Mailbag. Marching Toward the Cruellest Month: March's Final On-line Floricanto

Michael Sedano

I spent much of the past weeks getting prepared for cascarón Sunday. Cooking lots of eggs. Carefully emptying each blanquillo and storing the fragile shells.

A sure sign of Spring is engaging a marathon of dyeing and drying eggshells with a joyous kindergartener. This week, stuff a pinch of confetti inside then seal with a tissue rectangle and a flour and salt paste.

In the meantime, the email bag brings interesting news.

Mailbag
Desperado A Mile High Noir Gets Denver Reading

La Bloga Friday columnist Manuel Ramos has launched the promotion campaign for his newest mystery novel, Desperado A Mile High Noir.

Manuel's scheduled a reading on April 11 at Denver's Tattered Cover Book Store. Click here for details via Facebook.

Facebook subscribers in, or traveling to, Denver, will click their RSVP. An accurate headcount allows Ramos to order sufficient caviar and champagne.


Mailbag
Sor Juana Novelist on Public Radio

Arte Público Press emails to share news that Alicia Gaspar de Alba, whose Calligraphy of the Witch is headed to film (Desert Blood and Sor Juana's Second Dream would be fabulous movies, too), was interviewed for Houston Public Radio.

Mailbag
Alburquerque Closes Distance on Reyna Grande

La Bloga friend extraordinaire Greta Pullen emails to advise New Mexico area La Bloga readers  of a special event with Reyna Granda, at one of the nation's best-kept cultural treasures, the National Hispanic Cultural Center:

Poets Reading Aloud
Diana García Reads at Latinopia

Latinopia is one of those internet venues that requires regular visits because the site updates every Sunday, with ever-more valuable and interesting video Chicanarte.

This week, Latinopia features poet Diana Carcía, reading at 2010's Festival de Flor y Canto. Yesterday • Today • Tomorrow, held at USC. Click here to share García's performance.





Final On-line Floricanto in March 2013
Tara Evonne Trudell, Viola Weinberg Spenser, Francisco X. Alarcón, Ana Chig, Hedy Garcia Treviño


"I Live" by Tara Evonne Trudell
"Spring Equinox" by Viola Weinberg Spenser
"Crazy / Loco" by Francisco X. Alarcón
"Del puente al arco" por Ana Chig
"You Are Me / Eres Mí" by Hedy Garcia Trevino


I Live
by Tara Evonne Trudell


I live

for this

seeing
in darkness
of fire
light
flickering
sparks
shooting
inside me

I live

for this

challenging
daily spirit
with the
tearing down
of woman
sister spirit

hearing
of ten year olds
bound and raped
sixteen year olds
drugged and raped
this society
indifferent
to the realities
women
face
being
a woman
growing
little
girl

I live

for this

to pray
in ceremony
the healing
of
young girls
not
young girls
any more
the strength
for an earth
not whole
any more
feeling
our daughters
pain
mirroring
the raping
of motherland
society
shaking their head
saddened
feeling
a little
angry
but still
not awake
not aware
of the real
need
to take
a fierce
stand
a willingness
to fight
and die
for
a stronger
humanity
to live
for this
too.



SPRING EQUINOX
by Viola Weinberg Spencer


It is the first day
at the first light
Shall we begin again
on these blankets of
green grass and apple
trees sudden with buds?

If you work too hard, too late
You will miss the majesty of
unstoppable spring
You will drive through the rain
and won't have the time
to stand here, wet and happy

I found the dirt path again
overgrown with mustard
seething with wild garlic
and green spring onions--
The pokes of lilies come up
The seeds of last year reborn

It is the beginning again
It is a time for sloppy tongues
and the sticky, pink embrace
Come with me – I shall
ruin your schedule and
make you whole anew


