A week until the solstice and our poets are ready, manuscripts in hand; seven Flamencas from four countries. I appreciate the thought provoking and meaningful Flamencas our poets crafted. This was a new form for most of us, and I applaud their daring in accepting a novel structure and rhyme scheme. Beautiful poetic musings on our planet’s path around the sun below.
Queda una semana hasta el solsticio y nuestros poetas están listos, manuscritos en la mano; siete flamencas de cuatro países. Aprecio las Flamencas que los poetas crearon, inspiran pensamiento y tienen signficados multiples. Era una forma nueva para la mayoría de nosotros, los aplaudo por su coraje en aceptar una estructura y una esquema de rima novedosa. Pensamientos poéticos hermosos sobre el giro de nuestro planeta alrededor del sol siguen.
England
To a Distant Friend
Winter has brought new fears
new covids, colds, and flu
will our jabs hold up?
can I hug at Christmas?
Will I get to see you?
–Kim
Traducción: A un amigo/una amiga distante
Miedo nuevo invernal
Covid desafía la
inoculación
¿Se permite abrazo?
¿Te veo de nuevo?
–Kim (traducción por Rebecca Cuningham)

England
It’s winter solstice time,
the stark time of the year:
darkest drear long nights.
Then festivals arrive
and stars and light and cheer.
Traducción:
Solsticio invernal
estación severa
largas noches grises.
Pero fiestas nos dan
astros, luz y alegría.
–Margaret (traducción por Rebecca Cuningham)

Canada
December arrives—
a winter flambeau
with an arctic wick
escorting sub-zero’s
crystal chariot of snow
Traducción:
Nos llega diciembre
antocha de invierno
con mecha ártica
compañero helado
carro cristal de nieve.
–Suzette Benjamin (traducción por Rebecca Cuningham)
USA
The old year turns to new
with a promise of light.
The darkest of days
reminds a weary earth
there’s peace in the night sky.
Traducción:
De año viejo al nuevo
con promesa de luz.
Días más oscuros
pista al mundo agotado
cielo de noche da paz.
–Katie (traducción por Rebecca Cuningham)

USA
Sun Stands Still
Darkness and more darkness
snow falling from gray sky
zenith to nadir
earth spun again around
candles dance warm; time’s fly.
Traducción:
Más y más oscuridad
Nieve del cielo gris
de cenit a nadir
otro giro terrenal
velas bailan, tiempo vuele.
–Artie and Stu (traducción por Rebecca Cuningham)
España and USA
A chant of fading silence
Whispers a white staccato
Over the plaza trees
Goodbye fleeing autumn
Hello Winter Breeze
Traducción:
Un canto de silencio desvaneciente
Susurra un staccato blanco
En los árboles de la plaza
Adiós otoño que huyes
Hola brisa del invierno
–Poema y traducción: Mar Martínez Leonard, ¡Olé!

England
Earth and Sun align
Our Earth and Sun align
An equinox of time
Changes nature’s garb.
Earth’s axil tilt of 23
Uniqueness in the line!
Traducción: Alinean nuestra tierra y nuestra sol
Sol y tierra alinean
Equinoccio temporal
Tierra con ropa nueva.
¡Único en la línea!
Axil terrestral
–Sandy (traducción por Rebecca Cuningham)
Gracias to all who participated in the December Poetry Challenge! These cold nights will seem a little brighter with your poetry to warm us. Click on the poets’ blogs to see more of their writing! Your supportive comments below much appreciated. See you at the beginning of January for our next challenge.
Gracias a todos quienes participaron en el Reto poético de diciembre. Estas noches frías estarán un poco más brilliantes con su poesía para calentarnos. Haz un clic en los nombres de los poetas para ver más de su escritura. Apreciamos mucho tus palabras positivas en el cuadro abajo de comentarios. Nos vemos al principio de enero para el próximo reto.
¡Olé! –Rebecca

Thank you for your help. It is great to read them all.
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Thank you for contributing a poem, Sandy! I liked your scientific approach to the solstice.
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So many wonderful poems here! I’m now enjoying going to the other poets blogs and reading more…..
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Thanks, Kim. Such soulful flamencas and so many writers’ blogs to explore.
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Thank you for putting the challenge together! I loved all of these wonderful poems. 🙂
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Thanks, Katie! I really enjoyed the poems.
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All so different. Very special!! Thank you and well done to all of us.
Sandra Pilmoor ________________________________
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Thanks to you and all 7 poets for this winter solstice night bonfire.
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👏👏👏
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Thank you Rebecca for putting together this beautiful poetic journey into Winter. I am reading these lovely poems as a Winter storm gently falls outside my window here in the Northwest. A perfect backdrop.
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Thank you, Suzette for your flambeau poem of winter. What fun it is to write and sing a sleighing song tonight… 🙂 If the snow gets too deep, please send some our way. The cm that fell last week has melted.
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My pleasure. I am glad you enjoyed the poem.🙂
I hope the snow comes your way in manageable amounts. Cheers.
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Once family visits are over, I’m going to enjoy exploring all the contributors’ blogs. A lovely variety of flamencas here!
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Thank you, Margaret. Wonderful community feel to that. Great blogs to read. How’s Team Spain?
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Wonderful pieces! ¡Gracias por compartir! ~ Kelly
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Thank you, Kelly. Appreciate your comments and support of these wonderful poets!
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