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Narayana Dreams the World
One of the most entertaining posts yet from poet/translator/editor Pat Dubrava’s blog Holding the Light. The blog’s name is the same as the poet’s second book, Holding the Light, which you can buy here (scroll down just a bit to find it). It’s a lovely collection of resonant poems like this one: IMBRICATION The poem “Naráyana”by Elsa Cross describes anaspect of the god Vishnu, who dreams the world intoexistence. He is often depicted sleeping on a bed ofcoiled cobra, over primal waters.Read More
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Francisco Hernández Reads the Signs
I’ve been having fun trying to translate some poems by Francisco Hernández. He’s difficult because he often puns on idiomatic phrases. In the following case, his statements about poetry involve plays on phrases commonly found on road signs. That said… Francisco Hernández& Antojo de Trampa (the bookthis poem is taken from) Respete Las Señales Para Toño Valle No deje poemassobre el pavimento. Página izquierdasólo para rebasar. Endecasílabosa 150 m. Conceda cambiode estrofas. Precaución:entrada y salida de sonetos. No rebase con rima continua. Poesía urbana:velocidad restringida. No maltrate las vocales. Poemas con más de 10 versos,por la autopista.Read More
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Contra Auden
Mexican poet Javier Sicilia Luckily, no one seems to have told Javier Sicilia that “poetry makes nothing happen.” Something amazing is happening in Mexico. A few weeks ago, a 14-bus caravan, which had been traveling under the leadership of Javier Sicilia, a poet and the founder of the Movement for Peace With Justice and Dignity, arrived here after a 10-day trek around the country. Its every move was followed by the national media, and thousands showed up to greet its return.Read More
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The Openness of Coral Bracho
Readers of this blog know I’m a fan of openness. But defining “openness” is impossible: the very nature of it defies definition. And it’s easy to confuse it with “anything goes.” I once fell to arguing with a friend who insisted that anything an artist says is art is art; some poets have made the same assertion for their own writing. Can I be a fan of openness without sharing that assertion? I guess it comes down to suggesting the kinds of openness I’m actually a fan of.Read More
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Mexico Books 2008: Installment 3
500,000 Azaleas: The Selected Poems of Efraín Huerta, by Efrain Huerta. Translated by Jim Normington. Edited by Jack Hirschman. I first encountered Efraín Huerta in the mid-seventies, in the Dutton anthology New Poetry of Mexico, where he was represented by two poems in clear but slightly flat translations by Philip Levine—and I’m embarrassed to say that my Spanish at the time was so poor that I failed to appreciate Huerta’s virtues: a fearlessly critical social vision combined with lyric intensity and fierce wit. Jim Normington admirably captures all these qualities and smuggles them into English.Read More
Joseph Hutchison, Colorado Poet Laureate 2014-2019, has published 20 collections of poems and edited or co-edited three poetry anthologies. He currently directs two master’s-level programs for University College at the University of Denver: Professional Creative Writing and Arts & Culture Management. Joe lives with his wife, Melody Madonna, in the mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado, the city where he was born. 
