Monday, April 30, 2007

Lorna Dee Cervantes On "The Poet Is Served Her Papers"

Oops, I meant to post this on my other, "official blog" site that's here. Oh well, maybe I'll leave it.
-----------------------
I noticed a great deal of traffic to my main blog site from people, mostly from Florida, searching for information on this poem, so I decided to write something on it. "The Poet Is Served Her Papers" is from the first section in my second book, From the Cables of Genocide: Poems on Love and Hunger. I call it my grief book, poems about loss and longing. There are several poems from the first two sections that are the result of repeating nightmares replaying old arguments from a divorce I wasn't very happy about. One way to exorcise those nightmares, I guess, was to revisit the trauma in a poem. That's the "fever dream" referred to in the first line, and in the line with the pun on "mare" later on in the poem. This is also a poem about what the media then coined, "the feminization of poverty." It was about a time I was divorcing, in grad school, and very poor. Divorcing and moving, eventually to another state, made for more than a few bounced checks -- and divorce being like those "bad checks we scrawl/ with our mouths" in saying those vows.

The first two lines of the second stanza have to do with being a poet who writes and recites love poems -- and wanting to believe those sweet lies in the aftermath -- to speak to the lover in anything but the harsh tones of a break-up. "Speak lips opening on a bed of nails" refers to the leap of faith required of marital love, like the yogic practice of lying on a bed of nails -- to trust and transcend the pain inherent in the form. "The creaking of cardboard/ in these telling shoes" refers to an early experience of deep shame and self-consciousness over having to place squares of cardboard over the holes in my shoes, and how mishapen they would become, and squeak from cardboard -- the intimacy of that shared memory; the loss of somone who shares that intimate memory: who else could now hear it? The "mint of my mind" is an image of the place where coins are produced; an old coin should go up in value, but here the image is of devaluation, like an old Mexican peso: for being old-fashioned, for holding on to the promise of longterm conjugal love. Also, I have several images comparing myself to a coin -- someone once, unkindly, told me that I resembled the portrait on an Indian-head nickle. It's a distant reference to the fact that there was a time in the early '70s when American Indian women were much desired by non-Indian men.

There are multiple puns and layers of meaning in the fourth stanza: the first refers to the question: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? from a poem, the title and author of which escapes me. And the Biblical image of going through the eye of a needle. Here, like the coin image, it's devalued into angels milling around the head of a flea, a blood-sucking parasite, instead of a pin, meant to be useful and homey as a wife. At the time I was "broke" down to my "blood", or so it seemed; sorrel is a horse's color, a rare mare, sorrel is also a weedlike herb -- you can eat it if you're starving. "A lone mare", besides the pun on "nightmare", refers to how one calls a racehorse just by it's color: the sorrel; or, "the wife." Buffalo chips can be used as cooking fuel out on the plains when there is nothing else; "cashing in" as in a poker game: end of the game, i.e., divorce.

My ex-husband once wrote in my writing notebook early on in our dating: "The writer, it's a cul-de-sac," which was a quote from Franz Kafka's letters. He won me over early on with that line. When I read that line I make a gesture forming a heart with my hands and arms, than slowly separating them, making what looks to me like two cul-de-sacs in the air. In other words, I still love my husband, I don't want the divorce, I want to read all those love letters again in the mail, and not divorce papers I am being served. The painted hummingbird hearts had to do with an intimate detail from the relationship, he was in love with an Asian woman at work and had painted hummingbird breasts for her in the style of Chinese brush painting. I like the idea of a phone ringing sounding like the tactile equivalent of a licking or lapping cat tongue, for example -- the phone which doesn't ring, and change "my life." The "pay and pay and pay" line refers to the alimony I never asked for, and more, it refers to a Ruben Blades song I listened to over and over again during this time. It was about his mother and how she never slept ever since his father left, and how she would stay up and watch the ghosts on the television keeping away the ghosts of her memories. It had a verse line, roughly translated as it contained several puns, about how "the debts of the heart have never been paid in full" (nunca han pagado) that plays on how she never turns off the light. That song is in this poem, the ghost of it -- those dark angels milling around on the head of a flea.

Well, I Didn't Win, But Had Fun...

... Playing Along.

Yes, didn't place as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, but lost to a very fine poet and book, and three very fine finalists including Martin Espada -- so can't complain. I didn't win Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere, either, but came in third, well behind the top two, Colin and winner, Amy King -- both po'bloggers I would have voted for if I hadn't, yep, voted for myself. Great poets and interesting blogs in the competition.

