Poetry Connection: National Poetry Month in Santa Barbara and Santa Paula

  

Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

Poetry at Vita Arts in Ventura

April is packed with poetry. On any given day there might be more than one poetry event to celebrate National Poetry Month. Ventura County got the ball rolling early with their poetry festival at the end of March. Last weekend, I managed to attend the monthly reading at the Vita Arts Center. Two poets laureate were featured: Ventura Poet Laureate Mary McFadden and Millenial Poet Laureate David Olivera. It was a perfect balmy day for listening to poetry outdoors. Next month’s features at the Vita Art Center include Carol Davis and Caron Perkal; make sure to find the not-so-secret back entrance from the parking lot, May 3 at 3pm.

Yesterday, I joined local author Stephanie Barbé Hammer, along with Rich Ferguson and Kathleen Florence from Los Angeles. If you picked up a copy of last week’s Santa Barbara Independent, you might have seen the announcement for our reading at Chaucer’s Books Thursday, April 9 at 6pm. Coordinating the schedules of four poets and a bookstore is no easy feat. Thanks to Stephanie and Chaucer’s Michael Takeuchi for wrangling us poets and making this event possible. There’s also an interview in the Santa Barbara Indpependent, where I answer Tiana Molony’s questions about poetry month and my first full-length poetry book, How Fire Is a Story, Waiting. I am looking forward to hearing our guest poets, as well as Stephanie, who reads her own work very well. Her words will inspire your own poems and stories. Chaucer’s now has a dedicated space with chairs for events, a welcome improvement to their book events.

A new venue for me is the Blanchard Library in Santa Paula. The librarian contacted me and asked if I would offer a presentation on my poetry for their Latino Poetry Program. On Saturday, April 11 at 11 am, I will share some of my poetry and original songs on guitar and ukulele. A monthly open mic follows from noon to 2pm. 

 

What’s become one of my favorite poetry month events, Poetry in Parks, returns this year. Last month, State Archeologist and poet Scott Green received the Director’s Award from California State Parks for creating Poetry in Parks. Santa Barbara’s state park is the Presidio. By assisting with curating the event, I have been able to bring together other groups that I am involved in. Last year, we had Rosal Ortega Flamenco. I met Rosal Ortega at a birthday party on the beach and was convinced to take her adult flamenco dance class. It’s a lot of fun. This year, the Ladies Social Strumming Club will play a few songs. Our other musical act is The Gruntled, aka Mark Zolezzi. We will also have two youth poets, Takunda Chickowero and last year’s Poetry Out Loud winner, Alicia Bautista Blanco, who will perform a Pablo Neruda poem in Spanish. Additional poets include Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Lori Anaya and Santa Barbara’s Poet Laureate George Yatchisin, Poet Laureate Emerita, Emma Trelles, and West Hollywood Poet Laureate Jen Cheng. Poetry in Parks, a free community event, takes place on Friday, April 17, 5:30-7:30pm at the Presidio Chapel, 123 E. Canon Perdido Street. 

 

Poetry in Parks, Friday, April 17 at 5:30 at the Presidio Chapel

 

 

The Ladies Social Strumming Club

 

Take advantage of all the poetry month offerings.

National Poetry Month Events:

Saturday, April 11

Authentic Latina Voices. Poetry, Song, and Storytelling. How to bring your most authentic sef to the stage and page with Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emerita, Melinda Palacio. Saturday, April 11 from 11 to Noon at the Blanchard Community Library in Santa Paula. There will also be an open mic from noon to 2pm.

Sunday, April 12

The Poetry Zone. Monthly poetry reading and open mic, hosted by Bjorn Birnir at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 1:30 pm.

Monday, April 13

Tim Seibles Reads. Celebrated poet, Tim Seibles, reads at the Unity Chapel, 227 E. Arrellaga Street, 5 to 7 pm, host Laure-Anne Bosselaar, will also read. $5 donation.

Tuesday, April 14

Lowstate Writing Salon. Writing Community at the Blue Owl, 7pm.

