Walk on Words Sidewalk Poetry Contest

2023 — Sister Cities

This year’s Walk on Words poetry contest was themed Sister Cities to celebrate the relationship of the Association of Sister Cities in Palmdale with the Comité de Cuidades Hermanas in Poncitlán, Mexico, since 1974. The annual poetry contest was held in April to coincide with National Poetry Month and invited poets to submit their poems in Spanish or English. A panel of six judges, fluent in both languages, reviewed and scored 30 submissions.

The winning poem was written by Zsanette Osawaru and is presented in English and Spanish for your enjoyment.

The poem was stamped in concrete at Poncitlán Square with a public unveiling on September 19, 2023. The event was attended by a delegation from Poncitlán, Palmdale’s sister city in Jalisco, Mexico

The winning poem:

Un cielo tan brillante
Una tierra que florece
Dos ciudades conectadas
Nuestra hermandad crece
De Palmdale hasta Jalisco
Mis afectos con ti estan
Hermanos hasta el fin
Querida Poncitlán

English translation:

Such a bright sky
a land that flourishes
Two connected cities
Our sisterhood grows
From Palmdale to Jalisco
My affections are with you
Sisters to the end
Dear Poncitlán