Writing poetry is visibly easy for some people while incalculably teeth-gritting for others. While some embrace its beauty, its challenge, and its form/structure, others avoid it like the proverbial plague, opting instead to choose dental pain or an ingrown nail instead of reading, let alone writing poetry. I find it incredibly beautiful and in some ways like a word puzzle or game.

Writing poetry in a language other than ones first (or native language) can be either a more welcome challenge or a bigger pain depending on what side of the poetry fence you are on. I have recently experimented with writing poems in spanish and offer a few here. I have taken some creative as well as linguistic license. Hope you enjoy them.

The first is in the Haiku style.

Flores
Flores del campo
muestran colores fuertes
me dan belleza

Another deals with our crazy word using some rhyme.

El Mundo Loco
Dos y dos son tres
un año es un mes
el rojo es cafe
anarquía es la ley

Mi playa es mi casa
Mi primo es my prima
Mi perra es mi gata
y mi uva es mi pera

Abajo es arriba
y la izquierda la derecha.
Puede ver un poco
El mundo mio loco?

Finally, a third poem, mushy by most standards in free verse.

Mi Estrella
Tu eres la estrella del dia, de la noche y
la luz de mi vida.
Su luz es el faro de mi camino
la belleza de la oscuridad alrededor el mundo.

No te vayas, no me sales
Eres mis ojos y sobre todo
Eres la guarda de mi corazon
y la escencia de mi amor.

El sol me traiga el calor
y el día lleno de la luz
Sin embargo espero la noche
y solamente para su resplandor y su amor.

Hope you enjoyed them. Try your hand at poems in another language. With a little patience and practice you might be able to create something that is very meaningful to you.

Brent Rourk

Your morning alarm sends it melodious message (or shrill shriek) to your brain – my stars, is it time to wake-up already?

How to begin a day? The ways are truly endless and none are necessarily right or wrong – just different.  Cultures globally have different morning routines, times,  and foods.  Our western culture has proudly presented itself with a work time of 8:00, pop tarts, instant coffee, 7-11 coffee, juice (or kinda juice), and cereals of every kind and description. For those with time and taste the old American classic of eggs, bacon , and toast fits the breakfast bill just fine. More recently, healthier fares have dotted tables and cars including but not limited to oatmeal, granola bars, and other less killer krill.

Breakfast in other cultures varies, as those who have ventured out of our country know. It ranges from a hot drink to a bread or roll of some kind to last night’s leftovers. Make no mistake, I am not judging these different jolts for the day, merely mentioning that eggs and Coco Puffs are not as universal as some might think.

One of my favorite breakfasts, when I slip away from my standard fare of a banana, grapefruit juice, and coffee (infrequently and guiltily punctuated with a breakfast bar or taco), is fresh, strong coffee (a la expresso) and a fresh-made Spanish Tortilla. For those who have not tried the Spanish Tortilla, you are really missing something. Very unlike the Mexican Tortilla, which is also tasty, the Spanish Tortilla is an inch and a half thick and filled with potatoes and egg. When I pull out all the stops I add a little onion or cheese or Spanish Chorizo (or Mexican Chorizo) and adorn the top with roasted red peppers. Seasoned with sea salt, fresh cracked pepper, and Spanish paprika, the first sight and smell of arguably one of Spain’s most famous dishes (and Tapas Bar staple) the Spanish Tortilla is certainly bound to make you mouth salivate.

The Spanish tortilla can be eaten warm fresh out of the pan or reheated or even eaten cold.  It is heavy, filling and tasty. After you make it once or twice you will find it easy to make (though it takes about 30 minutes if you use frozen – diced potatoes and longer if you use fresh raw or par-boiled potatoes). Without question, it is worth the effort. It can feed a family at one sitting if not two, it can be taken to work for lunch and again reheated or eaten cold, or it can be eaten as a snack, dinner or tapas with your favorite porter or stout (or light ale if you prefer). It is a genuine taste of Spanish cuisine and apt to impress your friends at a gathering, dinner, or tapas party.

Search the web or any Spanish cookbook for tortilla recipes. You will be very glad you did. My bet is that you will make it a monthly regular, at least, on your table.

I am off to get my “cafe fuerte” (con crema) and a liberal slice of “la tortilla” right now. Let me know how your’s turns out. You are going to love it.

Brent Rourk

Ecuador Volcano

Hundreds evacuated from slopes of volcano in Ecuador

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in Ecuador following an eruption at one of the country’s most active volcanoes. Tungurahua began spewing columns of ash miles into the air this week and experts say the intense activity shows no sign of slowing down.Around 3,000 villagers have either fled or been evacuated from the slopes of the volcano, including 11 families who had to be removed by force after refusing to leave their homes.A massive eruption on Tungurahua two years ago buried entire villages, killing four people and leaving thousands homeless.  

Sources:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/south-america/article3410955.ece 

http://geology.com/news/2006/08/eruption-at-tungurahua-volcano-ecuador.html

A very tasty and popular dish from Ecuador is called llapingachos, fried potato cakes - a dish our Spanish classes have tried this year. Though it takes a bit of time to prepare, a few additional hands will cut the time and increase the appetites of those helping. It is a fun dish to make as a group or family because there are several steps and additional side dishes – everybody has a job or two to do.

