Waldo Williams (1904–1971), a folk poet who wrote about the people and way of life in west Wales, about pacifism and the brotherhood of all peoples, is considered one of the most important Welsh poets of the twentieth century.
Menna Elfyn is one of the foremost living writers in the Welsh language. She is an award-winning poet and has also published multiple plays and children’s novels, as well as non-fiction titles. Her latest Welsh-language poetry collection, Tosturi (Mercy) (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas, 2022), was shortlisted in the 2023 Wales Book of the Year Awards and in 2022 she won a Cholmondeley Award, which recognises a poet’s body of work. She was Wales’ National Children’s Laureate in 2002, and became President of Wales PEN Cymru in 2014. She is a Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing and held the post of Creative Director in the School of Cultural Studies at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. When not travelling the world for readings and residencies, she lives in Carmarthen.