________
Michele Serros Published January 27, 2012 Fox News Latino
When my boss casually asked if there were any books of poetry I could recommend, I suggested Jimmy Santiago Baca’s newest book at the time, "The C Train and 13 Mexicans."
“Thirteen Mexicans?” a co-worker sitting nearby quipped. “Sounds like a family trip to K-mart.” Light laughter from both my boss and a few other colleagues followed.
Normally, as a Latina (Mexican American, to be precise) and UCLA graduate (with a degree in Chicana/o Studies) you bet I’d have a little something to retort toward a comment that many might find inappropriate, especially in the workplace. However, I just smiled. “Uh, yeah. Very funny, guys.”
Yes, in this case, my boss and my co-workers were guys, white guys, and our place of employment? The Writers Room at Warner Brothers Studios, to be more precise. My position? A staff writer for The George Lopez Show. Read more:
________
Hey, Jimmy,
...got thru the first day. The first class at ten in the morning went very well, in fact, we went over the two hours by fifteen minutes. Some said it surpassed their expectations. It's funny because I really was nervous about doing this class. Cindy Bacino from ICD told me to just remember Jimmy Baca. He writes from the heart and so do you. I'm tellin' ya... you are an inspration for many people.
The second class started at three-thirty... another two hours. I really wasn't satisfied with that class. It was okay, but, man, I was tired. Early raising is not a habit of mine... especially since I retired. I'm usually up till two or three, so the night before I forced myself to go to bed early...twelve-thirty. I was back up at two. I finally fell back to sleep and got up at six. By the time the afternoon class came around, lack of sleep caught up with me. Anywho, in the second class I found myself at a loss of words a few times. I ended up searching for words. No matter. I'm going to finish these classes and do my best. I just want everyone to leave this class with inspiration and a little more knowledge about writing. Your DVD was a tremendous help. I tried to emulate you the way you teach. I thought back to my seminary days with Fr. Colomba and later years with Prof. Tinkham from Purdue Ext. Both English professors and great friends who've passed away. I tried to use their methods. I'm doin' whatever it takes to succeed. It's a lot of work, but it's fun. And I guess that's the key.
Okay, Jimmy, thanks again for everything.
tu amigo,
Joe
________
J. Marquart
"I just purchased your book, The Esai Poems. I've never been much for poetry because I always wanted what I read to be verbose and clear so that I knew I understood what I was reading. But recently a friend gave me a gift certificate for a bookstore so I bought a few books of poetry by Mary Oliver, as she came highly recommended. Suddenly, I was a fan of poetry. Then yesterday I noticed your book on the shelf. I had met you when you read from The Last Stand at Dorothy's Collected Works and decided to see if I liked your poetry. (I no longer live in Santa Fe. The economy and a stalker pushed me right out. So I'm in Texas of all places trying to find a job and pick up the pieces of my life.)
Anyway, on page 10 I read Where the tree had stood. It knocked the wind out of me. I spent most of the hours of the early morning reading from this precious book that I have now shared on facebook, accidentally really, I thought it was going to your personal facebook. Well, it's good advertising.I went to Amazon to write you a review because I do that for fellow authors, but The Esai Poems weren't on it. You can see what I wrote if you go to Jan Marquart's FB page. That's me. Or at least I think so. I've had so many life changes due to my short 6 years in Santa Fe I hardly recognize myself anymore. Santa Fe wasn't very kind to me although I have to say the land was a blessing so I count that as God's gift to make it even. After all, I wrote Voices from the Land on my land in Lamy when an intuitive told me spirits on the land wanted me to record some stories. It took me two years to get up the nerve to take on such a weird task.
So I am reading your poetry and opening up inside myself in ways that make my life feel as if I am reshaping myself. I just love that feeling. As a prolific writer and author you have inspired me to write even deeper. Sometimes I get afraid. I think if I write any deeper I'll disappear. Maybe that's what it's all about.
I noticed that The Esai Poems is book one. I am looking forward to book 2.
Best regards, and if I could say with total humility, as a psychotherapist, you are the true success story our children need to touch."
________
|