I recommend that you serve it in traditional ways with Salsa de Mani (a peanut sauce), a typical salad of lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and lime juice (avocado and garlic too), different sausages, fruit, and some juice. It is also traditionally served at times with rice, but if you are wanting to limit the starches, then omit the rice.

It is a tasty and colorful comfort food. Watch them disappear quickly once you get them to the table. Please check the following links for traditional recipes for llapingachos:

http://www.whats4eats.com/recipes/r_ve_llapingachos.php 

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

http://www.recipezaar.com/35823

http://www.ciaprochef.com/peanuts/peanuts-recipe-08.html

In the tradition of fine architectural splendor, including form and function, the walled town of Toledo, Spain is rich in history. It reflects a different approach to constructing cities in Spanish history and has a rich history of various influences. Learn more about this fascinating and beautiful walled city in Central Spain. At one time many religions actively practiced in peaceful co-existence within the walls of Toledo. A predominant preference for religious tolerance made it possible for both Muslims and Jews to respect one another and live together harmoniously. 

Todedo is one of my favorite places to visit in Spain. Plan on visiting Toledo for a full day the next time you visit Spain. Take time to explore this amazing walled city – best done by walking through the narrow streets and examining the architecture and discovering Toledo’s fantastic shops and delicatessans. Enjoy a bocadillo (freshly made sandwich with tasty Spanish salamis and cheeses on a great roll) and your favorite beverage at a deli overlooking the town and countryside. Drink in also the beauty of the art and architecture, the history, and the colors you will surely see. Make sure you have your digital camera ready because the photo opportunities are numerous and profound. I have fond memories of my day at Toledo and hope to return again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo,_Spain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKpyEWaGWSM A YouTube visit to Toledo

http://www.euroresidentes.com/euroresiuk/guides-spain/guide-toledo.htm

Pita was an actress and poet, one of Mexico’s best. She left behind many poems that provoked strong thoughts and feelings in those who read her words. After reading her poems, then listen to them.

“Como dicen que soy una ignorante, todo el mundo comenta sin respeto

que sin duda ha de haber algun sujeto que pone mi pensar en consonante……”

http://www.palabravirtual.com/index.php?ir=crit.php&wid=573&show=poemas&p=Guadalupe+(Pita)+Amor  This link is in Spanish and has several of her poems in Spanish.

There are many decent links that permit you a quick glance at what is happening in Latin America. This is one of many and provides a glimpse of what is happening south of The United States. Our news agencies do not provide us with much in the way of global news, though it is more available thanks to the internet.

It is beneficial to understand what happens in the world, outside of our own homes, neighborhoods, states, and national boundary. It is interesting to view other cultures and to assess our similarities, differences, and relationship with one another. The world has changed and as such we no longer live isolation. The ripples that pebbles make in the water here are felt and seen elsewhere in the world. Our interdependence with one another (and at times our animosities) require that we know, understand, and respect one another. The first step in accomplishing that is to allow them into our consciousness. Then, how can we learn from one another, appreciate our differences, and live peacefully?

http://news.yahoo.com/i/734;_ylt=AoFVHcNxPQQfAqNAiLfs09VvaA8F 

 Octavio Paz (1914-1998)

 Octavio Paz was a popular and Nobel Prize winning Mexican poet, writer, and diplomat. Check these links as a beginning exploration of his life and works   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavio_Paz

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1990/paz-bio.html 

A few of his quotes:

     “Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two.”

     “The Mexican, in contrast, is familiar with death. (He) jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it. It is one of his favorite toys and his most steadfast love.”

     “Art is an invention of aesthetics, which in turn is an invention of philosophers…what we call art is a game”

Two of my favorite quotes by Paz are the following:

“Deserve your dream.”

“Modern man like to pretend that his thinking is wide-awake. But this wide-awake thinking has led us into the mazes of a nightmare in which the torture chambers are endlessly repeated in the mirrors of reason”

 The Persistence of Memory – 1931, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali was an incredible Spanish painter and more. He was a master at virtually all painting styles. For more about Dali see this link  See also the section to the left that contains more Dali links. During the summer of 2007 I visited the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. I would strongly recommend that you make time to visit that museum if you are in Florida. Plan at least a 4 hour visit. They have an amazing collection of Dali’s works.

Dali is one of my many favorite artists for several reasons. His technical skill, use of symbolism, and personal expression are very unique and astonishingly thought-provoking. He is an artist who can easily elicit laughs, cries, and long pauses of thoughtful conisderation, sometimes within the scanning or perusal of the same painting. He remained a staunch individualist throughout his life, remaining true to his beliefs regardless of cost or criticism.

For a basic foundation about Dali go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dal%C3%AD 

Also, look to the left under PAGES and see ‘Spanish and Mexican Art’ for more information about artists from the Spanish-speaking world.

song-de-colores.doc   Words in Spanish and English to Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJmwUYoJtVY&feature=related   A clear, easy to understand version of De Colores – 2 Parts.