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Poetry
by Chris Zachariou
United Kingdom


Τάκης Ζαχαρίου

Ποιήματα

Γιαλούσα, Κύπρος

Writer's pictureChris Zachariou

Flamenco | Andalusian Poems



The gypsy girl with wild black curls dances with the moon in the town square. The impish moon tarries on her nubile breasts and the spiteful padre aroused chases the impish moon away. the moon the moon the moon The moon drips honey between her August tinted breasts. Floating on six steel butterflies she bathes her nubile breasts with frankincense and myrrh. Tonight, she aches for Africa— wild like the feral Bedouins wild like the guitars in the town square and she swirls in dreams of seething Moorish winds, bareback on Arabian horses. Tonight, all night we lie on pristine white sheets. I'm inside her! At last, I'm inside her! Inside the girl with the wild black curls and the rhythms of flamenco burn us. te amo te amo my gypsy girl with the wild black curls I love you.



A few words about the poem…


Echoes of Fusion of Two Cultures | The Andalusian Poems

 

In the poem 'Flamenco,' part of the Andalusian Poems series, the dance unfolds as a gypsy girl and the moon entwine in the town square. The narrative melds celestial elements and earthly desires seamlessly.

 

The moon, deemed impish, provocatively lingers on the girl, drawing disapproval from a padre. The rhythmic refrain of "the moon" echoes the flamenco dance's energy. The poet weaves the celestial and human, crafting a tapestry of desire.

 

The moon's descent, dripping honey between her August-tinted breasts, adds a sensory layer. The gypsy girl, floating on six butterflies a reference to the sound of the six strings of a guitar, ritually bathes with frankincense and myrrh.

 

As the narrative progresses, a yearning for Africa introduces dimension, evoking Bedouin spirit and town square melodies. Dreams of Moorish winds—a liberation from the oppressive morality of the Catholic faith, and of Arabian horses enrich the narrative, entwining cultural references seamlessly.

 

The climax intensifies as the speaker exclaims being 'inside her,' expressing love and gratification for both partners with rhythmic intensity. The repetition of 'te amo' reinforces emotional depth. 'Flamenco' adeptly blends language and imagery, portraying desire, cultural richness, and the dance of celestial bodies within the framework of the Andalusian Poems.

 

The mesmerizing dance portrayed in 'Flamenco' mirrors the historical dance between Moorish and European cultures in Andalusia. The interplay of the gypsy girl and the moon serves as a metaphor for the intricate connections forged during the Moors' significant influence on Spanish Medieval and Catholic culture.

 

The moon, labelled impish, symbolizes the foreign Moorish influence that lingered provocatively on the Iberian Peninsula. This dance of cultures was not always met with approval, as represented by the disapproving padre, echoing the historical tensions between the Moorish and Christian realms.

 

The rhythmic refrain of 'the moon' in the poem resonates not only with the flamenco dance but also with the enduring impact of Moorish music and rhythms on the region. The infusion of Moorish elements into the local culture is woven into the fabric of Andalusia, much like the rhythmic patterns in the poem.

 

The moon's descent, with honey dripping between the gypsy girl's breasts, symbolizes the richness brought by the Moors, including advancements in science, medicine, and agriculture. This cultural fusion, bathed in rituals of frankincense and myrrh, mirrors the blending of Moorish and European traditions, creating a unique and sensorially rich atmosphere.

 

The yearning for Africa in the narrative reflects the Moorish roots deeply embedded in Andalusian culture. The mention of Bedouin spirit and the melodies of guitars in the town square evokes the vibrant echoes of Moorish influence, echoing through centuries.

 

The climax of the poem, where the speaker expresses being 'inside her,' becomes a metaphor for the intimate intertwining of Moorish and European cultural elements. The repetition of 'te amo' symbolizes the enduring love and appreciation for the diverse cultural tapestry woven over centuries.

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