Friday, February 18, 2011

José Emilio González


José Emilio González, born in Gurabo, Puerto Rico on February 18, 1918, was a writer and poet. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts (specializing in Spanish, French and philosophy) from the University of Puerto Rico, where he also served as a professor from 1946-1948 (Social Sciences) and again from 1956-1963 (Humanities). From 1960-1962, he served as Director of the University Library during which he was also named President of the Literary Section of Ateneo Puertorriqueño. He obtained his Masters Degree from Boston University.

In New York City, Emilio González worked as a translator for the newspaper, La Prensa, until 1944 and again as a translator for the United Parcel Service from 1949-1950. He followed that with graduate studies at Columbia University and the University of Chicago. In 1952 he served on the Puerto Rico Legislature for the Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño-PIP). He earned his PH.D. at the Sorbonne University in Paris in 1967 with a thesis on Puerto Rican Poetry.

Photo via UPR
His literary works have been published in many publications and include:

  • La poesía contemporánea de Puerto Rico (1930-1960)
  • Soledad Absoluta
  • Parábola del Canto
  • Hostos Como Filósofo
And many more.....

José Emilio González died in 1990.





Otoño

¡Oh qué frondosidad de árboles muertos

se te va sollozando por el pecho

y qué abortada voz llena el silencio!



Amigo, no te escapes de mi eco.

Tu cuerpo negro es carbón sincero.



Allí el ala se funde con el viento,

allí estallan los ojos en las puntas del fuego.



Sonar te ví por los cielos de hojalata,

doblar la aguda cima de tu espejo.

Partir la honda columna enceguecida

y con estrellas frías asaetear tus dedos.



¡Oh tambor derramado al pairo de una lágrima!

¿Quién te clavó la mano aserrada en el tiempo?

Para los que tendidos velamos tu alegría

llueva tu olor de sombra y tu niebla de cedro.


Poem courtesy Tainoworld.com

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Julia de Burgos.....February 17, 1917

Visit my previous posts on Julia De Burgos..
Her poetry via Tainoworld.com

— Alba de mi silencio —


En ti me he silenciado... El corazón del mundo
está en tus ojos, que se vuelan mirándome.
No quiero levantarme de tu frente fecunda
en donde acuesto el sueño de seguirme en tu alma.
Casi me siento niña de amor que llega hasta los pájaros.
Me voy muriendo en mis años de angustia para quedar
en ti como corola recién en brote al sol...
No hay una sola brisa que no sepa mi sombra ni camino
que no alargue mi canción hasta el cielo.
¡Canción silenciada de plenitud! En ti me he silenciado...
La hora más sencilla para amarte es esta
en que voy por la vida dolida de alba

Julia de Burgos

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Just Another Day in America

I commented, "It is for this very reason that so many are even unaware of these senseless and brutal murders. Shame, if this is what it has come to" in reply to a link post on Facebook by Raul Ramos-Sanchez. His comment, ‎"113 words. That's all the New York Times had to say about the trial of right wing extremist Shawna Forde, convicted yesterday in the brutal shooting death of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father in their home." The link was to a  news article in The New York Times entitled "Arizona: Border Activist Is Convicted."

One has to wonder about the reasons for the lack of coverage about this tragic story. Why so many are unaware of this senselessness? Have we as a society become desensitized? Too busy with our own lives to even be concerned? Mass media plays a large roll in this as well. It is this type of story that should make front headlines in every major newspaper. Yes, there are many stories of senselessness that don't even make headline but there are those stories that tell of the America we live in today that do need to. Stories that allow for some thought and a view into the society beyond our own neighborhoods. That is, stories that convey the message that there is a need for change and awareness.

It is for this very reason that to many...It is just another day in America.

In Memory of Brisenia Flores

 

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Augusto "Tito" Rodríguez

Augusto "Tito" Rodríguez, a musician, composer and musical director, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 9, 1904.

Although he took music lessons at an early age, he studied  medicine and then music at Harvard University and at the New England Conservatory of Music, in Boston. His return to Puerto Rico led him to become a professor for the University of Puerto Rico (for over 30 years), where he directed the University's first choir. A choir which toured from South America, Central America and all over the U.S.

He is recognized as a musical great for his contributions and musical participation. He was also the founder of Pro Arte Musical and chaired the Federación de Músicos de Puerto Rico (Federation of Musicians from Puerto Rico).

Augusto "Tito" Rodríguez died in San Juan on January 5, 1993.

More at Wikipedia: Augusto Rodríguez







Tuesday, February 8, 2011

UPR: Are the Police Really Taking Over?

A recent article at the Huffington Post entitled "Police Take Over University and the Streets of Puerto Rico" can lead one to think that the University is in utter chaos and that the police have taken over the streets from REAL criminals. This isn't the case, and what really seems to be the cause of any chaos at University of Puerto Rico campuses is the invasion of the Puerto Rico police and their SWAT team. What we are left with is the often asked question, "who is policing the police?"

First and foremost, the police presence has been an overdose. The excessive force used by the police has been widely reported (as usual, not so much by mainstream media). At this time last year, Puerto Rico Governor, Luis Fortuño, was calling on the National Guard to combat the island's crime problem. It was a temporary measure while new police recruits were being  trained. Considering the recent fiasco at the University, it seems as if the training may have been inadequate.

The shift from combating real crime to combating protestors seems to be of greater importance. What's absolutely necessary is that the focus be shifted to where it belongs...in catching real criminals. A lesson the Puerto Rico Government and its police force have yet to learn.







Tuesday, February 1, 2011

PARTIDO NACIONALISTA DE PUERTO RICO- MOVIMIENTO LIBERTADOR: Comunicado sobre....

PARTIDO NACIONALISTA DE PUERTO RICO MOVIMIENTO LIBERTADOR: Comunicado sobre agresión sexual a estudiantes UPR...: "'La mujer es la madre física y moral de la nacionalidad. Cuando el hombre se olvida de los deberes patrios para entregarse aljuego de la política bastarda..."


PARTIDO NACIONALISTA DE PUERTO RICO MOVIMIENTO LIBERTADOR: Comunicado sobre detención Presidente PNPR: "El Viernes 28 de Enero el presidente del Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico fue interceptado en la salida de..."