Backyard Floricantos Are for Summer

Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate

 

 *this post is originally published in the Santa Barbara Independent 

In Thelma Reyna's backyard

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve attended several floricanto’s at Casa Sedano, the home of Michael Sedano of La Bloga.com and Barbara (Michael’s late wife who recently lost her battle with dementia). Sedano has staked his claim as blogger and photographer to poets. He travels to poetry readings, near and far, and aims his camera in hopes of the perfect poetic pose. He photographed the first floricanto festival at USC, celebrating Chicano and Chicana poets in 1973, an event originally hosted by El Centro Chicano. USC’s Digital Library holds original films by the readings thanks to the efforts of Producer-Director Jesus Treviño and Photographer Michael Sedano.    

In 2010, Sedano organized a reunion of the original festival poets and invited several newer poets to participate. The floricanto festival of 2010 included poets who identify as Chicano, Chicana, Latino, Latina. I was lucky to be among the participants in an amazing lineup that included Juan Felipe Herrera, Alurista, Ron Arias, Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin, Tony Marez, and Mary Ann Pacheco, and Veronica Cunningham. 

 

Since then, Sedano has hosted several floricantos in his backyard with Jesus Treviño is there to film and feature the poets on Latinopia.com. Last Sunday, the tradition returned after a long, covid-hiatus. It was wonderful to gather with poet friends. There was even an appearance by famed artist Margaret Garcia, who last year was honored with a one-woman art show, Arte Para La Gente, at the Ventura County Art Museum. It was a big surprise when Margaret Garcia signed up for the open mic and sang a few verses of “Gracias a La Vida,” the Mercedes Sosa song made famous by Joan Baez. Garcia’s voice is rich with dark chocolate tones, a surprise for someone with a high speaking voice. 

Richard Vargas 

David Roth and Richard Vargas

 

Sunday’s gathering was in honor of Richard Vargas and his latest poetry book, leaving a tip at the Blue Moon Motel, Casa Urraca Press 2023. A seasoned poet, Vargas is on top of his game and at his strongest when writing about everyday life, his various jobs and occupations that inform his poetry, love and family. At the floricanto, Vargas is surprised by his high school friend, David Roth. Vargas says it’s a joy to be invited to read at one of Michael’s floricantos. “I feel as if I’m contributing in a small way to our culture’s traditions ad evolving art,” he said. “The camaraderie and friendship between poets and the audience makes it a very special event. 

John Martinez

 

For this gathering, a little flexibility is in order. Casa Sedano has been sold (his wife Barbara did not survive Covid or her battle with dementia. Michael is still in the process of moving so the reading takes a place nearby at Thelma Reyna’s beautiful backyard. Thelma Reyna is an award-winning author and publisher of Golden Foothills Press and was Poet Laureate of Altadena from 2014-2016. Thelma and I are set to open for Richard and there’s a signup sheet for an open mic. However, the order becomes jumbled because Jesus Treviño must leave early, so the show begins with the featured reader, followed by the open mic and Thelma, our hostess and featured reader. I closed us out with three poems and their companion songs. 

 

I’m looking forward to my set at Shoreline Park, August 17 at noon. If you come, look for the Library’s On the Go Van and the playground. 

 

 

Events:

 

Thursday, August 17, noon to 1pm, Poetry in the Park, 1237 Shoreline Dr., Santa Barbara. A set of poems and songs by the Poet Laureate.

 

Saturday, August 19, 10 am, SB Community Archives Showcase, East Side Library, Santa Barbara. Listen to a poem and hear stories, see archived photos of Santa Barbara’s East Side neighborhood. 

 

August 25, 6:30-8 pm, Writers Symposium, Fine Line Gallery, La Cumbre Mall. A discussion on ‘inviting the Muse’ with Dan Diamond, Janet Lucy, and Melinda Palacio, moderated by Mike Cregan, founder of La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts and award-winning author Tracy Shawn. 

 

 

Two poems by Richard Vargas:

menudo

 

i remember the morning

car ride to the Compton

neighborhood market

just the two of us

my dad would walk in 

carrying the empty pot and lid

set it on the counter and ask

for it to be filled with our

sunday morning breakfast

while he picked up a package

of warm corn tortillas

i checked out the colorful

piñatas and sweet-smelling 

pan dulce still warm from the oven

 

he would notice and buy a few 

conchas and fruit-filled empanadas

watch the smile light up my face

the drive home was slow and gentle

making sure we didn’t spill 

any of our orange-red bounty

 

i never cared for the oregano

but a squeeze of lemon

a spoonful of chopped onion

and a warm tortilla rolled up

in my small fist 

 

planted the seed 

for this poem to bloom

 

 

 

************************************

 

 

leaving a tip at the Blue Moon Motel 

 

i always take it for granted

the dusted chest of drawers and nightstands

the well-made bed with the crisp sheets

folded and tucked at each corner

sure to bring a smile to the grumpiest

of drill sergeants

 

the snow-white towels, the clean tub and toilet

a commendable attempt to add a little class

with that peculiar folding of the first

square of toilet paper hanging 

from the roll

 

rarely giving a thought to the women

who roam the hallways in the morning

knocking on doors looking for the empty

rooms ready for them to do their magic

 

no thought given to

the kids they raise

the bills paid late

the men who leave

and don’t come back

 

they pick up after all of us

oblivious strangers passing 

through on our way to a better

place than this

 

i leave a five-dollar bill and loose change

on the table as i check out

my small token of appreciation

for these hard scrubbing angels

doing their best to provide

a place to rest on the long

way home