Cataluna and her Strings

A repost but as a picture-poem... old photo of an angel in the garden, haha. This piece will be in a local anthology here soon sometime... just the words, though. Inspired by Lorca and the Spanish Civil War... damn fascists.

Author's Note

Title refers to the Catalan district and also my next to no-name brand semi-acoustic guitar, haha.

Reviews

[Vanessa Whiteley]

I can see the Lorca influence in content and form. The irregular lines work well. There is a sense of gypsy ballads throughout and beginning with that first stanza denoting flamanco dancing but, also, the past suggesting that this is a time after the commencement of the war or even later then that as the boys are forgotten. 'the green apples thrown to forgotten boys' (I like the repetition of 'beyond') This seems to suggest lost innocence and connotes for me both Lorca's homosexuality and also the loss of innocence through war. The mother's having to release their sons and the their thoughts and hopes going with them on

a journey of virgin hearts
leaping over the soil.

And yet the virgin hearts, also, seems to connote the boys innocence. In one way the leaping over soil suggests play but foreshadows war. The repetition of down works brilliantly in the next stanza. This stanza seems to capture the essence of Catalonia but leads to a river of death and lost dreams. The last stanza is wonderful it suggests that the guitars are waiting to be played again and yet also symbolises death in war and plausibly even Lorca's murder. Of course I may well be reading this completely wrong but its what it suggests to me. Beautiful poem as ever.

[Dave "Doc" Rogers]

Nice work here. I like the imagery you created. I could nearly see them in my mind. And, it is not just the primary players you bring into the play, but you ensure the reader sees the other players around the periphery.

"The ears of guitars laze in the sun, and wait
for the whispered cry of master fingers; this, the firm touch
of imploring necks waiting to be bitten, to go under, to go under."

I liked this line the best. Quite nice. It says so much in so little. Good show!

Doc.

[Fade]

I really like the feel of this one. It's somehow dark and sensual and smoky, like a cigarette-filled nightclub. It feels to me that the dancers and the musicians themselves are making love, passion with the music.

"Down here in this valley of silk, down,
down into the cellars of mind's
mixed with the soma
of wind and honey and sleep;"

I loved the flow of this. I still feel music in a darkened cellars... and later, the guitars rest in the Spanish sun, waiting to be made love to once again.

[Crap!]

I never sleep. But I play 5 finger guitar.I can play a flamenco too. Mix with soma huh? Throw in a drink from the river Lethe and we will venture across the Styx. Osiris is a close personal friend of mine.

[Maria G.]

I have to admit i can't work this one out J but the language and descriptions of scene had me intrigued. Lorca wasn't he Spanish i'm sure i read a translation of one of his poems or plays maybe at college but can't remember it.
Is it to do with the Spanish revolution and lovers taking refuge in music and passion, just some thoughts i had of last stanza.