Monday, April 21, 2014

People, Places, and Poetry



By Xánath Caraza

What contentment to report on such varying cultural activities as the visits of James Edward Olmos and Rigoberto Gonzalez in Kansas City, the presentations of Noche de Colibríes: Ekphrastic Poems in Chicago and Wisconsin, in addition to another in Brazil, and Con Tinta’s celebration of National Poetry Month. 

James Edward Olmos at UMKC


James Edward Olmos in Kansas City brought excitement, energy and friendship.  What a pleasure it was to see him in person, to hear him talk and see him perform his presentation.  There is no doubt of his great commitment to the Latin@/Chican@ community.  His presentation was on Tuesday, April 15 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) to celebrate Cesar Chavez.  Muchas gracias a Erika Cecilia Noguera, Coordinator of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion at UMKC, for her dedicated work and for making the Cesar Chavez Lecture possible.  After his UMKC presentation, James Edward Olmos continued his conversation with the Kansas City community at the Guadalupe Centers, where a reception in his honor was held. 

Erika C. Noguera, Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion

James Edward Olmos at the Guadalupe Centers


Another distinguished Chicano writer visiting Kansas City was Rigoberto Gonzalez, American Book Award recipient, on Tuesday, April 8 from 5-8 p.m. at the Student Union at UMKC. His visit was part of Literature for Life Week.  Rigoberto Gonzalez’s reading was followed by a Q & A and book signing.  Several members of the Latino Writers Collective, Kansas City, attended this important event.

Consuelo Cruz, Jose Faus, Maria Vazquez-Boyd, Rigoberto Gonzalez and Norma Cantu



Noche de Colibríes: Ekphrastic Poems in Chicago and Wisconsin

Many thanks to my wonderful hosts in Chicago and Appleton, WI for making the presentation of Noche de Colibríes: Ekphrastic Poems possible.  Miguel López Lemus and Kapra Fleming opened the doors of their home to receive the literary and artistic Chicago community on March 27 for an Art Salon. Thank you Chicago for your warm reception and endless support.


Chicago


Appleton, WI was next on Saturday, March 29.  Several members of the Latino Community graciously attended the Art Salon for the presentation of Noches de Colibríes: Ekphrastic Poems hosted by Yasser Bashi and Reme Bashi in their amazing home.  I have no words to thank their affable hospitality.   Among the people who attended the Art Salon was Paco, who I’m happy to say has been present during all my visits to Milwaukee and Appleton, WI.  I first met Paco in March of 2012 during a Poetry Workshop in Spanish I gave at Woodland Pattern Book Center.  He then attended my presentation as part of Cantos Latinos in Milwaukee organized by Brenda Cárdenas.  I’m proud to say that I’ve been following Paco’s development as a poet and will continue supporting him.  Paco is an avid reader and poet, now a young man, who has graciously read all of my books.  So proud of you Paco.


Wisconsin



Brazil

I had the unique opportunity to be part of the 7th MECA (Muestra de Educación Ciencia y Arte) in Apucarana, Paraná, Brazil.  I had a couple of presentations, roundtable participation, book presentation, and classroom visits.  My main presentation was on Estructura de enseñanza básica en México: formación, práctica y carrera docente, y poesía.  Another highlight of my visit was the opportunity to meet the award winning novelist, Oscar Nakasato, from Apucarana.  I was able to exchange a few words with him and exchange books.  He is the author of Nihon Jin (Benvirá, 2011) winner of the Premio Benvirá de Literatura.  Iguaçu Falls was the last part of my intense trip to Brazil.  I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Dr. Barbosa and Dr. De Jesus many thanks for all your support and great organization.














Mangoes and Persimmons


Telephone Booth

Las calles de Apucarana








CON TINTA NaPoMo 2014

CON TINTA NaPoMo 2014 is here, send your poem to creativexc@gmail.com and/or mouthfeelpress@yahoo.com (Mouthfeel Press) y celebra la poesía. This is Con Tinta's third year celebrating NaPoMo, more to come. Viva la poesía!



Algunos poemas
 



Dios mío… Me desmayo!
By Miguel López Lemus

Con tanta competencia es difícil ser poeta
A ver díganme! Cómo competir contra
“Como espuma que inerte lleva el caudaloso río,
Flor de Azalea la vida en su avalancha te arrastro”
Me sentaré a pensar con las plumas en la mano
Y las hojas de papel arrugadas en el piso como hojas de otoño
Acabadas de caer.

