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Sestina To Spain

Iberia, you took my breath away with fiery gypsy spirit and romance; with ancient Moorish history and grace; with everything there is of you to see; to hear and smell; to feel inside my soul. Diversity lives splendidly in you! The ancient cultures beckoned me to you when, like the Romans, lured from far away, I came to you and gave to you my soul, partaking of your passion and romance. I’d read of you in school and had to see! How glad I was to come and know your grace. A mosque in Cordoba reveals your grace, but I would learn there is much more of you. . . Cathedrals dressed in gold I was to see. From palace walls, in awe I’d walk away to find nearby - in gypsy caves - romance in music. . . as Flamenco filled my soul! With passion’s beat resounding in my soul, I toured Seville, where ladies rode with grace on horses with their toreadors! Romance is in the air at Spanish fairs. And you can make it hard for one to turn away from all the magic offered there to see. In northern parts of you, I was to see The Pyrenees, whose beauty touched my soul, quaint villages with mountain goats! Away I went southeast then, greeted by more grace. Along your coast, I saw a side of you I grew to love, Valencia’s romance! And in Madrid, I found my own romance, a handsome Spaniard. Never would I see his face again because, in leaving you, I left him and a small part of my soul. So much I’d not yet seen of all your grace, but destiny was calling me away. . . I yearn to feel romance inside my soul; breathe history and see again your grace. Enchanted land, you are so far away! May 4, 2010 Now used for Thvia Shetley's Foreign Travel Contest

Copyright © | Year Posted 2010




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Date: 11/17/2020 11:06:00 PM
Had to drop by and see how you handled (in your own words) the DREADED Sestina. You did it so elegantly. I see the advantage of picking your six repeating words carefully so they may be reused in different contexts, without feeling forced. I always learn so much from you! Wish I had read this before embarking on writing my first one last night. Another fave for me, this is simply STUNNING! And written in our beloved IP! Hugs ~ John
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Dietrich Avatar
Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/18/2020 1:16:00 PM
thanks so much, John. I need to check if it is the only one I ever wrote. For sure, then, my last. hahaha. I think YOURS was awesome as well.
Date: 4/13/2018 10:00:00 PM
Such awesome exotic imagery. A FAVE for me, Andrea. Thank you.
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Date: 10/8/2017 9:17:00 AM
Congratulations on your win with this difficult form. Your imagination is always so fruitful. Hugs, SuZ
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Date: 10/8/2017 7:39:00 AM
Congratulations, Andrea, we share a love for Spain!
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Date: 10/8/2017 3:38:00 AM
Congrats on your win, Andrea - I loved everything about this, and the place as well! My sister spends a lot of time there and France - I'm more of a tropical destination guy, but I adore the history of Europe! Blessings! <3
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Date: 10/8/2017 2:55:00 AM
Congratulations, Andrea on your win. So well crafted poem!
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Date: 10/7/2017 1:52:00 PM
I always judge my contests blind and you seem to always place high! A testimony to your writing. Thanks for entering this brilliant piece, I love the Spaniard affair!
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Date: 11/3/2014 10:51:00 PM
Love this form, not extremely confining. Still it has it's challenges and handled them seemlessly. Excellent Andrea, like all your poems that I read I will fave this one.
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Date: 10/19/2012 4:00:00 PM
i don't see many of these, Andrea, this is brilliant, just love how you have portrayed this wonderful poem
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Date: 5/21/2010 4:40:00 AM
Congratulations on your win in Jerad's contest "The Sestina" Andrea. Love, Carol
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Date: 5/18/2010 6:08:00 PM
Another feather for your cap Andrea. congratulations. well done...luv Margaret
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Date: 5/18/2010 9:56:00 AM
Congrats, on your win in Jared's contest, Andrea....very nice...hugs, Jimmy
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Date: 5/18/2010 9:20:00 AM
A beautiful rendition. LSo well done, one doesn't notice the repetition as she reads it. Congratulations. Love, Joyce
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Date: 5/18/2010 8:30:00 AM
Congrats Andrea on your 2nd place win in Jared's contest .. a wonderful write ..so intriguing and interesting .. u done good girlfriend... enjoy ..luv.. Linda-Marie..
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Date: 5/7/2010 11:05:00 PM
do you know the spanish language well? Sestina, to España sounds catchy(: i love to read spanish, it's so cool sounding to me.marvillesso! i might have spelled that wrong. daisuki ga shi desu yoo! thats in jap.means i like your poetry, now i know i didn't type that wrong incorectly! -Always&Forever Lynette
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Date: 5/7/2010 8:54:00 AM
oops- I meant for the shortcut, press Alt then type 164 FROM (not for) your number pad--those numbers at the right side of your keyboard :) sorry have to go now--my sister has to use the connection :( tell me if you were able to type in that special character, ok?
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Date: 5/7/2010 8:48:00 AM
or to make it easier, just copy it from me here & paste it-- here's both mommy & baby letters ;) Ñ ñ
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Date: 5/7/2010 8:47:00 AM
Wow, you sure did well with your sestina, Andrea! I sure would be very happy with this! :) I'm sure this will make it to the winner's list and Spain sure sounds like a very beautiful place, enjoyed this write, and with some romance thrown in too :) very nice! thanks for sharing :) as for the that special letter-- if you're using a desktop, while pressing the Alt key, type in 164 for your number pad for the baby letter, and for the mommy letter, its Alt 165--hope this helps :)
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Date: 5/5/2010 9:34:00 PM
Enjoyed Andrea, sorry you can;t get them sgiggly lines. Your poem will do good in the contest. So the best of luck,,IRMA
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Date: 5/5/2010 8:02:00 PM
i am so proud of my self, i did not understand the form. until the last moment .. i enjoyed it thanks, thanks (s.m.)Good luck once agin in the contest,..p.d
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Date: 5/5/2010 5:24:00 PM
wow what a nice vacation I just had...good one gal...I think we like this form...I love words and I love reading them too! write me more! Light & Love
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Date: 5/5/2010 4:39:00 PM
No.. "One of a Kind" is my entry for Brian's new contest... ... nicknames ... was written as I was talking to Ron on the phone one night... talk about multi tasking.... luv..
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Date: 5/5/2010 4:07:00 PM
Thankxxx Andrea and appreciate all your many congrats to me.. back at u ..its about time u received recognition on Soup for all your great poetry.. luv.. Linda-Marie..
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Date: 5/5/2010 1:03:00 PM
Wow! This is Espana! I hear the tango and Jealousy. This is a switch for you, isn't it? A switch but so well done. Love, Dave
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Date: 5/5/2010 10:01:00 AM
Now this is a BEAUTIFUL poem, Sestina or not... This form brought out the best in you my friend.... I have read much from you and give this a J & P two thumbs up..... You have made judging this contest of mine much more difficult.... EXCELLENT, and good luck Andrea........:JP]
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