You will have heard of a yard summer season cookout, however have you ever heard of a yard floricanto? “Flor y Canto” is the Aztec expression for poetry, with its literal translation in Nahuatl being “in xochitl in cuicatl,” that means “the flower and the tune.” It’s a convention, particularly in Los Angeles, for poets to carry yard floricantos, coming collectively to share meals and poems below the shade of a tree.
Over the previous 15 years, I’ve attended a number of floricantos at Casa Sedano, the house of Michael Sedano of La Bloga (the longest-established Chicana/Chicano, Latina/Latino literary weblog, of which I’m a contributor) and Barbara (Michael’s late spouse, who not too long ago misplaced her battle with dementia). Sedano has staked his declare as blogger and photographer to poets. He travels to poetry readings, close to and much, and goals his digicam in hopes of the proper poetic pose. He photographed the primary Competition de Flor y Canto at USC, celebrating Chicano and Chicana poets in 1973, an occasion initially hosted by El Centro Chicano. USC’s Digital Library holds authentic movies by the readings due to the efforts of producer-director Jesús Treviño and photographer Michael Sedano.
In 2010, Sedano organized a reunion of the unique competition poets and invited a number of newer poets to take part. The Floricanto Competition of 2010 included poets who determine as Chicano, Chicana, Latino, and Latina. I used to be fortunate to be among the many contributors in a tremendous lineup that included Juan Felipe Herrera, Alurista, Ron Arias, Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin, Tony Marez, Mary Ann Pacheco, and Veronica Cunningham.
Since then, Sedano has hosted a number of floricantos in his yard with Treviño there to movie and have the poets on Latinopia.com. Final Sunday, the custom returned after a protracted COVID hiatus. It was great to assemble with poet associates. There was even an look by famed artist Margaret Garcia, who final yr was honored with a one-woman artwork present, Arte Para la Gente, on the Ventura County Artwork Museum. It was a giant shock when she signed up for the open mic and sang just a few verses of “Gracias a La Vida,” the Mercedes Sosa tune made well-known by Joan Baez. Garcia’s voice is wealthy with darkish chocolate tones, a shock for somebody with a excessive talking voice.
Sunday’s gathering was in honor of Richard Vargas and his newest poetry ebook, leaving a tip on the Blue Moon Motel (Casa Urraca Press, 2023). A seasoned poet, Vargas is on high of his sport and at his strongest when writing about on a regular basis life, his numerous jobs and occupations that inform his poetry, love, and household. He says it’s a pleasure to be invited to learn at one in all Michael’s floricantos. “I really feel as if I’m contributing in a small approach to our tradition’s traditions and evolving artwork. The camaraderie and friendship between poets and the viewers makes it a really particular occasion.”
For this gathering, just a little flexibility was so as. Casa Sedano has been offered — Michael remains to be within the means of transferring, so the studying takes a spot close by in Thelma Reyna’s stunning yard. Reyna is an award-winning creator and writer of Golden Foothills Press and was Poet Laureate of Altadena from 2014-2016. She and I are set to open for Richard, and there’s a signup sheet for an open mic. Nevertheless, the order turns into jumbled as a result of Treviño should go away early, so the present begins with the featured reader, adopted by the open mic and Reyna, our hostess and featured reader. I closed us out with three poems and their companion songs.
I’m wanting ahead to my set at Shoreline Park, August 17 at midday. When you come, search for the library’s On the Go Van and the playground.
Occasions:
Thursday, August 17, midday to 1 p.m., Poetry within the Park, 1237 Shoreline Dr., Santa Barbara. A set of poems and songs by the Poet Laureate.
Saturday, August 19, 10 a.m., S.B. Group Archives Showcase, East Aspect Library, Santa Barbara. Hearken to a poem, hear tales, and see archived photographs of Santa Barbara’s East Aspect neighborhood.
August 25, 6:30-8 p.m., Writers Symposium, Fantastic Line Gallery, La Cumbre Plaza. A dialogue on “inviting the Muse” with Dan Diamond, Janet Lucy, and Melinda Palacio, moderated by Mike Cregan, founding father of La Cumbre Heart for Inventive Arts and award-winning creator Tracy Shawn.
Poetry Connection: This week, we characteristic a younger poet who works on the Mortgage Closet. Meet Miguel Hernandez from Santa Barbara.
He writes: “I’m 24 years outdated, born and raised in Santa Barbara. I’ve been writing poetry since I used to be 17 years outdated, very on and off. I write spontaneously. I feel I’m at my greatest after I write after I really feel I’m prepared and don’t power myself to. And typically that may very well be months aside or just a few hours. There may be poetry within the easy observations, within the unstated, it’s just like the scientific technique of your personal uncooked ideas. And crucial facet I feel is that it’s higher to first really feel a poem than to grasp it.”
And the abyss seemed again
by Miguel Hernandez
Fill the partitions
make them shrines
with photographs of lifeless individuals
we’re in any case some magical
freak accident of
nature
The ocean is horrifying
however we’ll all be swimming there
some day
This life is only a non permanent mortgage,
my expensive buddy
now we have to present ourselves again to
the soil finally
and wait in line
restart the method
get there quicker with a superb
credit score rating
We’re the concoction of outdated stars
exploding
getting spliced again collectively
Possessed with the tenderness
of contact
We attempt to construct statues of
what can not
won’t final
There are all the time pot holes
within the street
Some issues that can’t be modified
reversed
Allow us to be swallowed by
the vastness of
nothingness
The macrocosm of black house
if it have to be
We’re a one in a billion likelihood
A gorgeous accident
You might be
carpal tunnels
by Miguel Hernandez
Get up to the morning of
dishes being damaged downstairs
Insults get hurled like
Molotov cocktails
You realize my thoughts is fragile
The home is a small place
to maintain my headspace
Ideas typically get locked there
For a trauma to unearth 15 years
down the road
Suitcase packed
is all it took for ego
to fold over
Lock eyes with strangers
who make gentle of historical past
We’re a wretched bunch
Sensation won’t return
Repainted brick partitions aren’t a
new infrastructure
Intimacy is galvanizing
however we’re in captivity to
previous torment
