Let us gather in a flourishing way
with sunluz grains abriendo los cantos
que cargamos cada día
– Juan Felipe Herrera, former Poet Laureate of the United States
Some moments arrive so delicately, so tenderly, they let
each person again believe and trust in the magic of “us”.
We plan, conspire, share, dream, hope, and gather
for a moment of breath and steadiness. This world in
sudden shifting still turns, but its axis no longer moves in a
circle eastward. Instead, from north to south people are still flourishing
despite uncertainties, brushes with death, and pain in a way
that proclaims joy — a preservation of what we’ve created combined with
conviction of what our loved ones deserve: sunluz.
We seek sunlight upon the harvest of our poemas, familias, grains,
and dreams as we turn upward, outward, disfrutando, abriendo —
every so elegantly opening — like the flowers we are among los
pajaros who blithely flutter, create, and sing their cantos.
What a stillness, return to peace, and softness we will find. Que
honor y dignidad we will again claim. In each new generation cargamos
these same blisses and blessings forward with each sunrise following cada
noche. It is now we begin flourishing with our true potential en un nuevo dia.
I like it – it feels rich, as in full, bountiful. Do you know what I mean? I can’t explain it any better.
Thank you, Donna. Your commentary makes me think about of a particular conversation when Juan Felipe met with a group here in Kansas City. We discussed the fluidity of language; all around us different languages come into play every day. Why not let some of our poetry reflect that reality? For some, it was very challenging as a concept; I found it both challenging and fun to write. // It’s odd seeing my first/early drafts become public. I’m used to waiting with each revision, often taking fewer risks along the way. This marathon is making me both more vulnerable and more creative.