Friday, March 31, 2017

César E. Chávez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993)

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Oración del campesino en la lucha


Enséñame el sufrimiento de los más desafortunados;
así conoceré el dolor de mi pueblo.
Líbrame a orar por los demás
porque estás presente en cada persona.
Ayúdame a tomar responsabilidad de mi propia vida;
sólo así, seré libre al fin.
Concédeme valentía para servir al prójimo
porque en la entrega hay vida verdadera.
Concédeme honradez y paciencia
para que yo pueda trabajar junto con otros trabajadores.
Alúmbranos con el canto y la celebración
para que se eleve el espíritu entre nosotros.
Que el espíritu florezca y crezca
para que no nos cansemos de la lucha.
Acordémonos de los que han caído por la justicia
porque a nosotros han entregado la vida.
Ayúdanos a amar aun a los que nos odian;
así podremos cambiar el mundo.
--------------------------------------------------Amen.




------------------------------por César E. Chávez

------------------------------Fundador del UFW




by Robert Lentz



-----Prayer of the Farm Workers' Struggle


Show me the suffering of the most miserable;
thus I will know my people's plight.
Free me to pray for others,
for you are present in every person.
Help me take responsibility for my own life
so that I can be free at last.
Grant me courage to serve my neighbor
for in surrender is there truly life.
Grant me honesty and patience
so that I can work with other workers.
Enlighten us with song and celebration
so that the spirit will be alive among us.
Let the spirit flourish and grow
so that we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice
for they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us;
thus we can change the world.
-------------------------------------Amen.




----------------------b--by César E. Chávez

----------------------------------UFW Founder


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Farm_Workers


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Sunday, March 26, 2017

San Francisco Public Library reading Tuesday, April 11

'

Friends of
San Francisco Public Library
Poetry Reading


in the historic literary epicenter of San Francisco


850 Columbus Ave.
(between Greenwich & Lombard)

San Francisco, California

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

6:30 - 8:00 PM


featuring


Rafael Jesús González

(accompanied on flute by Gerardo Omar Marín)


&


Barbara Paschke




free to the public

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Saturday, March 25, 2017

Portrait of U. S. President #45



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Retrato del presidente #45 de los EE. UU.
en los más cálidos colores


Tiene cara anaranjada
y su pelo estupendo amarillo
le cubre el cuello que sabemos
es del matiz más rojizo.




--------------------© Rafael Jesús González 2017










Portrait of U. S. President #45 
in the Warmest Colors


He has an orange face 
& his terrific yellow hair 
covers his neck we know 
is of the ruddiest hue. 




----------------© Rafael Jesús González 2017






(And what was that about the size of his hands
& what it signifies?)




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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Words of Resistance Saturday, April 1

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Somos en escrito

The Latino Literary Online Magazine

presents

Words of Resistance 

Saturday, April 1

4:15 - 5:15 pm 

Berkeley Public Library 

2090 Kittredge St. 

Berkeley, California



 

A literary event featuring nationally and internationally renowned Cuban American and Mexican American authors. In the US climate of heightened deportations and anti-Latino sentiments, these poets and storytellers - Cristina Garcia, Dr. Carlota Caulfield, Lucha Corpi, Vanessa García, and Rafael Jesús González - will offer their tales of knowledge, unity, and visibility.




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Monday, March 20, 2017

Aries — Spring Equinox

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Spring Equinox and Aries


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--------------------Aries

Al morueco de los comienzos
lo impulsa la estrella roja
que relumbra en sus ojos de diamante
y se refleja en sus cuernos de heliotropo,
sus pesuñas de hierro.
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----Guarda el fuego cardinal del anhelo----- 
----y sobre su cabeza-------------- 
------------giran el día y la noche--------------------- 
------------------la noche y el día-------------- 
------------en el baile simétrico 
------------------del tiempo.




-----------------------© Rafael Jesús González 2017





 

---------------Aries

The ram of beginnings
is driven by the red star
which shines in its diamond eyes,
reflects in its bloodstone horns,
its iron hoofs.
 

----It guards the cardinal fire
 -- -of ambition
 ----and above its head
 -------turn day and night 
--------night and day---- 
-----in the symmetrical dance 
------------of time.



----------------------© Rafael Jesús González 2017
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Friday, March 17, 2017

Pandemonium Press Reading Tuesday, April 4

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Pandemonium Press Reading 

"When April Showers Come"

Tuesday, April 4 

6:30 - 9:00 PM 

The Spice Monkey 

1628 Webster St.
(near 19th St. BART station) 

Oakland, California

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Sunday, March 12, 2017

full moon: Bare as the Moon


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---------Desnudo como la luna 


El emperador nunca llevó ropa, 
ningún mago sastre desviado lo engaño, 
siempre anduvo desnudo como la luna. 
Los que no fueron repugnados 
fueron encantados por su descubierto, 
su culo mas el espejo 
de lo peor en el alma del país.
Ahora cuando algunos comentan 
que está en cueros, es: 
------¡Fuera son sus cabezas!




------------------------------------© Rafael Jesús González 2017










----------Bare as the Moon 


The emperor never wore any clothes,
no wayward wizard tailor ever tricked him,
he was always bare as the moon. 
Those who were not repulsed 
were enthralled by his mooning, 
his butt but the mirror 
of the worst in the country's soul. 
Now when some remark 
that he is stark naked, it is:
-----"Off with their heads!"




----------------------------------------© Rafael Jesús González 2017




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