Wednesday, April 15

12^th Annual “Spirits in the Air: Potent Potable Poetry,” The Good Lion. Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin curates this reading. Hear local poets read poems about their favorite drinks, 4:30-6:30, no host bar, The Good Lion, 1212 State Street. Featured Poets: Clayton E. Clark, Mason Granger, Justin Graham Hoops, Rebecca Horrigan, Amy Michelson, Diana Raab, Linda Saccoccio, Jason Scrymgeour, David Starkey, and host George Yatchisin.

Thursday, April 16

The Montecito Poetry Club. The group discusses the work of poet Danusha Lameris Thursday morning, 10-11:30 am, Montecito Library, 1469 E Valley Rd, Montecito.

Friday, April 17

Poetry in Parks at the Presidio Chapel. A poetry month presentation in Santa Barbara’s only State Park, the Presidio. An evening of poetry and music, featuring the Gruntled, the Ladies Social Strumming Club, poets include Lori Anaya, Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Takunda Chickowero, Alicia Bautista Blanco, Jen Cheng, George Yatchisin, Emma Trelles and hosts: Melinda Palacio and Scott Green of California State Parks. Free community event Friday, April 17 from 5:30 -7:30pm, the Presidio Chapel, 123 E. Canon Perdido Street.

Saturday, April 18

Solvang’s Celebration of National Poetry Month. The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art presents poets Dorothy Jardin, Carey McKinnon, Jeff McKinnon, Teresa Mc Neil MacLean, and Cynthia Carbone Ward, at the Elverhoj Museum in Solvang, 4pm.

Sunday, April 19

Poetry Club. A welcoming space to share the art of poetry. Read your own poems or your favorite poems, discuss and explore the poems in a positive environment at the Goleta Community Center, 5679 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117. Free monthly event, sponsored by the Goleta Valley Library.

Sunday, April 19

Let’s Chat About Poetry. Host Laure-Anne Bosselaar asks that you bring in a favorite poem to that you love (not written by ) bo be read for poetry month. The domecil Studio, 1223 State Street, Santa Barbara, 4-5 pm, free.

Friday, April 24

Open Mic & Art Gallery/Noche de micrófono abierto y galeria de arte. All are welcome at the library’s open mic. Secure your spot by April 10, Central Library, 40 E Anapamu, 6-7:30 pm.

Wednesday, April 29

An Evening with Martin Espada. An evening with Award-winning poet Martín Espada, UCSB Campbell Hall, 7:30 pm.

 

*an earlier version of this column was published in the Santa Barbara Independent 

28th Poetry Month, NELA the First

Back in April 1996, the Academy of American Poets declared the first National Poetry Month. Twenty-eight years of growth and having become the world's largest literary celebration, National Poetry Month comes to Northeast Los Angeles with the first annual NELA Poetry Festival. 

 Literary Festivals don't just happen. This initial foray into a large scale event reflects organizing prowess by unnamed members of host VCP SoCal Poets, helmed by Teresa Mei Chuc with James Evert Jones. 

I just returned from the 5th annual San Diego Writers Festival, a one-day event centered around a tent city of vendors. This first NELA Poetry Festival is all about the poets and their work. 

The two day schedule from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. features two readers every twenty minutes. Five- and six-voice collectives read for an hour. 

It's a massive undertaking best appreciated by attending the free event next year. Visit the festival's website (link) where the list of readers with bios and photos likely represents hours of labor and multiple messages to gather such an extensive, yet partial, list of poets. 

The festival site, Los Angeles College Prep Academy, welcomes visitors with an agricultural work area, mural-adorned retaining walls, and a beautiful amphitheater. 

Another mural covers the main entrance to the instructional building. Visit the school website (link) for a more thorough introduction to this unique high school. 

I enjoyed only a short visit to the lively festival, intending to photograph The Rose Poets, Teresa Mei Chuc, Gerda Govine Ituarte, Shahé Mankerian, and Carla Sameth. These poets have work in the upcoming book, Altadena Poetry Review; Anthology 2024, edited by Peter J. Harris. When the anthology launches, I anticipate they will read and I can take their portrait. 

Holding the floor before the veteranas of Southern California poetry are younger voices such as Rhys Langston Podell who read from his unpublished manuscripts.

That big microophone is a vital element of the superb sound system NELA Poetry Festival provides. The speakers emit clean, crisp renditions of what's being said up front in the room's poor acoustics. What poets need to remember is the mic pics up sound in a big three dimensional clover leaf pattern. Lower the mic to chest level. and speak straight ahead. The mic hears you just fine and the photographer is all happy to see faces.

