The town of Ronda, with its rich history, culture, and natural beauty, has been inspired by many writers and poets. “The Spanish Trilogy” by Rainer Maria Rilke, which includes a section dedicated to Ronda, contains poetry about the town. The town’s history, architecture, surrounding landscapes, and beauty of the natural surroundings are reflected upon in the poem.
Andalusian culture and the landscapes of southern Spain, including Ronda, were the inspiration for Federico García Lorca, a famous Spanish poet and playwright. Important works of his, including “Lament for Ignacio Sánchez Mejías” and “The Guitar,” which reference Ronda and its surroundings, are widely studied and analyzed for their themes, imagery, and musicality.
Among the writers who have written about Ronda are W.H. Auden, who visited the town in the 1930s, and Washington Irving, who wrote about his travels in Spain, including a visit to Ronda, in his book “Tales of the Alhambra.” Additionally, Ronda and its attractions have been written about over the years by many travel writers and journalists.
So I had a go at writing some poetry about Ronda. I am quite pleased with it!
The city of cliffs and dreams a poem by Ronda Today (January 2023)
Ronda, city of cliffs and dreams
Where the past and present intertwine
Ancient bridges span deep ravines
And the bullring’s history weaves in
Whispers of old stories fill the air
Of bandits and duels, love and care
The Moorish influence still remains
In the white-washed houses and terrains
The Tajo gorge, a wonder to behold
A natural beauty, never gets old
The sun sets behind the mountain’s crest
And the town is bathed in orange and gold
Ronda, a treasure of Andalusia
A place where time seems to stand still
Where one can wander and lose track
And be captivated by its thrill.
Have you written a poem about your travels to Spain? We would love to hear it!
Ronda Today
Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/
Visit Cádiz
Planning on visiting Cádiz? Tourist information. Monuments. Hotels. Activities. City guides: https://visitingcadiz.com/
The Caminito del Rey
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Iberia Nature Forum
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I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
Thank you Clive Muir
For the link you offered , I have already seen and it is a very known poem published in many books.
For your translation : I myself a translator and can translate in many different ways.
It is not the translation itself
I could remember the author transliterated
al-dhunub / al-qu?ub
He mentioned the both words ( al-dhunub = sins and al-qu?ub = eclipsed ) Resembling the ugly appearance of the city is due to sins of people ( image of black sins = image of eclipse ) both images describe the occasion in the same way
This is a fascinating and unique inquiry! The poem you shared, attributed to Abu al-Fath ibn Fakhr during the Almohad period, indeed reflects a deep connection to Ronda’s history and culture.
“Shame on Ronda, as shame on sins that leave scars,
A town so lonely, its desolation never parts.”
This translation captures the melancholic and critical tone directed toward Ronda during a period when it may have been seen as neglected or isolated.
After thorough research, I couldn’t locate a specific source or translation of the poem attributed to Abu al-Fath ibn Fakhr about Ronda’s desolation. It’s possible that the poem exists in less accessible manuscripts or regional anthologies not widely available online.
However, I did find references to a poet from Ronda named Abu al-Baqa’ al-Rundi (also known as ??li? ibn Shar?f al-Rundi), who lived during the 13th century and composed elegiac poetry lamenting the decline of Andalusian cities. His most famous work is “Elegy for al-Andalus,” which mourns the fall of several Andalusian cities to Christian forces. Heres the website. https://suheillaher.wordpress.com/2021/12/19/al-rundis-elegy-to-andalus-poetry/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
While this doesn’t directly match the poem you’re recalling, it indicates a tradition of poets from Ronda expressing sorrow over the city’s and region’s decline. If you have access to academic libraries or specialized collections on Andalusian poetry, they might provide more detailed insights or the specific translation you’re seeking.
I once read an Arabic poem- as it was said , by Abu al-Fath ibn Fakhr ( Almohad period – Andalus) The poet once saw that Ronda city turned ugly and isolated, he composed the following poem :
?????? ?????????? ??? ?? ???????? ??????? ??????
????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?? ?????? ???????????
“Qab?an li-Runda mithla m? qabu?at mu??la?atu al-dhun?b
Baladun ?alayhi wa?shatan m? in yuf?riquhu al-qu??b”
I never can remember its translation in which book I have read. Please if any can remember, let him tell me
Thank you for helping
Thats very good Rebecca! Thankyou! :)
I wrote one similar to Ronda Todays! :)
Ronda, city of cliffs and of might
Where ancient stones hold tales untold
Of battles fought, of passions alight
And legends that will never grow old
Bridges of stone cross deep chasms’ crest
And tales of bandits live on with pride
Moorish influence can still be guessed
In the white-washed houses, side by side
The Tajo Gorge, a marvel to see
Nature’s beauty, for all time to keep
As the sun sets, the mountains come alive
With an orange hue, making them steep
Ronda, a gem of Andalusia’s lands
A city where time still firmly stands
Where one can wander, lose track of hours
And be enchanted by its ancient powers.
Thanks for that Peter!
I like limericks!
In Ronda, where bridges span high,
There lived a man, jolly and spry,
With his dog by his side,
They drank wine and they dined,
On tapas that made their hearts sigh!
I wasn’t expecting a limerick Nigel! I like it!
It’s a long way from Grenada to Granada
and certainly a very common errata
but I can make this point
and not to disappoint
There are those who mistake Rhonda for Ronda