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

Poem

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12
Watt Avatar
November 17, 2020 at 11:06 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
Dietrich Avatar
November 18, 2020 at 1:16 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.
Gauthier Avatar
April 13, 2018 at 10:00 PM
Such awesome exotic imagery. A FAVE for me, Andrea. Thank you.
Delaney Avatar
October 8, 2017 at 9:17 AM
Congratulations on your win with this difficult form. Your imagination is always so fruitful. Hugs, SuZ
Gentile Avatar
October 8, 2017 at 7:39 AM
Congratulations, Andrea, we share a love for Spain!
Barden Avatar
October 8, 2017 at 3:38 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
Sinha-Roy Avatar
October 8, 2017 at 2:55 AM
Congratulations, Andrea on your win. So well crafted poem!
Shetley Avatar
October 7, 2017 at 1:52 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!
Yvonne Avatar
November 3, 2014 at 10:51 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.
Horsman Avatar
October 19, 2012 at 4:00 PM
i don't see many of these, Andrea, this is brilliant, just love how you have portrayed this wonderful poem
Brown Avatar
May 21, 2010 at 4:40 AM
Congratulations on your win in Jerad's contest "The Sestina" Andrea. Love, Carol
Foster Avatar
May 18, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Another feather for your cap Andrea. congratulations. well done...luv Margaret
Anderson Avatar
May 18, 2010 at 9:56 AM
Congrats, on your win in Jared's contest, Andrea....very nice...hugs, Jimmy
Johnson Avatar
May 18, 2010 at 9:20 AM
A beautiful rendition. LSo well done, one doesn't notice the repetition as she reads it. Congratulations. Love, Joyce
Sweetheart Avatar
May 18, 2010 at 8:30 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..
Chachere Avatar
May 7, 2010 at 11:05 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
K. Avatar
May 7, 2010 at 8:54 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?
K. Avatar
May 7, 2010 at 8:48 AM
or to make it easier, just copy it from me here & paste it-- here's both mommy & baby letters ;) Ñ ñ
K. Avatar
May 7, 2010 at 8:47 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 :)
A  Avatar
May 5, 2010 at 9:34 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
A   Avatar
May 5, 2010 at 8:02 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
Guzzi Avatar
May 5, 2010 at 5:24 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
Sweetheart Avatar
May 5, 2010 at 4:39 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..
Sweetheart Avatar
May 5, 2010 at 4:07 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..
Austin Avatar
May 5, 2010 at 1:03 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
Pickett Avatar
May 5, 2010 at 10:01 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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