Teresa Mei Chuc 

Carla Sameth

Shahé Mankerian

Gerda Govine Ituarte

Christian Perfas (aka. 'Soul Stuf' within poetry circles) 

Santa Barbara Celebrates National Poetry Month

Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate

In Santa Barbara, Mayor Randy Rowse offered a proclamation for National Poetry Month on Tuesday, April 9. Dos Pueblos High School student, Anna Matthews, recited her award-winning performance of “The Listeners” by Robert Frost. She is the regional champion of the Poetry Out Loud Competition. The proclamation is nine days into poetry month and Santa Barbara has already seen at least three poetry events, including the Spirits in the Air Reading on April 1, Poetry Passages launch last week and the Santa Barbara Literary Journal’s launch of issue 10 at Chaucer’s Books on Monday, April 8. It’s been wonderful seeing our town show up for poetry. Chaucer’s was packed at the launch for issue 10, which featured nine Santa Barbara poets laureate. 

 

The Poetry Passages launch last Thursday, April 4, also featured our local poets laureate, but a different crowd showed up for the outdoor event. Santa Barbara is a wonderful town for poetry. Lea Williams said the event was magical: “The wind died down, the rain held off and there was joy and connection,” she said. “The readings and the speeches gave everyone there a lovely picture of how this all came together and why it mattered.” Ride the bus, read a poem.

 

As a co-organizer for Poetry Passages, the project to put poems on our city buses, I was a little worried the day of the event. We hoped for a nice day for our outdoor event, especially since the Santa Barbara Museum of Art offered to host us on the museum’s front terrace. Lea Williams and I were very excited about an outdoor launch party because it meant people celebrating First Thursday might stop and learn about the project and poetry month.

 

Patsy Hicks, Director of Education at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, said she had a contingency plan for rain. Later that day, there was a bomb threat downtown. Rain? Breeze? Bomb threat? Who would possibly show up? 

 

Some fifty people took seats around the museum’s entrance and on the portable chairs used for events inside the galleries. The museum’s portable microphone did the job and people stopped on State Street to listen to the poems that they can see riding on the buses. As a seasoned poet and event planner, I know that the best laid plans can go awry. Luckily, our event was a success. Patsy Hicks said it was a pleasure to host the Poetry Passages launch. “It had a great feeling of community of a story to be told,” she said, “a story of shared resources amid folks who have a real desire to communicate what it means to ride through and write about Santa Barbara.”

 

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is also celebrating National Poetry Month with their Post Card Poetry. They are printing postcards that feature excerpts from poems written by a Santa Barbara based poets or facilitators of Writing in the Galleries.. There will be a new postcard each week in April, collect all four. I am honored that my poem, “And Me,” is paired with Keith Mayerson’s, Someday we’ll find it, the Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me (2023). Sign up for my next Writing in the Galleries session at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art before next week. The workshop is April 18 at 5:30 pm, free with registration. 

 

If you want to hear more poetry from your poet laureate, I will be at the Lompoc Public Library this Saturday, April 13 at 1pm. The following Saturday, thanks to a grant from State Parks, we will have a free poetry celebration downtown. Turns out, our only state park is El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Park. Celebrate National Poetry month with an afternoon of poetry and music at the Alcehama Theatre, Saturday April 20 at 1pm. Poets include Perie Longo, Emma Trelles, Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Monica Mody, Diana Raab, and Takunda Chickowero; musical acts include the Gruntled, UCSB Middle East Ensemble, and Chumash Kiyniw Singers; and a few other surprises at this free event. 

 

*This article was originally published in the Santa Barbara Independent.

 

 

National Poetry Month Events

 

April 1, Spirits in the Air 10^th Anniversary Reading 4:30-6:30 pm. The Good Lion 1212 State Street, free admission, no host bar. 

 

April 4, First Thursday, launch party for Poetry Passages 5-6:30 pm on the Terrace of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State Street.

 

April 8, Santa Barbara Literary Journal Volume 10: Reading at Chaucer’s, features seven local poets laureate, Monday from 6-7:45 pm, Chaucer’s Books 3321 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.

