Honorable Mention – Flash 405, August 2024: “Otherworldly”
Poetry
Las canciones me dicen Nací en el Río Magdalena
En lineas verdes vides, enredaderas
Esencia enraizada entre hoy y ayer
Llegué a mi increíble ser Todopoderoso
¿Dime, te reconoces?
* * *
translation: The world sings to you
The melodies hymn that I was born in el Río Magdalena
Within green lines morning glory, jasmine, and vines
Essence rooted between today and yesterday
I’ve arrived, unwaveringAlmighty in my existence
Tell me, you don’t see yourself in this?
Judge’s Comments:
The title of this poem immediately drew me in because of the play on words and possibilities of meaning. With powerful imagery and an engaging, lyrical style, the poet deftly asks us to consider what it means to meet our fullest selves.
Ana Maria Mina Hernández is an Afro-Colombian writer, poet, and independent scholar based in Chicago whose work explores culture, race, self, identity, and spirituality. Her work has appeared in the reader Latinx Experiences: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. They currently work as program coordinator with the Old Town School of Folk Music’s Music Moves Chicago program, whose mission is to place artistic practice at the center of community wellness by bringing high-quality, free music and arts education to Black and Brown families on the South and West Sides of the city. She holds an MSW in Leadership and Social Change from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Photo by AscentXmedia