©2013 Viola Weinberg



CRAZY
by Francisco X. Alarcón


I leave
all my doors
unlocked

strangers
look to me
so familiar

I would embrace
and kiss them all
on the spot

every day
on the street
I run into God

instead
of crying
now I laugh

o this World
I want to turn
upside down

nowadays
nothing sways me –
I must be crazy

LOCO
by Francisco X. Alarcón


mis puertas
las dejo todas
sin cerrar

los extraños
me parece
tan familiares

a todos
los abrazaría
y besaría sin más

cada día
en la calle
me hallo a Dios

en vez
de llorar
ahora me río

oh al Mundo
quiero poner
al revés

hoy nada
me convence –
debo de estar loco

© Francisco X. Alarcón



DEL PUENTE AL ARCO
por Ana Chig


Nubes imponen el silencio en los hostales
Lejanas sombras se congregan al calor de neumática
fogata
Una manta de liquen y el sopor del invierno ovilla
mi cuerpo -junto a ellos-

Todo es posible en el asidero fantasioso de la urbe
Hombres y quimeras residen en los rincones,
bajo el puente
Afiladas puntas penetran sus venas, un río negro
les circula nutrida la esperanza

En acodo, deletreo lejanos muros que contienen más
sangre que razones
Un cúmulo arriscado sobresale tras los techos
junto al arco
El campaneo parroquial –y su ausencia- induce obligada,
la partida.


Eres Mí
Dedicated to Vanessa A. Treviño
by Hedy Treviño


Eres la flor de mi alma
Eres la luz del sol
Eres mí eres mí
Eres la luna de enero
Eres el grito del gavilán
Eres mí eres mí
Eres el canto de Ángeles
Eres mi sangre y mi cuerpo
Eres mí eres mí
Eres la flor de la sierra
Eres mi hija preciosa
Eres mí eres mí

You Are Me

You are the flower of my soul
You are the light of the Sun
You are me you are me
You are the Moon of January
You are the cry of the Hawk
You are me you are me
You are the song of the angels
You are my flesh and my blood
You are me you are me
You are the wild flower of the mountain
You are my beautiful daughter
You are me you are me





Bios
"I Live" by Tara Evonne Trudell
"Spring Equinox" by Viola Weinberg Spenser
"Crazy / Loco" by Francisco X. Alarcón
"Del puente al arco" por Ana Chig
"You Are Me / Eres Mí" by Hedy Garcia Treviño

Francisco X. Alarcón (was born in Los Angeles, in 1954) is the author of twelve volumes of poetry, including, From the Other Side of Night: Selected and New Poems (University of Arizona Press 2002). His latest book is Ce•Uno•One: Poemas para el Nuevo Sol/Poems for the New Sun (Swan Scythe Press 2010). His most recent book of bilingual poetry for children is Animal Poems of the Iguazú (Children’s Book Press 2008). He teaches at the University of California, Davis. He created a new Facebook page, POETS RESPONDING TO SB 1070: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poets-Responding-to-SB-1070/117494558268757?ref=ts

Ana Chig. Poeta y editora (Los Mochis, Sinaloa 1974) Actualmente reside en la ciudad fronteriza de Tijuana, B. C.

Hedy M. Garcia Treviño. Has written poetry since the age of eight. Her first poem came as a result of being punished for speaking Spanish in school. Her poetry has been published in numerous journal's and other publications. She has performed her poetry at numerous cultural events. She continues to write poetry, and inspires others to use the written word as a form of self discovery and personal healing. Hedy is also one of the moderators for Poets Responding to SB 1070.

Cascarones time is blanquillos time.

Michael Sedano

La Chickenada were complaining loudly as I stepped into the jaula. Buff Orpington had fouled the water but steadfastly refused to admit it, much less apologize for the green-white lump that sat in the trough. The three Barred Rock had their own beef over which had produced the ideal shaped egg for cascarones.

The Ameraucana cackled hers were inherently superior for two reasons. First, shape. Her tight oval and thick shell made cracking the end neat and easy. Second, color. The green shell requires no additional work to look resplendent in the cascarones basket.

Buffy scoffed. “You don’t even know what ‘resplendent’ means. Beside, with my nearly uniform oval it makes no difference what end the cascaron maker chooses to open. And the soft pink makes coloring superfluous, but if dyed, gives a richness to the hue impossible with the brown shells of the Barreds.” The Barred Rocks protested in unison and loudly vigorously that productivity counted more than shape or color, and beside…

I gathered the daily take and left La Chickenada to their never-ending debate. Each made a good point, it is cascarones time and each blanquillo comes with its particular benefit. Blanquillo. My grandmother was teaching me about chickens and eggs when she pointed out that “huevo” is what little boys and men carry around and not to be confused with blanquillos, which is what hens produce.

