Architecture, Fujifilm X-T2, Poetry

by Patrick JenningsApr 21, 202011:50 pm

Softened Stone

Softened Stone, Palace of Charles V, Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Sweeping curves
And cylinders
I am not conscious
How calming
Is the round
Until I work
With the photographs

In a complex
Of rectangle and square
Though rich with gardens
Water flowing through fountains
This space of rounded stone
Softened only by circular curves
Is the place of peace for me

Softened Stone
Palace of Charles V
The Alhambra
Granada, Spain

Taken during travels, 2019

NaPoWriMo 2020
Day Twenty One; Poem Two
Forty Two poems total

#stayhome #washyourhands #wearamask #writepoetry

7Comment

1

Rhen Laird on Apr 22, 2020 at 8:18 am
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I agree, soft curves are nice…more inviting.

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- 2
  
  Patrick Jennings on Apr 22, 2020 at 9:40 am
  Reply
  
  🙂 ❤
  
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  - 3
    
    Rhen Laird on Apr 22, 2020 at 2:35 pm
    Reply
    
    🙂
    
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4

arwen1968 on Apr 23, 2020 at 2:56 pm
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I don’t know if you can read Spanish – but if you do, there’s an article about the Palace of Charles V in the online magazine JotDown that I found very enjoyable. Let me know if you want the link.

Also, have you ever read Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving? He was allowed to spend half a year living in the very Alhambra when visiting Granada, and his book was instrumental in saving it. You can get a free e-book version of it from Project Gutenberg here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49947

Marvellous picture by the way (and sorry if I speak out of turn and you’re not interested in reading more about Granada). I agree the palace is a place of peace!

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- 5
  
  Patrick Jennings on Apr 23, 2020 at 4:19 pm
  Reply
  
  Hey Arwen, You’re not speaking out of turn at all. Even if I wasn’t interested in reading these (and I am) perhaps someone else would be. So thank you.
  
  But I am interested, and even though I can’t speak or read Spanish, please do provide a link to the article. Online translators aren’t awesome, but they do offer a decent glimpse of the author’s original intent.
  
  Gotta love Project Gutenberg. One of the web’s early triumphs that was.
  
  And thanks to for the compliments. 🙂 ❤
  
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  - 6
    
    arwen1968 on Apr 24, 2020 at 10:17 am
    Reply
    
    I did like the picture very much.
    
    This is the link to the article: https://www.jotdown.es/2014/08/si-van-a-granada-y-solo-pueden-ver-una-cosa-visiten-el-palacio-de-carlos-v-en-la-alhambra/
    
    I think only translators actually improved a lot although a lot depends on the languages involved. 🙂 Spanish to English you should be okay – I don’t advise you to try English to Hungarian and vice versa! I did that recently out of sheer laziness when trying to share a recipe with my family and Google Translate came up with: “Add a quarter of a year to the mixture and beat it sore until it cheers up.” 🙂
    
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    - 7
      
      Patrick Jennings on Apr 26, 2020 at 2:03 pm
      Reply
      
      That’s a great read, even in translation! (Way to go google!)
      
      It’s wonderful the way a bit of historical context can make a building seem even more beautiful.
      
      And there’s a photograph in the article taken just a few feet from where mine was. 😉
      
      Thanks for the links, Arwen. ❤
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person

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