But, as I always say: Competition's for horses. And schools are for fish. Tally ho!

"Unconscious Mutterings #221 On 4/30/07"

  1. Order :: in the morgue. Do you feel like you're fixing to die?

  2. Mortician :: on as a short order cook, the riff of the raffle, life or no breath.

  3. Determine :: the outcome. Establish the rest. Be aware of the great divide.

  4. Ignore :: the partial or impartial palates. Be palatable to no

  5. Guy :: Be the bee's dance, the Miss Communication at the ball. Carry a crucible

  6. Crush :: for the next long love of your life. Be the very flower on the lapel. Be

  7. Garlic :: and keep the monsters a bay. The Golden Gate folly,

  8. Wacky :: as an out-of-state drive, beckons and sways, the ways of

  9. Parent :: s and vagabons. Stay and light the skyline with your smile. Witness the

  10. Burning :: , the smalls fires of the heart in an abandoned city, and swell.





* Deposit your own subliminal checks and balances at La Luna Nina's lair.

Labels: ,

Friday, April 27, 2007

"Unconscious Mutterings #220 On 4/27/07"

  1. Found :: in a sea of pixels, the single

  2. Male :: , an avenue of sway, a soft

  3. Spoken :: bray and the shiny brass. Tonight:

  4. Life :: the abstraction and the extraction.

  5. Tonight :: , your picture and the smock of sky. God's

  6. Fingernail :: in the pudding of it all. The small and

  7. True :: in the hidden view. Come up and

  8. Give up :: All the fawn and gruel, the immediate

  9. Shining :: tool, the perfect you, the outlet and the

  10. Everywhere :: -- you in the airways, the air waves, the anyway.




* Be your own breathlessness, visit and stay to to play at the subliminal Luna Niña.

Labels: ,

"Unconscious Mutterings #219 On 4/27/07"

  1. Freeze :: away the pain, she said.

  2. Naturally :: I obliged. The carpet of forest, a living

  3. Painting :: And the mammatus sky, a hamaca. What

  4. Merits :: are found there? What weaving?

  5. Ironic :: the sad slow flow of days, the dog-eared

  6. Survival :: in the book of time. Life, a

  7. Cow :: licked bitten truth, some tail, some

  8. Anchor :: for the telling. There was once a tale, 3

  9. Sisters :: and a seventh covent. Expressly. The wanton

  10. 70 :: th birthday. The cauldron. Remembering.




* Follow the Drinking Gourd of your own sub-conscious to La Luna Nina.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Lorna Dee Cervantes Nominated For Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere - Vote Now!

Hey, this is cool, I've been nominated for "Poet Laureate of the Blogsphere" for 2007. I think that's very cool, especially when there's so many other cool po' bloggers to check out. Go to Billy the Blogging Poet's blog and vote there or click here and vote for me, Lorna Dee. Then click on the other po'bloggers links. You only have a couple of more days to vote. Thanks!

Benefit Performance for Paula Gunn Allen Tonight at CU-Boulder

Join me, Lorna Dee Cervantes, Linda Hogan, Emma Perez, Brenda Romero and others for a benefit performance of poetry, music, and an art show for poet, critical theorist, Paula Gunn Allen -- a poet and thinker who was enormously influential in my own life and work. Last October her home and car were destroyed - as she was recovering from cancer. This performance is in conjunction with others across the country in order to raise funds to help Paula with her medical and living expenses, as well as replace her books. So, if you're in Boulder, come on down to the Women's Studies Cottage (near Broadway on the east side on campus between College and Pennsylvania) from 6 - 9 pm for food, fun and folly. I'll have copies of DRIVE for sale and Paula's books will be for sale as well. Join us for an open mic reading and have some food. A $5 - $10 donation is requested. See you soon!

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Lorna Dee Cervantes's Intermediate Poetry Workshop Tonight at 7 pm

Lorna Dee Cervantes's Intermediate Poetry Workshop Reading at Albums Alcove Bistro - above Albums on the Hill (Lulu's)
1125 13th Street; Boulder, CO. 7 - 8 pm. Featuring (in order of appearance):

Marisa Beahm
Brennan Brooks
Stu Bryner
Elle Byrd
Cheri Gonzales
Danielle Harm
Thomas Ivory
Nathan Jeffries
Megan Krysiak
Ashvin Mysore
Walker Williams

See you there, and stay for the slam hosted by il.lit.er.ate, and my former Intermediate poetry student, Adam Gildar, at 8 pm. At 9 pm Yuzo Nieto will perform from his new book. Yuzo was my student in an Ethnic American Literatures class, and I encouraged him to pursue a creative writing honors thesis.

