<![CDATA[Rhys Owain Williams

<![CDATA[Rhys Owain Williams - Blog]]>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:34 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[New Anthologies]]>Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/new-anthologies

I've got poems included in two new anthologies that are both now available to pre-order, if you fancy buying a gift for your future self.

Masculinity: An Anthology of Modern Voices is published by Broken Sleep Books on 31st January. There are two new poems of mine in it – one about practising mindfulness while playing GTA V, and another about the AI of a workout app becoming sentient. Pre-order here: brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/masculinity-an-anthology-of-modern-voices

Byways: Poems and Stories on Foot is published by Arachne Press on 20th March. It includes a new poem of mine about becoming a father and having to give up taking short cuts while walking. Pre-order here: arachnepress.com/Byways-Poems-and-Stories-on-Foot-p599356655

]]><![CDATA[Field #18]]>Fri, 30 Jun 2023 22:06:20 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/field-18

My hand holding up Field’s Issue 18 in front of two framed pictures on a white wall.

An extract from my poem ‘Here’s What Happens When You Enter a Black Hole’, published in Field Issue 18. The text is staggered across the page.Of all the ways I’m afraid to die, falling into a black hole has become less of a concern in adulthood.I no longer fear the great void will open up at the end of my childhood street, a suburban supernovaat the turn to Enfield Close.Instead, now I worry about cardiovascular disease, bomb plots, being in the wrong place at the wrong time.Is my uneven skull harbouring brain tumours?The doctor says No.The night before another birthday, I find a cluster of grey hairs in my beard.My body still surprises me. Last week, it brought a deep splinter to the surface of my finger, presented it from the wound like a gift.Quietus enveloping his deathbed,the post-Christian poet Wallace Stevens sought Catholicism’s comforting embrace.Empty space will do that to you.

Diolch to editor Samuel Reid for asking me to contribute a poem to Field’s issue on the theme of ‘Control’. Many of my poems are personal, but this one has perhaps left me feeling the most exposed as it’s the first time I’ve written something around the OCD diagnosis I received last year.

‘Here’s What Happens When You Enter a Black Hole’ is a poem about a 25-year obsession with death, looking at some of the associated anxieties/compulsions. Last year’s OCD diagnosis was a very welcome explanation, and I’ve since received CBT which has honestly been life changing.

Now looking forward to seeing how the other eight writers have responded to this wide-ranging theme. You can pick up a copy of the issue on Field’s website: https://fieldzine.com

]]><![CDATA[HAY FESTIVAL AR Sculpture Experience]]>Sun, 04 Jun 2023 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/hereford-college-of-arts-ar-sculpture-experience

An AR overlay of text over the side of a white tent, created using an Instagram filter. The text reads:THE WILDby Rhys Owain Williamsspring mist –at the edge of the car park,the madness of birdsong

I’m standing with my son in a carrier behind the giant orange H A Y letters just outside the festival entrance

An AR overlay of text over the side of a white tent, created using an Instagram filter. The text reads:THE WILDby Rhys Owain Williamscracking old tarmacon the tree-cleared boulevard –the memories of roots

One of the real-world sculptures from the AR experience – it looks like a series of interlinked doors painted blue, pink, orange and yellow. Blue and orange Hay Festival flags are in the background.

An AR overlay of text over the side of a white tent, created using an Instagram filter. I am standing in front of the tent with my son in a carrier. The text reads:THE WILDby Rhys Owain Williamsa red triangle cenotaphat the woodland’s edge ‘deer crossing’

One of the real-world sculptures from the AR experience – it looks a little like a simplified animal skull with horns painted blue, pink and orange.

Loved returning to Hay Festival yesterday (after too long away) to see some of my poems included in the Hereford College of Arts AR Sculpture Experience. To experience the poems, you scanned a QR code next to the real-world sculpture and were taken to an Instagram filter where you could read them in augmented reality. Such an innovative way for people to experience poetry!

]]><![CDATA[Magma #85]]>Sun, 16 Apr 2023 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/magma-85

A photograph of the Magma Poetry Issue 85 cover, with the subtitle 'Poems for Schools'.

A photograph of the Magma Poetry Issue 85 Contents page, showing two poems by Rhys Owain Williams: 'Coastal Property' and 'Swansea Clings to the Edge'.