Easter Sunday is traditionally boiled egg gathering time. It’s also cascarones time. My flock keeps my refrigerator filled with blanquillos. It’s a simple process to crack open blanquillos and reserve them for the annual confetti fill. With Easter hard upon us, it’s still not too late to make up a supply. Plan a menu heavy with eggs--flan, custard pie, cheese soufflé, omelettes, and chiles rellenos—and in no time at all you’re ready to make a goodly supply of cascarones, if you dry the shells in a warm oven.


In honor of cascarones season, here are two recipes. First, cascarones. Second, gluten free chiles rellenos.1. Gather your eggs. When you open a blanquillo, use the edge of a knife and crack the narrow end with sharp blows. Remove the end and pour out the whole egg, poach or cook que se salen. (That's my granma's word for "over medium". So this cook at a buffet in el Defie asks me how I want my egs, I say "que se salen" and he gives me a blank stare. "Over medium" I say in English, and he does so.) If you wish, poke a hole in one end first, then poke a hole in the other end. Blow out the contents and cook scrambled. Rinse the shell and let dry.

2. Use wax crayon to draw designs on the dried egg shell. Dye the shells and allow to dry thoroughly. You can dry them in the oven for an hour at 200 degrees. All year, I used to save the punchholes from a paper puncher. I also buy colored paper confetti at party stores. Do not use the plastic or aluminum confetti, unless you want to put out eyes.

3. When your spring fling arrives, crack cascarones on cocos. Careful in intercultural settings. When my kidlet was tiny she cracked one on her friend's head. The friend, being anglo, didn't understand the ritual and slugged my daughter.

4. Sweep up the mess.

People with gluten intolerance or worse, Celiac disease, cannot eat wheat, barley, or rye. Tortillas de harina. Out. Beer. Out. Cakes, cookies, pizza. Out, out, out of one's diet. Eating in restaurants becomes a serious problem, and fast-food joints are basically off-limits owing to contamination and the staff's lack of training on what's in their food and what "GF," gluten free, means. Peor, most analogs to wheat foods truly suck out loud. Gluten free beer is such a disappointment when one has enjoyed rich malty lagers and ales prior to discovering the condition. Lastima, you GF gente. Yo también.

But there's hope. Here, for example, is a completely successful rice-based batter for chiles rellenos. Over at Cook! Raza, I'll be including GF recipes like the one below.

GF chiles rellenos
-----------------------------------------
Fresh or frozen rajas de good chiles, or whole chiles. The ones in cans work, too.
GF flour or rice flour.
Fresh egg.
Milk.
Good melting cheese; jack, Oaxaca, mozzarella, cotija (very salty, not a great melter, so be careful). Cut into ½” rectangles the length of the chiles.
Chile powder, Gebhardt’s is an excellent commercial blend.
Baking soda. Salt.
Beat egg with milk. Add a pinch sal and two of baking soda.
Sprinkle flour over egg and whip to beat air into mixture. Make batter that slowly falls off a spoon.
Let sit for 10 or 15 minutes. (This is a key step using rice flour).

Dowse rajas/chiles in dry flour.
Stuff the chiles with cheese.
Dip floured chiles into batter. Let them sit, then dip again just prior to frying.

Heat good olive oil to smoking hot.
Slide stuffed battered chiles into oil. Use a spatula or perforated flat wok utensil.
Cook until fluffy and browned.
Turn and cook.
Remove from pan, place on newspaper or towels to absorb excess oil.
Serve with conventional side dishes. Cry in your GF bironga.


Happy St. Paddy's day yesterday. Comida de cuaresma time, so enjoy your nopales and tortas de camarron, and make up a bunch of chiles rellenos. Provecho!

Gente, La Bloga welcomes your comments and observations. We welcome, encourage, guest columnists. When someone posts a column you'd like to extend or respond to, leave a comment. If you've written something entirely different that you think fits La Bloga's emphasis on literature, arts and cultura chicana / latina, click here and let us know what you'd like to share.

See you next week with a review of Alicia Gaspar de Alba's Calligraphy of the Witch.

mvs