Some Books & Mags I Bought At the AWP

Some Books, Mags and CDs I Bought at the AWP


The Central Chakrah Project: A Spoken Word Cura. A Metamorfosis Production. Fresno, 2001. CD.
Gargoyle 49. Spoken Word From Gargoyle Magazine. CD

MANDORLA 7. Primavera.Spring 2004.
MANDORLA 8. 2005.
MANDORLA 9. 2006.
ECOTONE: Reimagining Place. Vol. 1, No. 2. Winter/Spring 2006.
ECOTONE: Reimagining Place. Vol. 2, No. 1. Fall/Winter 2006.
FIVE POINTS. Vol. 10, No. 3. 2006.
VENT 4.
PACHUCO CHILDREN HURL STONES. Vol. XIV. Fall, 2006.
THE MISSOURI REVIEW. Fusion. Vol. 26, No. 3. 2003.
PUERTO DEL SOL. Summer, 2006.
PMS: POEMMEMOIRSTORY. Number Four/ 2004.
PMS: POEMMEMOIRSTORY. Number Five/ 2005.
PMS: POEMMEMOIRSTORY. Number Six/ 2006.
PMS: POEMMEMOIRSTORY. Number Seven/ 2007.
The Literary Press and Magazine Directory. 2007-2008.
The Wind Shifts: New Latino Poetry.

Alcalá, Kathleen. The Desert Remembers My Name: On Family and Writing.
Allegrezza, William. The Vicious Bunny Translations.
Alvarez, Ivy. Mortal.
Ayala, Naomi. Wild Animals on the Moon.
Berssenbrugge, Mei-Mei. I Love Artists: New and Selected Poems.
Creeley, Robert. On Earth: Last Poems and an Essay.
Creeley, Robert. The Collected Poems of Robert Creeley: 1945-1975.
De La Torre, Mónica. Talk Shows.
Franco, Gina. The Keepsake Storm.
Gardner, Sarah. How to Study Birds.
Homan, Brandi. Two Kinds of Arson.
Morales, Juan J. Friday and the Year That Followed.
Mullen, Harryette. Sleeping With the Dictionary. (replacement copy)
Rukeyser, Muriel. The Life of Poetry. (new edition!!)
Shah, Purvi. Terrain Tracks.
Silliman, Ron. The Age of Huts.
Tynes, Jenn. The End of Rude Handles.
Tynes, Jenn. See Also Electric Light.
Vallejo, César. The Complete Poetry. Edited & translated by Clayton Eshleman.
Yañez, Richard. El Paso del Norte: Stories on the Border.
Yannone, Sandra. Top.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Off to California! Without A Banjo On My Knee

Off to California, via SUNY-Potsdam where my dear friend, poet Maurice Kenny holds court. Then, San Jose State Literary reunion on saturday. Hope to see you there! (Off to California: one of my favorite banjo tunes.)
------
And, thinking heavily and heavy-heartedly about the students and faculty (Nikki Giovanni!!) at Virginia Tech. May the power and love of the spirits of the dead be with you.

Love Poetry-Hate Racism: Lorna Dee Cervantes At SUNY-Potsdam 4/19-20 & San Jose State 4/21

Lorna Dee Cervantes will be performing her poetry for two events associated with the International "Love Poetry. Hate Racism" readings taking place around the world. Originating in Ireland, scroll down to see the other events and venues. She'll be presenting a workshop and reading at SUNY-Potsdam tomorrow and on April 20 as a featured writer in their Spring Festival. On April 21, she'll be reading her poetry as part of her alma mater's 150th Anniversary Celebration of Literary Alumni and Faculty of San Jose State University. Both of these readings she is dedicating to "Love Poetry. Hate Racism."

On April 20, in Boulder Colorado, poet Tim Z. Hernandez and others have organized the first Floricanto at Naropa University. Poet and Spoken Word artist extraordinaire, JuanFelipe Herrera will be performing along with Tim and others. Tim has agreed to add this event to the long list of events occurring this weekend to bring poetry, peace and understanding to all.

