Congratulations to all the poets who entered the Fake Flamenco Tanka Contest! We were honored with entries from three countries; Mexico, England and Puerto Rico. I have translated all three poems to make them more accessible to both Spanish and English speakers. One is a tribute to our current moment in history, the second to a particular place and the third to a special creature.
¡Felicidades a todos los poetas que se inscribieron en el concurso Tanka de Fake Flamenco! Tuvimos el honor de recibir poemas de tres países; México, Inglaterra y Puerto Rico. Trasladé los tres poemas para que estén más accesibles a hispanoparlantes y a angloparlantes. Uno es un tributo a nuestro momento actual de la history, el segundo a un lugar particular y el tercero a una criatura especial.
Best Tanka from Mexico – Mejor Tanka de México
Pandemia
Cómo respirar
El aire se ha fugado
En busca de paz
Diseñando libertad
Invitando al encierro
–Ithel Sánchez
Pandemia (RC translation)
How can we breathe here
All the air has escaped us
In a search for peace
Designing for liberty
Inviting our quarantine.
Best Tanka from England – Mejor Tanka de Inglaterra
Clouds hug these high hills
And sheep bleat for straying lambs
Deer flitter through mists
Wild ponies drink at a bright stream
I long for Exmoor
–Kim Whysall-Hammond
(RC translation, non-tanka)
Nubes se abrazan los cierros
Ovejas llaman por sus ovejitas desviadas
Venado corre por la neblina
Potros silvestres beben de un arroyo luminoso
Echo de menos Exmoor
Best Tanka from Puerto Rico – Mejor Tanka de Puerto Rico
Las avejitas
mis obreras muy listas.
Mi oro me dan
si mil tesoros liban.
Sabrosa golosina!
–Dredmil Celcan
(RC translation)
Precious little bees
my workers so very clever (and stripey)
To me they give gold
Drinking a thousand treasures
Oh what sumptuous sweetness!
Readers, I look forward to hearing which parts of each poem moved you, interested you or surprised you the most. Thank you writers for your work!
Lectores, favor de dejar comentarios sobre lo que te conmovió, te interesó y te soprendió de cada poema. ¡Gracias a las escritoras por su trabajo!
Gracias for reading Fake Flamenco! ¡Olé! -Rebecca

I loved the Exmoor one. Such a strong sense of place!
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Sounds beautiful. So few places have wild horses.
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Tourists line the roads with thier cars to see the wild ponies, but we know a short walk into a valley where they roam and play. Our secret!
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How delightful. I love horses.
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Wonderful poems!!
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Thanks for reading, CDL. I also enjoyed them very much.
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Beautifully creative poems!
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Thank you, Nilla. I love the work of these three talented writers.
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Thank you! so glad you liked my frist ever attampt at a tanka! 🙂
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Well done. I know you prefer free verse. I recommend your website for more good poetry. Click on her photo, readers 🙂
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Aw, shucks!
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I liked all of them but especially the one from England! that one moved me!
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Thanks for your comment, Carol Anne. We were graced with wonderful poets.
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