whevrel

Thursday, 19th February

Lôwen o vy hedhyw. Gellys, rag teken, ew an glaw. Gwenjek ew hei bes devedhys ew an howl. Ma'n edhyn ow cana ha ma nebes flourys ow pleujowa. 

Ma brially melyn emesk an kewny. 

Melyn ew an colwedh gen losyow on. 

Ma'n camellia ow strolya an dor gen lies petal gwydnrüdh. 

Ma stroyl dhort an enwedhen ewedh - buddys dû war sethednow sqwachys gen an enawel. 

I am happy today. Gone, for a moment, is the rain. It is windy but the sun has arrived. The birds are singing and some flowers are blossoming. There are yellow primroses among the mosses. The hazel trees are yellow with catkins. The camellia is littering the ground with many pink petals. There's litter from the ashtree too - black buds on twigs broken by the storm.

2026 Day 49

 2026 Dedh Dogens ha Naw

De Merher, etegves mis Whevrel
Wednesday, 18th February

Ero whei ow trouvya mònyow Kernow dhe les? Ew da genowgh an edhyn? Martesen, thero whei ow kerdhes e'n còsow po war an gònyow, ow mires orth an gwedh ha losow erel. En termyn eus passyes mònyow ha gwedh a ros henwyn dhe dhowrow. 

Prei gwydn ew gwydn, gossen ew rüdh. Ma gwern ow tevy reb dowrow.

Ottòbma nebes samplys:

Do you find the minerals of Cornwall interesting? Do you like the birds? Perhaps, you walk in the woods or on the downs, looking at the trees and other plants. Once upon a time minerals and trees gave names to rivers.  China-clay is white, iron oxide is red. Alder trees grow by rivers.

Here are some examples:

INNY (Eny c1160, 1328)                 Dowr Eny            “ash trees river”

FOWEY (Fawy 1241-1339)             Fowy                    “beeches river”

LUXULYAN (Werman c1200)          Dowr Gwernan    “alder tree river”

COBER (Coffar 1283; Cohor 1354) Dowr Coghar       “red one”

RUTHERN (Ruthen 1412; Rothyn 1454) Dowr Rudhyn  “little red river”

TREVILLETT (Tredewi water 1536) Duy                    “dark river”

WITHEY BROOK (Withebrook Water 1613) Withy Brook “willow brook”

RUTHDOWER                                Rudhdowr          “red stream”

KENWYN (Dower Ithy n.d.)             Dowr Ythyow      “ivy trees river”

ST AUSTELL (Winnick n.d.)           Dowr Gwynyk      “little white river”

2026 Day 48

 2026 Dedh Dogens hag Eth

De Meurth, seytegves mis Whevrel
Tuesday, 17th February

Ew da genowgh crampeth? De Meurth Enes ew hedhyw. Thew üdn jedh rag debry lies crampethen! Rag fra? Rag cryjygyon, avorow ew an kensa dedh Corawys, termyn rag penans. Na vedn anjei debry boos rych terebo bos Du Pask.

Do you like pancakes? It's Shrove Tuesday today. It's one day for eating a lot of pancakes! Why? For believers, tomorrow is the first day of Lent, a time for fasting. They will not eat rich food until it's Easter Day.

Bes otta whedhel coth meurgerys adro dhe crampethen vrâs.
But here's a popular old story about a big pancake.

An Grampethen The Pancake 

En termyn eus passyes 

an old woman had seven children. 

She made a big pancake. 

The children said, 

"Da ew genen an grampethen vrâs na.” 

We like that big pancake. 

The pancake heard the children. 

She said, 

“Na wra an flehes ow debry.” 

The children will not eat me. 

And she rolled away. 

 

The old woman ran after the pancake. 

The seven children ran after the pancake. 

The old woman said, 

“Sav, sav, a Grampethen! 

Da via gans ow flehes dha dhebry!” 

Stop, stop, Pancake! 

My children would like to eat you! 

 

The pancake said, 

“Na ellama sevel rago whei.” 

I can’t stop for you. 

And she rolled away. 

Hei a rolyas, hag a rolyas, hag a rolyas. 

She rolled, and rolled, and rolled. 

 

 

An old man saw the pancake. 

He said, 

“Durda dhis, a Grampethen.” 

Good day to you, Pancake. 

“Durda dhe whei, a Dhen Coth,” said the pancake. 

“Good day to you, Old Man.” 

 

“Sav, sav!” said the old man 

“Stop, stop! 

“Na wra rolya mar üskis! 

Da via genam dha dhebry.” 

Don’t roll so fast! 

I’d like to eat you. 

 

The pancake said 

“Na wrüga vy sevel rag an venyn goth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an seyth flogh.” 

I didn’t stop for the old woman. 

I didn’t stop for the seven children. 

 

“Na ellama sevel rago whei.” 

I can’t stop for you. 

And she rolled away. 