April 21, at CU Boulder, students are holding their annual Poetry Slam - an event, I am sure, that is also dedicated to Love Poetry. Hate Racism.

Poetry! Not guns. Here's to life. Here's to love. Poetry ON!
-----------------------------
Love Poetry Hate Racism is an international celebration of diversity through poetry, taking place on the weekend of April 19th to 22nd 2007.

The Dublin event will be taking place in Crawdaddy, Harcourt St., Dublin 2, on the evening of Sunday 22nd April, from 8:00pm to 11:30pm. The packed line will feature a combination of Irish and International poets, rappers, musicians and bands.

At it's heart the event will be a poetry slam, and will highlight some of the most exciting and talented spoken word performers working in Ireland today - from the internationally renowned Belfast Poets Tour Group, to veteran slam poet Marty Mulligan (who has performed at Electric Picnic, Leviathan, Dublin Anti-War Rally 2004 and supported Saul Williams), to the emerging poets of Dublin's experimental Naked Lunch. Performers also come from Dublin's other regular poetry night, Write and Recite, and from Monster Truck Poetry (which is pushing the boundaries for spoken word recordings in Dublin) as well as The Winding Stair Café & Bookshop.

MC's on the night will be Dave Lordan (Irish writer, performer, and cultural and political activist) and Naked Lunch (Mike Igoe and Niall O'Brien)

The admission charge for the event is €5.00, and all profits (after venue rental) go to an anti-racism charity.

The line-up of the event is as follows:

20:00 Poetry & Music Slam
21:45 Lauren Guillery & The Claws
22:00 Belfast Poets Tour Group
22:25 Sanzkrit
22:50 Grand Pocket Orchestra
23:15 The Grunts


International Press Release

Gordon Hewitt from the Belfast Poets and Love Poetry Hate Racism said:

"A few months ago we decided that we wanted to play a part in combating racism and racist attacks, something which Belfast had seen a fair bit of in recent years. We put a call to make the event international and the response has been fantastic. Now from our initial call nearly 40 cities are involved and we look like getting many more."

"The reasoning behind the calling of this event was that Belfast in particular and Northern Ireland in general has been described as "the race hate capital of Europe," and it was true that many racist attacks and racist acts have taken place here. But what was also true is that there has been a widespread campaign against racism and that has taken root in many communities."

"Our view is that as poets we should be part of the offensive against the racists given that poetry is practised world-wide and that at its heart is the self expression of people wherever they come from. We also recognise that poetry crosses all manner of boundaries, from language to cultural differences to find common cause."

"When we were touring Australia we performed alongside poets from many different countries and cultural backgrounds and learnt from all of them. We have been affected in the way we approach our writing through that experience."

"Belfast has been known for many things but now we can say that we are putting the fight against racism on the map and encouraging this to be an international struggle."

Chelley Mclear from the Belfast Poets and Love Poetry Hate Racism said:

"The Love Poetry Hate Racism weekend offers the opportunity to poets across the world to join together in an international celebration of the diversity of society and poetic traditions, new and old.

Just as language is constantly evolving in response to an ever changing environment, we are fortunate that poetry is also fed by a rich and varied diet of a multiplicity of cultural traditions and that societal changes enable us to share and enjoy many and varied contributions to this art form. It is not only the words used, or the language or manner in which they are delivered that is important, but the public proclamation around the world that culturally diverse societies can enrich our lives and our arts.

Love Poetry Hate Racism brings together poets of many traditions, genres and styles to share in this celebration of diversity and rejection of racism."
 
International Events

April 19th 2007

Love Poetry Hate Racism, Hebden Bridge

April 20th 2007

Love Poetry Hate Racism, San Antonio, Texas
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Gateshead, Northeast
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Vienna
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Sydney, New South Wales
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Abergavenny
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Cork (TBC)
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Cairns, Queensland (TBC)
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Corby, Northants, Midlands
Love Poetry Hate Racism International Show, Belfast
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Darwin, Northern Territory
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Melbourne
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Brisbane, Northern Territory
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Perth
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Manchester
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Galway
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Limerick

Love Poetry Hate Racism, SuperClubsPLUS.com, online
Love Poetry Hate Racism, GoldStarCafe.net, online
Love Poetry Hate Racism, writersdock.co.uk, online

