NERUDA POETRY FESTIVAL
In Arizona or New Mexico
in a clear midnight
go out and see
if you can see
only one star…
in a clear midnight
go out and see
if you can see
only one star…
Lalo Delgado, from Harmony in Diversity
The 9th Annual Neruda Poetry Festival opened on April 17 with the annual tribute to Abelardo Lalo Delgado - great poet, great man. The performers presented their own interpretations of Lalo's words, everything from a couple of his sweet children's cuentos to rousing renditions of Stupid America and the Chicano Manifesto. It was an inspiring way to kick-off this event that grows every year. Thanks to John Kuebler of El Centro Su Teatro for the following information about this weekend's events at the Festival.
Give thanks to the women, the mothers and sisters
who were there when everyone else forgot about you
Who bathed you in their baptismal waters
of sacred nurturing, hanging with the weight
you suckled raw, cracked and callused.
who were there when everyone else forgot about you
Who bathed you in their baptismal waters
of sacred nurturing, hanging with the weight
you suckled raw, cracked and callused.
Sandra María Esteves, from Give Thanks
A giant of the Nuyorican literary scene and longtime associate of the famed Nuyorican Poets Café, Sandra María Esteves is also the author of six published collections of poetry, including her 1981 debut, Yerba Buena, which won the Library Journal’s Best Small Press publication that year. Sandra will be a featured guest artist and headline performer at this year's Festival.
…street-corner born,
forlorn fugitives
of the total jail.
Hail Pachuco!
forlorn fugitives
of the total jail.
Hail Pachuco!
raúlrsalinas from Homenaje al Pachuco (Mirrored Reflections)
Call (303) 296-0219 for tickets and information, and click here to see great video footage of Raúl reading his work.
Thu 4/17, 8:05pm: Tribute to Lalo Delgado
Fri 4/18 , 7pm: Barrio Slam ($500 first prize)
Sat 4/19, 4pm: Tacos and Words Literary Salon - featuring John-Michael Rivera, Sheryl Luna, Rachel Snyder, J. Michael Martínez, Gabe Gomez and Sandra María Esteves. Food and drink, too!
All events at El Centro Su Teatro, 4725 High Street,Denver.
PULITZER CHISME
Junot Díaz:
Fresh off winning the top novelist prize in America, Junot Díaz says the literary establishment “should be embarrassed” he’s only the second Latino writer to snatch it.
“Two Latinos in a hundred years? Mmmh. I don’t think the problem is with us as writers. It seems like the problem is with them as judges,” says the Dominican-born, N.J.-raised author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Read the rest of the story here.
Meanwhile, Oscar Hijuelos says:
“Don’t let that overwhelm you,” says Cuban-American novelist Oscar Hijuelos. “Remember the work and keep your feet on the ground.”
For 18 years, Hijuelos was the only Latino writer ever to win a Pulitzer Prize for literature, thanks to his saga of Cuban musicians making it in New York, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.
“It almost knocked me out,” he says of the moment when he heard the news of Díaz’s win last week for his book The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Read more here.
BOOK & LOVERS' DAY
Tattered Cover Book Store April 23, 2008
Every year on April 23rd, Barcelona erupts in a celebration of chivalry and romance, Book & Lover's Day. It all began in the Middle Ages with an annual Festival of Roses to honor St. George, Patron Saint of Catalonia, who as a brave Roman soldier allegedly slew a dragon about to devour a beautiful young princess. According to legend, a rosebush sprouted from the blood of the dragon and the soldier plucked its most perfect blossoms to give to the princess as a remembrance. In 1923, the Rose Festival merged with International Book Day, established to celebrate the lives of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, both of whom died on April 23rd in 1616. Now, bookstalls and flower stands sprout up along the Rambla, a two-mile stretch connecting the city with the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of Barcelonans crowd the streets to enjoy a festive atmosphere of readings, music, literature, and dance.
The Tattered Cover honors this springtime celebration of culture, beauty, literature, and love. On April 23, complimentary roses and commemorative bookmarks will be available with the purchase of any book; while supplies last.
Store locations, contact info, and more events, click here.
LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION
The International Crime Writers Association recently listed several books as Crime Literature in Translation. Here are a few that might be of special interest to La Bloga readers (all translated from Spanish.)
The Island of Eternal Love, Daina Chaviano, translated by Andrea Labinger (Riverhead, 2008)
Nada, Carmen Laforet, translated by Edith Grossman (Random/Modern Library, 2007); originally published in Spain in 1945, this is a cult classic long regarded as a masterpiece. The publisher says: "Mario Vargas Llosa’s Introduction illuminates Laforet’s brilliant depiction of life during the early days of the Franco regime. With crystalline insight into the human condition, Carmen Laforet’s classic novel stands poised to reclaim its place as one of the great novels of twentieth-century Europe." Read more about this book here.
The Bible of Clay, Julia Navarro, translated by Andrew Hurley (Bantam, 2008)
Havana Gold, Leonardo Padura, translated by Peter Bush (Bitter Lemon, 2008)
From the publisher: "This is a Havana of crumbling, grand buildings, secrets hidden behind faded doors and corruption. For an author living in Cuba, Padura is remarkably outspoken about the failings of Castro’s regime. Yet this is a eulogy of Cuba, its life of music, sex and the great friendships of those who elected to stay and fight for survival."
The Painter of Battles, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, translated by Margaret Sayers Paden (Random, 2008)
The Ravine, Nivaria Tejera, translated by Carol Maier (State University of New York, 2008). The publisher's blurb: "Set in the Canary Islands at the outset of the Spanish Civil War, The Ravine is the provocative, disturbing account of a child’s experience with war. Narrated by an unnamed seven-year-old girl, the story begins in the early days of the war when her father—a staunch supporter of the Republic—goes into hiding. As the girl and her family await news of his whereabouts, they learn he is taken prisoner, brought to trial, and eventually sentenced to forced labor in a concentration camp. Confused and bereft, they visit him in the camp, hoping he will be spared the firing squad and the subsequent burial in the ravine, a fate that befalls so many prisoners.
"Acclaimed since its original appearance in French in 1958, The Ravine has been published in several languages and remains the novel for which Nivaria Tejera is best known."
DINAH WAS
Regional Premiere
A Musical by Oliver Goldstick
Directed by Jeffrey Nickelson
Featuring Rene Marie
An announcement from the Shadow Theater Company: "Suppose you'd been adorned the title Queen of the Blues and you are set to headline at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, except it is 1959 and the hotel management has reserved a special trailer out back, as blacks are forbidden from staying in the hotel. Grab your belongings and head for the door, Dinah Washington is about to enter the building! Always a lady but most often a diva, Dinah Washington had a unique way of getting in and out of trouble! Join us in celebrating the matchless music of Dinah Washington whose What A Difference A Day Makes is sure to bring down the house."
Performance Dates: April 24, 25, 26 and 27th, May 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 , 18, 22, 23 and 24th
April 24th, 25th, 26th and May 17th are sold out.
Performance Times: Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinee at 3:00 pm
Location: 1468 Dayton Street, Aurora, CO 80010
Tickets: $25.00
To purchase tickets please call (866) 388-4TIX (4849) or order online
Box office hours: 8 am - 4 pm Mon-Sun
Later.
0 Comments on Got Poets? as of 4/19/2008 6:23:00 PM
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Michael, ese, this photo of raul and the others strike deeply for this Chicano. Seeing pictures of Ricardo Sanchez, especially, move my heart and mind. Mil gracias for these, carnal.
Un Vato C/S/R
Great post today, Michael. Your poem is quite moving; the photos excellent. Thanks.
Wow carnal, that Iraq poem was very touching. It reminded me of a WW1 storie by Dalton Trumbo, "Jhonny Got His Gun." In my oppinion writers like yourself should be touring high schools teaching your literature. Especially, during career day, where is mostly military recruiters taking advantage of the situations such as: economy, patriotism, and political apathy that deters the young students to pursue a higher education. Once again, I congratulate you on your poem that makes people like my-self proud to know that we [do] have very good writers that represent our vivid culture. Thank you.