In the early years of the twentieth century, he began to compete at the National Eisteddfod and won the most prestigious prize, the bardic chair, on two occasions. The first was at Caernarfon in 1906 for an "Awdl" (a poem in strict verse) on "Y Lloer" (The Moon). This poem became popular because of its smooth, rhythmical lines.) He won for a second time at Llangollen two years later for a poem in memory of the popular nineteenth century Welsh poet, John Ceiriog Hughes ("Ceiriog"). His collected poems appeared in 1936 as "Y Lloer a cherddi eraill". He wrote a number of plays as well as a collection of short stories, "Straeon y Gilfach Ddu", published in 1931. ) These were written in the Glamorgan dialect and portrayed the mining communities.