21st April 2007

Love Poetry Hate Racism, Birmingham, Midlands
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Cleveland, Ohio

Affiliated Event: Attila The Stockbroker/Barnstormer, Lillers

Love Poetry Hate Racism, Derry/Londonderry
Love Poetry Hate Racism, London
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Glasgow

22nd April 2007

Love Poetry Hate Racism, Paris
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Dublin
Love Poetry Hate Racism, Gloucester, Southwest

Saturday, April 14, 2007

A Poem A Day Keeps the Critic Away

Visit me at my MySpace blog and subscribe to receive my daily poems for National Poetry Writing Month - NaPoWriMo poems. Suggest a topic, word, phrase, title, whim o lo que sea. Or post a link to your own. Play along. You know what they say, a poem a day keeps the critic away.

Lorna Dee Answers Questions On Race, Class and Gender and Her Poetry

Oops! I meant to post this on my other blog, LornaDice where I answer questions - when I get the chance. So, maybe I'll just leave it here, too. Ignore it.

-----------------------------
Hello my name is Jessica and I am currently a student of professor Bill Allegrezza's recent writing class. I have chosen your book Drive The First Quartet which I am enjoying very much. I haven't decided on a favorite poem at this time still have about a 1/4 of the book left to read so I can't say at this time. I will say the one that seems to make me laugh the most is "On Why I Boycotted Cinco de Mayo". I have always felt that here in America it is just another reason to party and not only Americans but Mexican Americans even do not know exactly what is the history or meaning of that day. Not to mention we are usually getting specials on American products. I will have to say today especially I have spent time on reseachering history I should know as my mother is Mexican as well of course my grandparents. So that was also a plus to understanding some of the meaning, people/events, and words throughout your poetry. I have some questions I would really appreciate your feedback and answers to when you are able to respond. I have eliminated some due to answers found in my research, but these I have not yet come across. I am looking forward to your return email and thank you for taking the time to read my email and questions.

Jessica

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With being a part of the Latino movement when did you finally feel your voice was finally heard and achieved your sense of recognition?


As a part of the Chicana/o literary movement, my voice was never separate in the first place. From the very beginning, as a writer, I knew I was a step in the path we were creating for ourselves and for the seven generations walking behind us. I was always speaking for and with a larger community - which includes the dead and the yet unborn. My goal was never to be "heard", expressly, just the fact that I was writing at all was goal enough. I've never been a writer who was interested in achieving recognition. Of course, I'm grateful for any recognition I have achieved, but only in that it is a reflection on and an achievement of my community.

What was your biggest challenge trying to achieve your goals?

My own lack of self-confidence - however that was constructed socially, historically and politically.

Did you feel more discriminated against due to your nationality or as a woman?

As a woman. Without a doubt. And as not a very attractive woman at that. Secondly, and predicted and dictated by my gender and color, class; my socio-economic status in relation to power and privilege; i.e., not being able to play tennis and drink Scotch with the right people. (not really kidding, but smiling) As a woman of color I am ignored and excluded from page and mind as writer.

What was your biggest challenge as a writer?

See above. My own lack of self-confidence. But, as one of my mentors, Stanley Kunitz once told me (regarding my shyness), "It gets better."

Due to the history and struggles of the people you express in your writing what do you feel impacted you the most as well as in your work?

My experiences as a member of the welfare class, the poverty class in "America" as an indigenous person of the Américas. And, how I experienced history and struggle as a woman, a young woman of color. Lately, I've been reflecting on the times I've been called a "n..." to my face. And, how power is exercised differentially across the classes.

What do you feel are significant factors in becoming a good writer?

Writing. As I said in an earlier interview, it takes a lot of tending of the crocus bulbs to produce enough saffron for the paella. And reading. As I tell my workshop on the first day of class: "Write, write, write! Read, read, read! And the rest will pretty much take care of itself" - as long as you're not writing in a vacuum. Who you're reading makes a big difference, too. To put the right book in the right hands at the right time is about 80% of my teaching. That's why I like to read poetry blogs, certain ones, I know I'll read something good, something that will inspire. Poetry teaches us ways in which we are all connected.

What is your favorite poem that you have composed and why?