 

April 9, The Mayor’s Proclamation of National Poetry Month, City Hall, 2pm.

 

April 13, Lompoc Library features City of Santa Barbara Poet Laureate, Melinda Palacio at 1pm.

 

April 14, The Poetry Zone, 1:30 pm, back patio of the Karpeles Manuscript Library, open mic and featured poet is Jan Steckel.

 

April 18, Writing in the Galleries, write poetry at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art with SBPL Melinda Palacio, Thursday, 5:30-7pm, free with registration. 

 

April 20, Poetry in the Parks, an afternoon of poetry and music at the Alhecama Theatre, poets include Perie Longo, Emma Trelles, Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Monica Mody, Takunda Chickowero and Diana Raab; musical acts include the Gruntled, UCSB Middle East Ensemble, and Chumash Kiyniw Singers and host Melinda Palacio.

 

April 30, Amanda Gorman in Conversation with Pico Iyer, Tuesday 7:30 pm at the Arlington Theatre.  

Poetry Passages Puts Poetry on Santa Barbara Buses

Melinda Palacio  

 

* A version of this Poetry Connection Column originally appeared in the Santa Barbara Independent

One of the notable connections I’ve made as Poet Laureate is with Lea (pronounced Lee) Williams. Lea is a wanderer, traveler, writer who specializes in letter writing, and graphic designer. I met her early in May, during one of my first events at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, where I had the honor of sharing the spotlight with our Youth Poet Laureate Madeleine Miller at the Women’s Literary Festival’s Poetry Pairing. After the event, Lea contacted me and asked if I would be interested in collaborating with her to bring poetry on our city’s buses. I was certainly thrilled with the idea because it aligned with my mission as Poet Laureate: to bring more poetry to public spaces and create more awareness to poetry in our community. 

 

Since April, I have participated in over 30 events, most recently at Bishop Diego High School. It always surprises me how little awareness there is for the position of Santa Barbara Poet Laureate. I’m happy to help local bus riders become aware of our current and past poets laureate through Poetry Passages, the project that will put poetry on our buses. 

 

I also remember how thrilling it was when I went to New York and rode the subway and sat next to a poster of one of my favorite poems by Aracelis Girmay. Lea had a similar experience of riding the bus in Los Angeles and seeing poetry during National Poetry Month on the buses. She described seeing poetry on buses as a thrilling gift:

 

            “When I lived in Los Angeles, one April there were “Poetry in Motion” panels of classic poetry up on the buses. It was a thrilling gift. And I noticed how many riders, of every economic state, were entranced by those panels. That stayed with me—the pleasure and inspiration of poetry being presented for everyone. And the extraordinary engagement I saw over and over again. So grateful to The Poetry Society of America for launching this idea. We just chose to do it a little differently.”

 

Lea and I have been meeting since May to figure out how to make this idea into a reality for the Santa Barbara Municipal Transit District (SBMTD). There are several moving parts to this project, from getting approval of the SBMTD, to choosing poets and poems, to figuring out how to pay for the project. 

 

Luckily, several of the pieces fell into place from having access to a wonderful translator in visiting poet Alexandra Regalado to wrangling eight poets laureate to contribute some verses to the project. If you’ve been following poetry in Santa Barbara, you know that we lost one of our own, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle. While she was not able to finish her bus poem, she had chosen a coastal route and we were able to find an appropriate verse for her chosen bus line. 

 

One of the most important parts was the opportunity to apply for a city grant to cover the cost of funding the project. The grant will allow us to pay the SBMTD, the poets, our translator, and fiscal sponsor. In addition to the task of choosing excerpts of each poem, there was also the issue of naming the entire project. Since we couldn’t use Poetry in Motion, we came up Poetry Passages. Lea designed the poetry panels and a flyer to let people know about the project. Download the QR in the flyer and view the routes where you’ll find Poetry Passages during National Poetry Month in April. I’ll include my entire poem. Can you guess which couplet will be excerpted for bus route 11?

 

 

 

Bus Stop

Melinda Palacio, 10th Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara 

 

 

It’s the waiting that hurts,

Makes the day feel longer.

 

Smiles and relief when the bus arrives,

a satisfying thrill, seeing a long, lost friend.

 

She speaks in a woman’s voice, announces the stop

For Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.