I’ve got two poems about climate change in Magma’s ‘Poems for Schools’ issue. Really love the idea behind this issue – to put contemporary poets in the hands of secondary school teachers and pupils. You can pick up a copy and read some poems here: https://magmapoetry.com/archive/magma-85

]]><![CDATA[Voices / Lleisiau]]>Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:45:00 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/voices-lleisiau

Delighted to be asked to contribute a poem to this stunning new charity anthology. Voices / Lleisiau is a collection of responses to contemporary Welsh artworks by seventeen Welsh writers, including Gillian Clarke, Eric Ngalle Charles and Zoë Brigley.

My poem – 'The Centre of the Earth Can Be Projected to the Closest Point on the Surface' – is about being told that my hometown was the centre of the world, and not yet finding a reason to disagree. It's written in response to Haf Weighton's artwork 'Growing on Green Lanes', and is accompanied by a Welsh translation from Manon Rhys. You can listen to me reading it here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=rqEIQ6P3Qi4

Copies of Voices / Lleisiau can be ordered from Nichola Hope via her website www.nicholahope.com. All proceeds from the sale of the anthology will be donated to Velindre Cancer Centre.

]]><![CDATA[The Cardiff Review]]>Wed, 22 Mar 2023 11:40:13 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/the-cardiff-review

Diolch yn fawr to The Cardiff Review for publishing 'Lost Cat', a poem about that time my cat went missing and so I became intimately acquainted with every backstreet in Brynmill.

You can read the poem here: www.rhysowainwilliams.com/lost-cat.html

]]><![CDATA[New Gothic Review #4]]>Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:58:51 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/new-gothic-review-4

My short story 'The Chimes of Graig Trewyddfa' is published today on New Gothic Review. A ghost story set in my hometown Morriston, it's accompanied by this incredible illustration by Joseph Gough. Diolch to all at New Gothic Review for publishing it! You can read it for free at the link below:

newgothicreview.com/2023/01/25/the-chimes-of-graig-trewyddfa

Tan-y-Lan Terrace is the street my Gran actually lived on, and the idea for the story came from me walking her dog late at night and hearing an unseen ice-cream van. Everything else is mostly fiction, but I can't promise you won't see a robed figure if you ever visit Graig Trewyddfa...

]]><![CDATA[StrAva #4]]>Tue, 13 Dec 2022 13:10:48 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/strava-4

A hand holds up a copy of the latest edition of Latvian literary magazine Strāva. The cover consists of the name of the magazine, the date of publication and a list of contributors printed over a photograph of a window with blinds.

A photo of a page from the Latvian literary magazine Strāva. The page contains a poem in Latvian, with the name Rīss Ovens Viljamss at the top just above the title 'Tetra sindroms'.

My poem ‘Tetris Syndrome’ has been translated into Latvian in the latest issue of Strāva, alongside other poems from Broken Sleep Books’ ‘Hit Points’ anthology. Thanks so much to Aaron Kent and the Strāva editors for arranging this – diolch/liels paldies from Rīss Ovens Viljamss!

You can read the original poem in English in the Mario Red or Luigi Green edition of ‘Hit Points’. Both are available on the Broken Sleep website or from anywhere you buy books.

www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/hit-points-an-anthology-of-video-game-poetry

]]><![CDATA[Currently Reading: Parthian Poets]]>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/currently-reading-parthian-poets

I spent National Poetry Day yesterday in the company of Emily Vanderploeg, Rae Howells, Natalie Ann Holborow and (in spirit) Mari Ellis Dunning at Waterstones, Swansea. A great event showcasing their recent collections and also delving into the behind-the-scenes writing processes. All the collections are available now from Parthian Books.

Poem from each poet + links to buy their books.

]]><![CDATA[How I Wrote 'Mother and Child']]>Wed, 11 May 2022 15:21:28 GMThttps://www.rhysowainwilliams.com/blog/how-i-wrote-mother-and-child

Absolutely delighted to have a new poem and an accompanying interview published by Poetry Wales today. 'Mother and Child' is inspired by two of Josef Herman's paintings at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea – a place my mother took me to regularly when I was growing up.

Earlier this week I visited the gallery and one of the paintings mentioned in the poem – 'Miners' (1951) – is actually on temporary display at the moment as part of Glynn Viv's 'Art and Industry: Stories from Wales' exhibition. As I say in the poem, it still steals a breath.

'Miners' (1951) by Josef Herman, on display at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea

Diolch yn fawr to Zoë Brigley and Poetry Wales for publishing the poem and asking me a few questions about my writing process for their #HowIWriteAPoem series. You can read the poem and the interview on their website:

poetrywales.co.uk/rhys-owain-williams-how-i-wrote-mother-and-child

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