Probably, like a lot of us, the last one I wrote. "Nothing Lasts." Before that, "Shelling the Pecans." But, really, there's an answer to that. "Coffee," the long poem I wrote that's, in part, on the massacre of 45 civilians, mostly women and children, in Chiapas, Mexico is one of my best, I think. It had to be. I like it because the dead are there, speaking and alive. It's the second in a series of four or five poems I consider "docupoems" - a form inspired by my former colleague, Ed Dorn. I consider these four poems to be the "quartet" referred to in DRIVE. The first is "Bananas." I have long been working on the third, "Oil." It's been a long and learning process.

For fun or relaxation what do you enjoy to do?

Ha! Write poetry! Read poetry. I like to dance - helps to get my yayas out. I love and need live music - more like work for me, in that it's so tied in to my poetry. Ha, I ought to deduct it from my taxes. I love to scribble while listening to lyricless music. (Visit me on MySpace and check out the songwriters and bands.) For relaxation, I ought to do more yoga - I've been practicing by myself ever since I was 11. For pure zoning out, fun and relaxation, I work jigsaw puzzles. I'm a jigsaw fanatic. Got any?

Thanks for this, Jessica. Hope it helps. Glad you liked the "Coors" poem, it still makes me laugh, too. And, true.

Friday, April 13, 2007

"Unconscious Mutterings #218 On 4/13/07"

  1. Freak :: out and stand in.

  2. Open :: to the warm. Be nothing

  3. Important :: Be the magma to the glow.

  4. Magnetism :: or repulsion, it's all the same force.

  5. Lap :: it up. Be the cat to the

  6. Anything :: Be imagination's title play.

  7. Match :: and sway. Say, what was his name?

  8. Father :: ? Son? Holy most? Any

  9. Idea :: is better than none. Any won

  10. Mirror :: will serve you anyway. Toast?






* Follow the heart of the flow, erupt into subliminal verse at La Luna Niña.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Where In the World is Lorna? Tonight - CU

I'll be reading for Semana de la Xicana at CU Boulder this evening, Wednesday, April 11th at 6 pm in Hellems 241. It would be great to see you there. I'll be mc for an evening of spoken word for Semana on friday in Humanities 1b90 at 5:30.

I'll be presenting a workshop and poetry performance at SUNY-Potsdam on April 19-20 as part of their Spring Arts Festival. The reading on April 20 is presented by Lorna Dee as part of the "Hate Racism. Love Poetry" series around the world on that day.

On April 21 I'll be reading as an honored literary alum of San Jose at same at an event from 1 - 4:30 in front of Markham Tower.

April 26th I'll be reading at the Cottage at 6pm (?) at a benefit for poet, critical thinker, Paula Gunn Allen.

TBA - Reading in Denver with Sheryl Luna and Tim Z. Hernandez

April 28 - TBA - Reading in San Francisco in Gallery with Alfred Arteaga.

June 23 - TBA - Reading/ Performance in Denver for Chicana/o literary center.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

NACCS Roundup

Hey all, I'm lagging behind here. Hard staying in Oakland and getting to San Jose without a car. The Bart took 2 and half hours the first day. But I did hear some great panels yesterday at the NACCS conference. In particular the one on indigeneity with my old friend and inspiration, Inez Hernandez, and also I caught a talk by Devon Peña. I'm sorry I missed his keynote. He thinks just as well as he plays conjunto. Híjole, what a genius that guy is! I learned something in just 10 minutes - and my head's still gonging. I'm glad I made it to the luncheon honoring a major inspiration to me from when I was just in junior high school and the first anthology came out - Antonia Casteneda was a short story writer then, and had passed through San Jose. The thought that a writer and scholar - a Chicana - could excel and exceed was all the open gate I needed to dream on. And Bettita Martinez is here - another presentation I missed hearing her not getting there early enough. Talk about inspirational figures. Today, lots of great panels and readings that are sure to be outstanding. If you're around, come on out to the Fairmont Hotel and say hello. You can register for just the day - help raise money for scholarships and for the next NACCS in Austin 2008. Tonight there's a dance with the Niteliters from 9 - 2 am. It's free for conference registrants and $15 for anyone else. I probably won't be able to stay, going back to Oakland that late on public transportation is not appealing - nor is springing for a room in the Fairmont. So, if I miss seeing and saludando all my friends and friends I haven't met yet, I'm sorry.

