I inputted the last series of CantoMundo write ups and this is what I got. Ok, note to self, time to actually read some Poe. Yeah, I know the hits but reading a broader range of his work couldn’t hurt, especially since Poe is a Bronx poet. ;-)
Shout out to Scott Keith for putting me on to I Write Like.
Ok, who do YOU write like?
¡Feliz cumpleaño, Pablo Neruda!
I can’t think of any better way to celebrate el maestro’s birthday than by sharing this video of MartÃn Espada reading “General Franco in Hell†at the CantoMundo retreat.
Before we get to the poem, let’s think a second about recitation and craft. As MartÃn reminded us before reading the poem: Neruda’s poem of damnation and public scorn walks a thin tightrope between personal anger, Neruda’s grief over the assassination of his dear friend, Federico GarcÃa Lorca; human outrage, being witness to not only war, but a civil war—seeing brother attack brother; and the toughest battle of all, converting this horror into poetic art.
Espada’s recitation of this poem is proof of Neruda’s genius. His ability to simultaneously denounce Franco’s acts with proper vitrioil and elevate the human spirit who challenges and survives these atrocities with a language that serenades the reader in both Spanish and English.
No smoke and mirrors here. Neruda names the harm, making sure all of Franco’s barbarity is documented, and sets his darkest poetic imagination free, reviling Franco’s legacy to the enduring eye of commoner judgment.
Likewise, Espada doesn’t hold back in his reading and sets the sonic quality of this curse poem free without resorting to yelling or arm waving. What for? The power is in the words and in the form. It’s a poem operating on all cylinders thanks to the poet’s eye for detail, ear for language, and faith in the power of verse to elevate the downtrodden and overthrow dictators.
Sadly, as Espada noted before reading the poem, Neruda would not live to see his poem come to pass. Franco outlived him as he did so many others. But Franco did not leave a poem behind for the ages and so Neruda gets to laugh from the heavens while Franco continually burns in literary effigy.
We join this poem in media res, the first part is below in Neruda’s Spanish. Espada continues from there reading the first section in Spanish and the majority of the poem in English. Again, a wonderful read and reminder that a poet’s legacy can be as eternal as the simple desire to call injustice by its proper name.
El general Franco en los infiernos
Desventurado, ni el fuego ni el vinagre caliente
en un nido de brujas volcánicas, ni el hielo devorante,
ni la tortuga pútrida que ladrando y llorando con voz
de mujer muerta te escarbe la barriga
buscando una sortija nupcial y un juguete de niño
degollado,
serán para ti nada sino una puerta oscura
arrasada.En efecto:
De infierno a infierno, que hay? En el aullido
de tus legiones, en la santa leche
de las madres de España, en la leche y los senos
pisoteados
por los caminos, hay una aldea más, un silencio más,
una puerta rotaAquà estás…
Pablo Neruda
Exhuasted. Seriously, the amount of conversation, poetry and activism from the last few days has me all spent which is a good thing. I feel like I’ve shaken off a lot of my personal insecurities and doubts about my poetry. Not the mechanics of my work but if my poetry can actually be more than just words that sound good from a stage. After the CantoMundo workshops and dialogue, I feel my work can have a longer reaching effect but only if I believe it.
It feels like I’ve done a good job with the public high points of the week but the real good news is the best is yet to come. I’m not sure exactly how and in what form but all the fellows and organizers are committed to coming back together next year and making it even better. Like good poetry critique, this meant we had to acknowledge things that could have gone better in this inaugural gathering. And like good critique, everything was said with positive intentions. All drama free. Yay!
Can ya tell I’m excited about being associated with this org and its mission? It’s been a minute since I’ve had this feeling. It’s happened less and less since I’ve decided that developing a poetry manuscript was my primary priority i my art life. CantoMundo has me feeling I can still keep my poetry in the forefront but also add a deeper commitment to reshaping how Latin@ Poetics are viewed by the public. Palabra.
I’m up way too late typing this out but if I don’t do it now it might never come out. So much positive information about not only being a Latino poet but also a reminder about the power of the word, community and friendship.
Today started with the fellows sharing a poem they wrote the night before. Yes, CantoMundo bringin the new shit. As a fan of first drafts I was really happy this developed and plan to keep it going on.
So why bring a first draft? Why not a poem in progress? How about just workshopping a nearly done poem? For me, it revolves around trust and vulnerability. We are all CantoMundo fellows, we all applied and were accepted on the strength of our work; we don’t need to prove anything. But we can share in the process of building a poem and say the things we didn’t think we would say. We can risk not being perfect in front of each other and celebrate that risk. If we can’t do it amongst peers, then where are we gonna do it?
