Poems from Spain
A visit to Cádiz
Happiest of Thursday evenings, my friends!
I am deeeeeeeep into another novel by the renowned Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón (will share below) and so today I thought I’d share another poem inspired by my trip to Spain last summer. I was so excited to visit the ancient city of Cádiz, partly for writing research, but mostly for my history-loving-self to soak in the magic!
A little bit of trivia about me — I started college as an Architecture major (but my disdain for math won out and I switched). I’ve always adored historic and ancient buildings, the wow factor of casinos in Vegas, the beauty of the Eiffel Tower and Chrysler building. All this to say, my eye has always been drawn to structures. And so, if you ever find yourself in the south of Spain — Cádiz is worth a visit even if just for the cathedral!
It’s hard to put into words how huge it is, and the beauty of the details within. Due to lack of funds, it isn’t as well kept as more famous cathedrals like Notre Dame or St. Peter’s or Cologne, but it’s a marvel in and of itself. I highly recommend! (The official website is here )
As far as the poems themselves, in an attempt to keep practicing form, I wrote a haiku in addition to a free-form.
Catedral de Cádiz - A Haiku
Time does not define
This cathedral by the sea
Filled with Heaven’d light
Catedral de Cádiz, Part II
The heart’s at home here. Familiar with wear
and tear. Passersby admiring at a distance. What
do they notice first? Melancholy angels or second-hand
splendor? Perhaps the sunken crypt, laced with
eager scents of the sea. Can you hear it? The
whispers sealed in stone. Few do the work
to know it fully. This place — so vulnerably filled with light.
No crumbled tile hidden, no cracking ceiling cloaked.
Here I am! it says. Broken and beautiful.
Marked and magnificent.
Worthy of your time.
With hope,
Ali
P.S. If you are a fan of dark, gritty, whimsical, fantastical, suspenseful, historical, comical, beautiful, and haunting stories — look no further than Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Really, truly, I’ve never come across an author who doesn’t waste a single word.
I’m currently reading The Labyrinth of the Spirits and have been completely sucked in. This is my third CRZ novel (The Shadow of the Wind and Marina being the other two) and each has completely blown me away.
His series, The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, can be read in any order!
Beautiful :)
Dave
Loveeeee!!!