 

Outside, Lowriders on parade turn heads.

Too tired. I’m glad I’m not driving. 

 

So many rattling parts. The bus hums, squeals, exhales,

screeches to a false stop as it crouches to receive passengers.

 

As it gurgles forward, 

I wonder if the bus is more tired than I. 

 

 

 

Closing out Poetry Month with Lori Anaya

Lori Anaya

 

Letter to My Face 

Lori Anaya 

Eyes, 

I never liked how you were almond shaped 

A perfect blend of blue to green and flecks of gold, but 

Different from the rest 

Not as beautiful as my mother’s, 

Passed out on the table 

Day after day oozing innocent sleep 

And hate 

Instead of dinner 

Eyes, if only you could be dark 

Sharp-clawed 

Midnight 

Like Attila 

Or cafecito, morenito, abuelitos brown 

Guarding past, future, 

Now, guarding my tears 

Even those that do not fall 

Eyes, you watched 

Four sisters disappear 

To the house on the hill 

Without me 

Eyes, you turned away 

From sticker fields 

Fist fights and kick fights, 

From planting trees and beautiful things 

To the nowhere and the nothing 

Of searching for sweet crumbs 

Eyes, you left me to mend decades, and 

Places where the bears once fought. 

I’ve grown to love you, Eyes, 

Lizard hunting days 

Orange-pink dawns in soft sand 

Drawing horses 

And cloud portraits 

Watercolor dreams 

I’ve grown to love your place in my life 

On the mask that is my face 

Above the nose I didn’t want 

Nose, 

Even though you are perfect 

Smooth 

Sloped in a straight line like my father’s 

And not the beautiful strong nose of my mother 

You are the nose of stink and silences 

Of dank dungeon, unwanted 

Of people who claim to be family, 

Of refrigerated vodka, no ice cubes needed. 

I’ve grown to love how you smell sweetness 

Outside the door of childhood 

How you smell the young skin of Nephew’s daughter 

How you smell calmness and strength 

How you smell dead animal, pine trees, even rain 

Or fear... 

You fit perfectly in the oval face 

That is my mask 

Lips, hiding so many words 

Lies and truths unspoken 

And some you’ve had the courage to bring forth 

You are full and beautiful 

You are language 

And translations 

Intonations 

Catholic incantations 

Spanish trills 

Tewa hills 

Pragmatic 

English, Spanish 

Even problematic, sometimes, but 

You call forth words 

Help me greet the world 

And share my heart 

Eyes, Nose, Lips 

You were the unwanted face, of 

The unwanted daughter 

The unwanted words rang out 

When my father said he never loved my mother 

You make me glad you were a mask, 

Lone sentinel 

I never realized 

I could love you 

PS 

Dear Heart 

 Lori Anaya is a bilingual teacher, poet, writer, presenter, and one of five sisters. She is a Southcoast Writing Project Fellow and Young Writer’s Academy instructor. Published in short story and poetry: the Santa Barbara Literary Journal, Avalon Literary Review, and lunareview.com. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a Summer Conference grant winner for middle grade, and picture book creator. When not writing, she rides a paint mare into The Land Conservancy where nature overlooks the fact that she is human. 

From Bloguera to Poeta Laureada de Santa Barbara: Breaking News

La Bloga Celebrates Poetry Month with Good News from Santa Barbara County 

photo by Nell Campbell

MELINDA PALACIO TO BE APPOINTED AS SANTA BARBARA POET LAUREATE 
Palacio will serve as the City’s 10^th Poet Laureate

 

(SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.) –The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture is pleased to announce that Santa Barbara City Council is anticipated to install Melinda Palacio as Santa Barbara’s next Poet Laureate. 

 

Ms. Palacio, an internationally-lauded poet, author, and speaker, will serve as Santa Barbara’s first Chicana Poet Laureate. She was nominated by several community members, and recommended to Council for appointment by the City Arts Advisory Committee. A long-time resident of Santa Barbara, Palacio noted, "Santa Barbara itself is a poem. Santa Barbara is the city that made me a poet."

