The pregunta (pronounced pre-goon-tuh) is a Spanish poetic form that is a type of argument between two poets. It consists of alternating lines between the two voices, the first of which poses a question, and the second of which responds to it. Generally, the questions take on unrhymed lines, while the answers follow a rhyme scheme. The form looks like this.
x a x a x b x b x c x c etc.
In some cases the same question is repeated over and over.
In a variation on the form, Laura Purdie Salas wrote a pregunta for your Picasso ekphrastic challenge. This variation includes a question followed by a rhyming couplet. Check out her poem, I Don't Know Art, But I Know What I Don't Like, and see a video of her writing and revising process.
If you want to read another perspective on this form, try Poetry Magnum Opus.
x a x a x b x b x c x c etc.
In some cases the same question is repeated over and over.
In a variation on the form, Laura Purdie Salas wrote a pregunta for your Picasso ekphrastic challenge. This variation includes a question followed by a rhyming couplet. Check out her poem, I Don't Know Art, But I Know What I Don't Like, and see a video of her writing and revising process.
If you want to read another perspective on this form, try Poetry Magnum Opus.
So, there's your challenge for the week. I hope you'll join me in writing a pregunta. Please share a link to your poem or the poem itself in the comments.
I did my own little thing with this, no rhyme. I do speak Spanish. We’ll see if the accents and other symbols work okay on the blog!
ReplyDelete¿Quién Eres?
¿Quién eres tu?
Soy el corazón, soy el recuerdo.
Soy la muerte y el nacimiento.
Soy la pena y el gozo, soy una vida.
¿Y tu, quién eres?
Soy la lluvia, soy el viento.
Soy la sombra, soy el sueño.
Soy la luna, soy el sol.
Soy la voz de todo tu eres.
Y todo esto soy solo
por un momento. Después
soy otra cosa. Soy
la imaginación,
la palabra, el pensamiento.
Soy el poema.
TRANSLATION:
Who Are You?
Who are you?
I am the heart, I am the memory.
I am the death and the birth.
I am the sorrow and the joy, I am a life.
And you, who are you?
I am the rain, I am the wind.
I am the shadow, I am the dream.
I am the moon, I am the sun.
I am the voice of everything you are.
And all of this I am only
for a moment. Then
I am something else. I am
the imagination,
the word, the thought.
I am the poem.
—Kate Coombs, 2016
all rights reserved
Kate, this left me breathless. I only read "at" Spanish, but even so, I found it lovely. thanks for including the English Translation.
DeleteThank you, Judith! I like your loblolly. (What a great word!)
DeleteThe Wind and the Loblolly
ReplyDeleteWhat shall we give the baby?
We shall bring sweet harmony
knit by you, Loblolly tree.
How can I sing?
You’ll make music sure to please
as needles shiver in the breeze.
When will the song begin?
The song begins as shadows play
across the shoulders of the day.
Have you ever heard the song?
Sometimes when rushing through the pine
I hear my whisper left behind.
When did that song begin?
Since raked by needles from creation
I’ve echoed my strong invocation.
Where will this all take place?
From pine bough canopy above
will come this song so full of love.
And what song shall that be?
All the angels gathered nigh
shall strum Loblolly Lullaby.
©Judith Robinson 2016, all rights reserved.
And here is that same poem written in accordance with the pattern of the Pregunta
ReplyDeleteThe Wind and the Loblolly
What shall we give the baby?
We shall bring sweet harmony
Harmony?
Knit by you, Loblolly tree.
Me, sing?
You’ll make music sure to please
How will that be?
As needles shiver in the breeze.
When will the song begin?
The song begins as shadows play
Excuse me?
Across the shoulders of the day.
Have you ever heard the song?
As I’m rushing through the pine
Blasting, don’t you mean?
I hear my whisper left behind.
When did that song begin?
Since raked by needles from creation
Ouch!
I’ve echoed my strong invocation.
Where will this all take place?
From pine bough canopy above
Aha! Again, must I provide?
Will come this song so full of love.
And what song shall that be?
All the angels gathered high
Is it Christmas or what?
Shall strum Loblolly Lullaby.
©Judith Robinson 2016, all rights reserved.
d here is that same poem