After the first draft readings, we met back up at to talk about Latin@ poetics, politics and everything in between. It was honest and open with a broad number of topics put on the table. No one seeking immediate answers but sharing out the things outside of poetry that we feel affect our writing. Or, to put it bluntly, real talk. I appreciated all the opinions and reflections and feel that getting all the things we normally talk about privately out into an open space built up a huge amount of respect in the room. It also confirmed that CantoMundo has the potential to be more than just a workshop, it can be a place where we can initiate serious poetic activism.
Lunch followed and I was lucky enough to break bread with one of my literary heroes, Jimmy Santiago Baca. Jimmy is super busy so I appreciated the time he spent with me, Barbara and (new CantoMundo friend) Luivette. We are all fans of Jimmy’s work and it was great to share our appreciation for his work and his company.
Note to literature fans: Take the time to thank your literary idols. Even if its just a “I really liked your book” comment at a busy book signing. Trust me, the artist appreciates it. Word.
Back to work with CantoMundo and workshop with MartÃn Espada. After a super informative reading of poems, we were sent off to work out the poetic idea and craft it into poem. The work from all the fellows was top-notch and I got out a poem I’ve been meaning to write for a long time. Good time.
On the reflection tip, I took a similar workshop with MartÃn about six years ago. Back then, I was more interested in how I sounded and if I was projecting the right things in my poetry. Now, I was more interested in how the people in my poem sounded and if I was honoring their history with my words. It’s good to feel that poetic growth in me.
Next came Rigoberto González talking to us about the importance of community and individual activism. Rigo talked the real talk as he went over how too many poets make the same mistakes over and over again, never learning from past mistakes. Simple to the point and inspirational. Rigo reminded us that there is never a community of one and either we pool our resources together or else we put ourselves in the dominant culture’s hands.
To cap off the day, Martin and Demetria had an open reading. I’m happy to say the ‘burque folks came through and the place was packed. MartÃn read classic, recent and brand new poems that show he is a master of reinvention. Just when you think you got his poems figured out, MartÃn makes new leaps and takes serious risk to keep pushing himself farther. Demetria also read a variety of work that highlighted the fact that the struggle is a long one, the system we are up against is massive and, in return, our poetry must be greater.
The real talk seems to be this: You gotta make it happen. Not tomorrow, or soon, or in a second; no, it has to happen in the right now. The only way poetry can change the world is in the now, if the poetry is “near forming” then we risk the world “near change.”
Now I have to write a new first draft for tomorrow. It’s gonna be tough but I’m willing to take the risk and share the real talk.
Definition (1): an act of becoming fully aware of something as a fact
When I first heard I was accepted to CantoMundo I was the most surprised Latino in the room. Then I saw the names of the other fellows and thought I must be the luckiest dude ever because I saw names of writers who I have admired, writers with accomplishments, writers with degrees. In my mind, better writers.
I’m glad I shook that moment of self-deprecation pretty quickly and by the time I arrived in Albuquerque I knew I was ready and prepared. Luck didn’t get me here, hard work did. Luck didn’t fill out my application, I did. And if I was chosen it’s for a reason, probably the one I put down on the application essay.
Getting this kind of personal affirmation has been a process and I have to keep in mind that when I meet an author I admire, it’s ok to say you love their work. Saying it to them ten times over, maybe not so much. And when same author tells you that (s)he likes your work, accept the compliment. Don’t shrug it off. Don’t say away from your own success. Stay on the path to personal affirmation. Realize it.
I was sure of that coming into CantoMundo and after hearing guest speaker Toi Derricotte speak, I was doubly sure. Toi’s recollection of the founding of Cave Canem, the first retreats, the highs and lows with both fellows and staff, the parallels with CantoMundo, and what the future may hold helped to cement my own place in this gathering. It made me hopeful for the future, not because we know what’s happening next, actually, quite the opposite. The uncertain future is open to possibility and, with that, dread and fear because we don’t want to squander it. Embrace the dread and you embrace an impossible future. I like that.
Definition (2): the fulfillment or achievement of something desired or anticipated
My next act of realization involves my manuscript. If nothing else, CantoMundo has put me in a situation where I’ve agreed to send my manuscript to a respected author for feedback and critique, and also to a legitimate editor.
What happens next? I don’t know. I’ve been talking about sending my ms out with a query letter for months and haven’t done squat. This is different. I’ve converted a personal aspiration into a verbal realization, a big step for me. I’m going to deliver, for sure, and see what the impossible future has in store for me.
On another note, the fellows open mic was tonight and it was pure bomba. A diverse group of styles dealing with a variety of viewpoints, a true American song of poetry. I took video so you can see for yourself. It won’t be anytime soon but when it’s ready, watch out. Canto-Mundo. Canto-Mundo.