 

Her poetry chapbook, Folsom Lockdown, won Kulupi Press’ Sense of Place award. Her novel, Ocotillo Dreams,received the Mariposa Award for Best First Book at the 2012 International Latino Book Awards, as well as a PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award for Excellence in Literature. Her full-length poetry collection, How Fire Is a Story, Waiting, received First Prize in Poetry at the International Latino Book Awards. Her work has also been featured on the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day Program. Locally, Palacio received first place in Poetry at the 2003 Santa Barbara Writers Conference.

 

Lee Herrick, who was appointed by Governor Newsom in 2022 as California’s Poet Laureate, has described Palacio as “a marvelous talent at the top of her game.” Herrick praised her book, Bird Forgiveness, writing, “Melinda Palacio masterfully explores confinement, liberation, freedom, and flight. Abundant joy and wonder run through the poems – and they examine human behavior and relationships with wisdom and grace.”

 

Palacio will serve as the City of Santa Barbara’s 10th Laureate; The City established the position in 2005 to expand community engagement in City activities, and increase the visibility, presence, and accessibility of poetry for all. In 2017, the Santa Barbara Public Library became the official home of the Poet Laureate, joining as a major steward and program partner. Palacio succeeds a number of deeply-impactful Poets Laureate, including late Barry Spacks, Perie Longo, David Starkey, Paul Willis, Chryss Yost, Sojourner Kincaid-Rolle, Enid Osborne, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, and Emma Trelles. 

 

As Poet Laureate, Palacio hopes to offer new platforms for community members, especially those who have been historically underserved, to connect with poetry. One program would be, “pop-up readings at some unusual places, such as laundry mats, parks, and beaches.” Palacio, who is bilingual, said that she has been inspired by community members to create connections. “My neighbor from Ecuador, whose first language is Spanish, says she would like to write poetry but doesn’t know where to start, I imagine there are many more people in Santa Barbara who feel the same way. I would take a lead role and increase participation and exposure to poetry by connecting cultures within our own communities in Santa Barbara and beyond.”

 

 

 

 

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Cesar Chavez Day and National Poetry Month Mañana

First Happy Cesar Chavez Day

Tomorrow is April Fool's and National Poetry Month Begins 

 Does anyone else hide from the pranksters? I've never been one for jokes and do not enjoy that we have a day dedicated to fooling each other. In the spirit of no fooling, one real event is Poetry Month. April is when event coordinators bring out the poets and for one month, there are more poetry events than usual. I have to admit, this is another custom I am not a fan of. I prefer celebrating poetry everyday, all yearlong. Since you'll be hearing more about poetry in April during my posts for April 14 and the 28, I'll only share a few events to start with. 

April 1: The Poetry Buffet, an online event to celebrate women poets. Zoom reading. No fooling. Saturday 2pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82106457295... 

April 8: Poetry Without Borders. Poesia Sin Fronteras. A one-day Poetry Fest from 2-7pm, Cafe Istanbul, 2372 Saint Claude, New Orleans

In Santa Barbara, there's big Poet Laureate news. On the 18th at 2pm at Santa Barbara's City Hall, the city will proclaim its 10th Poet Laureate. 

On April 25, Santa Barbara welcomes the 24th United States Poet Laureate, Ada Límon to Campbell Hall, UCSB, 7:30 pm. 

April is also a month when I revisit poems I've written in the past. 

Our President Sings Amazing Grace

Melinda Palacio

For the slain Reverend Pinckney and nine 

of his flock. Bible study will never again

be sitting in the same room, breaking bread,

discussing all things of importance, faith

On the other side of the fence, a divided

nation, the crazies call an obama nation, an obamination, 

an-oh-not-my president nation. 

Since when is the President, not your President?

Will you move to Canada?

Oops. You forgot Canada allows equal marriage.

Will you move to France?

You forgot France will not tolerated your ignorance.

Parlez-vous français?

That's right. You don't speak the language.

Go back where you came from.

Is your solution a fence?

Because all of a sudden you notice the town you live in,

the street your house is on is not spelled in English.

English only. You voted for it. 

A Mexican told you. I will marry your daughter 

and you will eat nothing but burritos,

burritos three times a day.

Which flag will you fly?

Will you hold up stars and stripes,

rebel stars and bars,

or will a white dove help you

with a white handkerchief?

For your pain, for my pain, for their pain, for our pain,

President Obama Sings Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace,

How Sweet the Sound...