Hi Anissa, I love your work and glad to see you are back. I hope you had a wonderful journey, it seemed it was and one of self discovery. The artwork above is absolutely beautiful and the colours so rich and sensual. The beautiful neck piece, the red shawl, the background, the moorish influence, just stunning. As for the poem the bits and pieces I could make out sounds exotic and intoxicating. As for the jealous italian(that can't be good)and the love triangle and the girl who is part african and has this blood running through her veins. I know if you try and translate it that the sentiment might change but could you give it a try! =), it sounds great and passionate.
I did have a great trip but it wasn't one of self discovery- that was done decades ago! The painting does have a Moorish influence because I'm half Moroccan and the artist, Mayte, wanted to capture that side of me.
You got the part right about the love triangle with the jealous italian woman, but it's a perceived one, not actual. The girl who is part african is me. I wrote this while I was waiting many many hours at Madrid airport for my flight to Paris and is an observation about my fellow travelers, also trapped in the airport by errant flights. I'm glad you are still reading!
I have capitulated to public pressure and here is a translation:
In the thorns of the pre dawn, there we are, she and I, me and the nun
While surrounding us a forced party rises in volume
Parades of semi models, rats in hands Hidden beer later poured into plastic cups A cashless casino, but still the same look of exhaustion Sticky cards clutched between various fingers
If only these separate factions could be unified, a union of brothers trapped by flights
We are all isolated islands
A love triangle with the jealous Italian woman An African dance class the rhythm trapped in my body, a silent movement
And I can feel it, there is a part of me that is African
It’s the rhythm of life that traverses my body, contained in my blood
That is a gorgeous portrait... It's really quite photo-realistic. You should frame it, and put it on display :)
Seriously, if this is your first poem in spanish, then really, it's to be commended, since it reads really well. "Atravesa" should be "Atraviesa" though... ;)
But, there's an added element of... feeling? that comes from your writing being in spanish. Maybe it's just the way of the language, but like someone said, it also adds an exotic element to it. You should keep honing it, and write some more in spanish, so that there's less limits on what you can portray with it :D
In closing, I'd just like to add that being of a Latin heritage is like being part of a "raza de mil colores"... We're really a bit of everything, really :D
That is an amazing likeness- who is the creator? I will send you a copy of the Clemente Paper together with a "Permission Form" for you to sign if you send me an email or street address. Hope all is well MG
This is a portrait that was started in january when I was in Madrid (and very sick with borderline pneumonia!). The artist is Mayte Acedo, a Spanish friend. She is very talented indeed. It is a greta likeness but even more so, I look a lot like my paternal grandmother who died about 3 years ago.
You were also asking about the paper I am thinking of publishing re Clemente... and I was asking for your permission: I am happy to send a copy of the paper and also I will need you to sign a simple permission slip. How can I send these? MG
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I love your work and glad to see you are back. I hope you had a wonderful journey, it seemed it was and one of self discovery. The artwork above is absolutely beautiful and the colours so rich and sensual. The beautiful neck piece, the red shawl, the background, the moorish influence, just stunning. As for the poem the bits and pieces I could make out sounds exotic and intoxicating. As for the jealous italian(that can't be good)and the love triangle and the girl who is part african and has this blood running through her veins. I know if you try and translate it that the sentiment might change but could you give it a try! =), it sounds great and passionate.
Reply
I did have a great trip but it wasn't one of self discovery- that was done decades ago! The painting does have a Moorish influence because I'm half Moroccan and the artist, Mayte, wanted to capture that side of me.
You got the part right about the love triangle with the jealous italian woman, but it's a perceived one, not actual. The girl who is part african is me. I wrote this while I was waiting many many hours at Madrid airport for my flight to Paris and is an observation about my fellow travelers, also trapped in the airport by errant flights.
I'm glad you are still reading!
Reply
In the thorns of the pre dawn, there we are, she and I, me and the nun
While surrounding us a forced party rises in volume
Parades of semi models, rats in hands
Hidden beer later poured into plastic cups
A cashless casino, but still the same look of exhaustion
Sticky cards clutched between various fingers
If only these separate factions could be unified, a union of brothers trapped by flights
We are all isolated islands
A love triangle with the jealous Italian woman
An African dance class the rhythm trapped in my body, a silent movement
And I can feel it, there is a part of me that is African
It’s the rhythm of life that traverses my body, contained in my blood
Reply
Seriously, if this is your first poem in spanish, then really, it's to be commended, since it reads really well. "Atravesa" should be "Atraviesa" though... ;)
But, there's an added element of... feeling? that comes from your writing being in spanish. Maybe it's just the way of the language, but like someone said, it also adds an exotic element to it. You should keep honing it, and write some more in spanish, so that there's less limits on what you can portray with it :D
In closing, I'd just like to add that being of a Latin heritage is like being part of a "raza de mil colores"... We're really a bit of everything, really :D
Reply
I'd love to frame the painting but I don't have it, only this photograph. The real thing is with the artist herself.
It is my first poem in Spanish! I didn't think I could do it, especially since my style is a little unconventional.
And yes, I feel the raza de mil colores part too.....but that's what I love about it and it's what makes me feel so empty in Australia
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MG
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