Hei a rolyas, hag a rolyas, hag a rolyas. 

She rolled, and rolled, and rolled. 

 

A hen saw the pancake. 

She said 

“Durda dhis, a Grampethen.” 

Good day to you, Pancake. 

“Durda dhe whei a Yar,” said the pancake. 

“Good day to you, Hen.”  

 

“Sav, sav!” said the hen. 

“Stop, stop! 

“Na wra rolya mar üskis! 

Da via genam dha dhebry.” 

Don’t roll so fast! 

I’d like to eat you. 

 

The pancake said 

“Na wrüga vy sevel rag an venyn goth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an seyth flogh. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an den coth.” 

I didn’t stop for the old woman. 

I didn’t stop for the seven children. 

I didn’t stop for the old man. 

 

“Na ellama sevel rago whei.” 

I can’t stop for you. 

And she rolled away. 

Hei a rolyas, hag a rolyas, hag a rolyas. 

She rolled, and rolled, and rolled. 

A rooster saw the pancake. 

He said, 

“Durda dhis, a Grampethen.” 

Good day to you, Pancake. 

“Durda dhe whei a Gülyek,” said the pancake. 

“Good day to you, Rooster.”  

 

“Sav, sav!” said the rooster. 

“Stop, stop! 

“Na wra rolya mar üskis! 

Da via genam dha dhebry.” 

Don’t roll so fast! 

I’d like to eat you. 

 

The pancake said 

“Na wrüga vy sevel rag an venyn goth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an seyth flogh. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an den coth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an yar.” 

I didn’t stop for the old woman. 

I didn’t stop for the seven children. 

I didn’t stop for the old man. 

I didn’t stop for the hen. 

 

“Na ellama sevel rago whei.” 

I can’t stop for you. 

And she rolled away. 

Hei a rolyas, hag a rolyas, hag a rolyas. 

She rolled, and rolled, and rolled. 

 

A boy saw the pancake. 

He said, 

“Durda dhis, a Grampethen.” 

Good day to you, Pancake. 

“Durda dhe whei a Vaw,” said the pancake. 

“Good day to you, Boy.”  

 

“Sav, sav!” said the boy. 

“Stop, stop! 

“Na wra rolya mar üskis! 

Da via genam dha dhebry.” 

Don’t roll so fast! 

I’d like to eat you. 

 

The pancake said 

“Na wrüga vy sevel rag an venyn goth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an seyth flogh. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an den coth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an yar. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an cülyek.” 

I didn’t stop for the old woman. 

I didn’t stop for the seven children. 

I didn’t stop for the old man. 

I didn’t stop for the hen. 

I didn’t stop for the rooster. 

 

“Na ellama sevel rago whei.” 

I can’t stop for you. 

And she rolled away. 

Hei a rolyas, hag a rolyas, hag a rolyas. 

She rolled, and rolled, and rolled. 

 

A dog saw the pancake. 

He said, 

“Durda dhis, a Grampethen.” 

Good day to you, Pancake. 

“Durda dhe whei a Gei,” said the pancake. 

“Good day to you, Dog.”  

 

“Sav, sav!” said the dog. 

“Stop, stop! 

“Na wra rolya mar üskis! 

Da via genam dha dhebry.” 

Don’t roll so fast! 

I’d like to eat you. 

 

The pancake said 

“Na wrüga vy sevel rag an venyn goth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an seyth flogh. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an den coth. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an yar. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an cülyek. 

Na wrüga vy sevel rag an maw.” 

I didn’t stop for the old woman. 

I didn’t stop for the seven children. 

I didn’t stop for the old man. 

I didn’t stop for the hen. 

I didn’t stop for the rooster. 

I didn’t stop for the boy. 

 

“Na ellama sevel rago whei.” 

I can’t stop for you. 

And she rolled away. 

Hei a rolyas, hag a rolyas, hag a rolyas. 

She rolled, and rolled, and rolled. 

 

The pancake came up to a wood. 

A pig saw the pancake. 

“Durda dhis, a Grampethen,” said the pig. 

Good day to you, Pancake. 

Na wra rolya mar üskis.  

My a vedn mos dhe’n coos genes. 

Don’t roll so fast. 

I will go to the wood with you. 

 

The pancake said 

Gramassy. My a vedn mos geno whei. 

Thank you. I will go with you.  

So they went into the wood. 

They came to a brook. 

 

“My a ell neyja dres an gover,” said the pig. 

I can swim across the brook. 

But the pancake said, 

“Na ellama neyja. Na ellama mos e’n dowr. 

I can’t swim. I can’t go in the water. 

“Ke war ow frigow,” said pig. 

“Ha my a vedn neyja dresto genes.” 

Go on my nose. 

And I will swim across with you. 

 

The pancake went on the pig's nose 

The pig said “Ronk, ronk! 

Crampethen dha osta!”  

You're a good pancake! 

 

And he ate her all up!