And the performance with my brother was really special. Luckily, it was recorded. I read three new poems from my poem-a-day venture for National Poetry Writing Month. You can read 'em here - just click on the blog. I read the new poem for Gloria Anzaldua and dedicated the reading to her, my father (yesterday was Luis and Susan Cervantes Day in San Francisco) and the dead in general "for whom I always write my poems."

Anyway, I better go! Hope to see you there.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Lorna Dee Cervantes performing in San Jose Fairmont Hotel, 4/6 9pm

Hi all, I'll be performing with my brother, musician Steve Cervantes, friday night in San Jose's Fairmont Hotel, Regency Ballroom, as the featured poet at NACCS, the National Association for Chicana & Chicano Studies "Cultural Night." It's free! Visit their website: http://www.naccs.org/naccs/General_Info_EN.asp and then visit me there from 9-11 pm along with comedian, Monica Palacios and come early for an open mic. The Fairmont is at Market near San Carlos.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Lorna Dee & Steve Cervantes at NACCS In San Jose, Friday, April 6

Hi all, I'll be performing with my brother, musician Steve Cervantes, friday night in San Jose's Fairmont Hotel as the featured poet at NACCS, the National Association for Chicana & Chicano Studies "Cultural Night." Visit their website: http://www.naccs.org/naccs/General_Info_EN.asp and then visit me there from 9-11 pm along with comedian, Monica Palacios and an open mic. I'm leaving tomorrow morning and staying until monday, for all my buds by the Bay. I'll have my laptop this time. Drop me a line. Power on and poetry on!

----------

And, speaking of powering on, I forgot to say that I was going on the radio tonight, briefly, to talk about Free Radio and Project TUPA. Stephen Dunifer called in and you can listen to the interview with Ellen Klaver in the archives at KGNU - April 3, 5:30 on "Hemispheres."

----------

And, I'll be reading for Semana de la Xicana at CU Boulder this next wednesday, April 11th at 6 pm. It would be great to see you there.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Lorna Dee Writes A Poem A Day - NaPoWriMo

NaPoWriMo - Taking Ten For Poetry In April - Poem A Day

Hey all,

I'll be writing a poem a day for April again this year for National Poetry Writing Month and National Poetry Month. This year I'll be posting them on my MySpace blog. Come, subscribe. If you have any words or topic suggestions, working titles, etc., go ahead and post them in the comments. Otherwise, I'm just trying to see what comes out, ten lines a day.

And, as always, stay to play! Try it on your own blog. Sow the seed of your next book. One a day keeps the something away. Name it. Yea, NaPoWriMo.


Lorna Dee

Yes, It's True: Pulitzer Prize For Poetry Nomination For DRIVE: The First Quartet

and now subject to the machinizations of 18 white men (presumably) - read all about it here

and, ask me if I care. Not really. Makes a good Brownie point, which I, evidently, still need to show. Me? My professional blog says it as I do as it quotes me: "Competition's for horses. Schools are for fish."

Besides, after Snodgrass, it was all over, in my book. And, Forche. And, some other up-and-coming with a really good book. Last year, I was glad for the 2006 publication date after Nate's book came out, besides Siken - and, do I know how to pick 'em, or what? Next year, it'll be a crime if it doesn't go to Eileen Myles. So far. And, there's always my pick for nearly top excellent po' bloggers, Rebecca Loudon who also received a nomination. Ha! as I typed, can I pick 'em, or what?

But, thank you for all your congratulations. As me and my homegirls used to say, I wouldn't kick a Pulitzer out of bed.

"Unconscious Mutterings #217 On 4/2/07"

  1. Trembling :: in your crumpled hand, I

  2. Shut up :: and live. The crumbling

  3. Heights :: lord over us. The sinewy Santa

  4. Monica :: freeway lets out her exiting horde. I take

  5. Delicious :: dips into your smile, the awkward

  6. Joint :: between us, the slow candy and the sensuous

  7. Ferry :: of your sexual touch -- all

  8. Bliss :: and blather, all miss and matter.

  9. Rejection :: is a state in Kansas where the

  10. Satisfying :: fairies glide and touch: Bestow!





* Listen to the lilt of your own opera - libretto it at La Luna Nina's lair.

Labels: ,

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
$223,693,000,000 The Most Expensive Impeachment In History!
Cost of the War in Iraq
$196,424,846,878
To see more details, click here.
Textbook125x125button
Radical Women of Color Bloggers
Join | List | Previous | Next | Random | Previous 5 | Next 5 | Skip Previous | Skip Next