"Why do branch libraries matter?" --Maria Luisa Arroyo

“Why do branch libraries matter? Some may argue that, with the rise in technology and the use of cell phones and home computers as a means to get news and books, branch libraries are losing their relevance. Besides, who uses the library anyway nowadays? It just has old books, right?

Neither cell phones nor home computers, though, can teach young children how to hold a book upright, how to turn pages, nor choose for them age-appropriate books to read. Neither cell phones nor home computers can teach any child how to read aloud or check for understanding while reading, a tool that many teachers use and many parents, including myself, have learned how to do. Neither cell phones nor home computers can teach school-aged children the basic skill of finding a book in a library – a skill still needed to navigate bookstores and college libraries, even those with state-of-the-art technology. And finally, neither cell phones nor home computers can replace the joy of reading aloud together en familia as adults and children alike interrupt each other with excitement and recognition as they connect with what they’re reading.”

—Maria Luisa Arroyo

author of Gathering Words / Recogiendo Palabras

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Maria Luisa Arroyo read in PALABRA PURA, where I had the pleasure of hearing her read her wonderful work. Here is her website.

Palabra Pura Special Event with Maria Luisa Arroyo & Roger Bonair-Agard

With this event, the Guild Complex will take a step toward enhancing the dialogue and awareness of work coming out of the Latino and African American poetry communities. Palabra Pura, Chicago’s monthly bi-lingual reading series, initiates Palabra Pura Special Events by inviting African American poets to share its stage.

Palabra Pura Special Events are the brainchild of Francisco Aragón, poet and Director of Letras Latinas at the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame, and Quraysh Ali Lansana, poet and Director of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature & Creative Writing at Chicago State University. The vision is to have writers from these two communities come together to share their work and respond to each other’s work.

The first Palabra Pura Special Event will be Wednesday, July 21, with acclaimed Puerto Rican native and poet María Luisa Arroyo reading alongside noted Trinidadian native and poet Roger Bonair-Agard. This is the first time a non-Latino poet will be featured on the Palabra Pura stage. After the reading there will be a moderated conversation and audience Q&A.

A short Open Mic will begin the evening.

Palabra Pura Special Event with Maria Luisa Arroyo & Roger Bonair-Agard
Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Time: Reading begins at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free
Location: Décima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis, Chicago

Born in Puerto Rico, bi-lingual poet and translator Maria Luisa Arroyo won a 2004 Massachusetts Cultural Council poetry grant. Her collection of poetry, Gathering Words: Recogiendo Palabras was published in 2008. A chapbook, Touching and Naming the Roots of this Tree, was published in 2007. Maria Luisa Arroyo writes for The Springfield Institute, blogs at Maria Luisa Arroyo's Blog, leads writing workshops, teaches GED courses.

Roger Bonair-Agard is a native of Trinidad and Tobago, a Cave Canem fellow and co-author of Burning Down the House. He is a two-time National Slam Champion and is co-founder of The louderARTS Project. Roger's work has been widely anthologized and commissioned and he has appeared on HBO's Def Poetry Jam and the MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour. His publications include Tarnish and Masquerade published in 2000.

"But then something organic starts to happen."

ESSAY
Got Poetry?

by Jim Holt

A few years ago, I started learning poetry by heart on a daily basis. I’ve now memorized about a hundred poems, some of them quite long — more than 2,000 lines in all, not including limericks and Bob Dylan lyrics. I recite them to myself while jogging along the Hudson River, quite loudly if no other joggers are within earshot. I do the same, but more quietly, while walking around Manhattan on errands — just another guy on an invisible cellphone.....

"But then something organic begins to happen." is from later in this NY Times article. It's worth a read and finding it today was timely:

Tomorrow I have a conference call with staffers from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) about the upcoming "nationals" here in DC for Poetry Out Loud, the poetry recitation competition for high school students. I'm one of a few judges for the semi final round on April 27. The final round is April 28; among the judges for the final round are Luis Rodriguez. I'm looking forward to being a part of this, and want to do a decent job. I've been doing my homework, which includes viewing a DVD of past winners. I've been moved and impressed by the caliber of the recitations. One that really stood out for me was Amanda Fernandez's recitation of Anne Sexton's "Unknown Girl in the Maternity Ward." I was hoping I'd find this video on the Poetry Out Loud website, but it doesn't include student recitations. But the site is worth a visit. There's a 9-minute video documentary on the 2008 California State Finals, which I quite enjoyed.

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Regarding Gathering Words/Recogiendo Palabras: María Luisa Arroyo sent me her book, and I've really been enjoying it. I'm hoping to get permission from Bilingual Press to post an entire poem here at Letras Latinas Blog. In any case, Latino Poetry Review will definitely be commissioning a review of it, and an interview as well. She has a website---HERE.

And speaking of Latino Poetry Review....Yes, it's way way late, but I've been working (finally) on the pieces steadily and sending them off to the ILS web person. Won't venture to promise when the issue will be completely posted, but we're aiming to have it up before the conclusion of National Poetry Month.

In the meantime, what are you doing this NaPoMo?