Bueno aquí voy:
Dios mío, me desmayo!
La veo venir, se acerca
Y el zancudo de cupido me atraviesa su saeta
Dios mío, me desmayo
Que me mira
Se me cierran las ideas, no pienso, quedo
sin palabras, sin nada que decir
Dios mío, me desmayo
Me sonríe, me platica, camina junto a mí
Yo enloquezco, me derrito como nieve en el calor.
Dios mío, me desmayo
Que me besa!
y yo pierdo la cabeza
que me traigan un doctor.

Yo pensé que era invencible
Que mi corazón de roca
Jamás habría de penetrar
Y ahora sé que no es de roca
Gelatina, tembeleque,
Nieve de limón.

Dios mío, me desmayo!
Me aprieta!
Y estoy a punto de decirle
Que la amo
Que es el sueño de mi vida
Que adoraría tener muchos hijitos
Que quiero una casa grande con jardín.
Dios mío, Me muero!
Me dice
“Ahorita vengo
Voy a ponerme algo más cómodo”
Estoy sudando frío
Me tiemblan las rodillas
La vista se me nubla
Me peino con los dedos
Reviso mi aliento entre mis manos

Madre mía, estoy llegando al fin
Aparece
Envuelta en no sé que
Y yo pienso
Hasta aquí llegaron tus huesitos
Miquelón
Me decido
Proponerle matrimonio
Bajarle las estrellas y la luna
Traernos a vivir a su mamá

Madre mía, estoy borracho
La belleza me ha drogado
Yo le digo
“Ahorita vengo
Voy por la estrellas
Por la luna por el mar
y por el sol”

© Miguel López Lemus


A LOS POETAS OLVIDADOS
Por Xavier Oquendo Troncoso

A ti León y a ti Paco y a ti Manuel
Poetas olvidados
A quien el tiempo no dio tregua.
A ustedes que nadie les da una efemérides
En el calendario solar.
Y que sólo son culpables de las letras olvidadas
De las letras sumergidas en la muerte
Para que pasen madurez en el infierno.
Para que apenas lleguen a ser leídos en la calma,
Luego, después de un homenaje a los poetas oficiales
Ustedes brillen como el azúcar
En esos días de sol y nieve y poesía.
Allá, en el infierno,
Allá en el olvido.

© Xavier Oquendo Troncoso


Nobody Asked Us
By Sonia Gutiérrez

They had wished
that their winged thoughts
would always be eternally
green.

But nobody asked us
why we turned pale
and why our arms one day
stayed bare.

Nobody asked us
if we preferred living
away from the bullet machines
that rang our ears.

And now, they don’t know what will happen
because nobody asked us,
The Trees, what we felt
or what we thought.

What I have always known
is that I never dreamed
of living chained to the sulfuric
waste of humanity.

Translation by Sonia Gutiérrez
*“Nadie nos preguntó” is forthcoming in Revista Ombligo

© Sonia Gutiérrez


En una esquina
Por Gerardo Cárdenas

Los relojes reventados en diminutos cristales,
detenidos a horas distintas,
desangrándose en un torrente de engranajes
como un toro que embiste los trazos febriles
de las luciérnagas.

Cruzo la plaza bajo la mirada de una china
no oigo lo que dice pero leo en sus labios
mi locura.
Me persigue señalándome con un dedo
yo que sólo quiero recoger los cristales hechos añicos
de los relojes que agonizan
y mueren sin descendencia
pero los pájaros son más rápidos:
                                                se los llevan
y los regurgitan en los picos de sus polluelos.

Al final de la plaza me desplomo
como un ovillo sin sombra;
las hormigas se compadecen
me cubren con una roída manta
para que nadie mire mis incontenibles temblores.

El teléfono me urge:
alguien ha dejado un mensaje
(tal vez una carcajada o una foto obscena).

La plaza se vuelve un estruendo de piares
ya sacuden sus alas de cristal incontables relojes.

© Gerardo Cárdenas


The Disappearance of the Poem
By Mark Statman

For John Yamrus

Happens
Because the
young woman on
the Amtrak

I couldn't figure out
her accent
she told me
Puerto Rico
Really?
It unseemed secretly something else
but she was pretty sure
as she should be

© Mark Statman


 









 



                                                                                                             




4 comments:

Amelia ML Montes said...

A most beautiful posting with such gorgeous pictures. Gracias, Xanath!

Xánath Caraza said...

Saludos! Have a wonderful day!

Anonymous said...

What a great opportunity it must have been to travel to Brazil. Love the photos. Thanks for sharing, Xanath. --M. Miranda Maloney

Miguel Lopez Lemus said...

El poema de Gerardo trae recuerdos de la Almeda Central, los domingos, despues de ver tres peliculas de vaqueros en el cine Alameda por alla por los cincuentas...