Archive for the ‘Poets Comment into the World’ Category

Francisco Memorial Reading

On Thursday Feb. 18th a large group gathered at the John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis to celebrate the life and work of Francisco X Alarcon

who on Jan. 16th passed from this place to that on his journey. So many souls that he has touched and so they came to honor him and to honor Javier and Francisco’s family. Love to you brother!

The following featured poets read poetry at Canto Hondo: A Memorial Reading for Francisco X. Alarcon:
JoAnn Anglin
Paul Aponte
Francisco Aragón
Lucha Corpi
Luz Maria Gama
Marta Garcia
Nancy Aidé Gonzalez
Xico Gonzalez
Nicole Henares
Zheyla Henriksen
Suzy Huerta
Dr. Andy Jones
Arturo Mantecon
Gerardo Pacheco Matus
Adela Najarro
Rosie Ochoa
William O’Daly
Graciela B. Ramirez
Betty Sanchez Allegra Siberstein
Bob Stanley

Special Guests :
Javier Pinzon
Members of the Alarcon Family
Kalpulli Xihuacoatl Danzante Group
Mariachi Cielito Lindo

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Posted on: February 22nd, 2016 by admin

I am a white man

It is time, before the coming Republican primaries, for me to say something I first formed 40 years ago. Before the pundits spew out the stereotype about disaffected white men voting for the likes of Trump and Cruz, let me say this, I am a white man (even an older white man), my three sons are white men, my two little grandson are budding white men and we do not support the mindless, ignorant and dangerous nonsense coming out of these two and the others in the Republican campaign. Stereotypes of all sorts are false and this one is a great and demeaning falsehood.
I have spent the last 45 years associating and working with white men who have been working for the rights of the working class, civil rights, immigrant rights, gay rights, religious freedom and understanding, women’s right, and the freedom of people’s around the world for the right not to live under the heel of economic and political subjugation. The opportunity to work with people who share these values, whether, black, women, gay, hispanic, asian or white men, gives freedom to us all. Nothing is lost rather so much is gained.
So, do not mix me and my sons in with a group that is, in fact, false from the start. To the pundits, find another more accurate and more enlightened way to account for the fear that animates so much of the people who support these demigods.
John Peterson
Here is a short list of some white men, celebrities and associates, who are not motivated by fear but by love of all people.

Peter Yarrow
Paul Stooky
Bob Dylan
Edward R. Murrow
George Clooney
Shaun Penn
Tony Bennett
John Brown
Frank Sinatra
Gregory Peck
Bill Clinton
Paul Newman
Rock Hudson
Harry Truman
James Woods
Gene Hackman
Pete Seeger
Woody Guthrie
Tony Bennett
Orson Wells
Tim McCoy in a 1932 movie
The entire cast of 12 Angry Men
Tony Curtis
Robert Ryan
Walter Reuther
Every white man at the March on Washington
Marlon Brando
Bobby Darin
Ken Hart
Craig Cherstrom
Lawrence Rouse
Ren Maby
Warren Kessler
James Downs
Ed Maupin
Rick Gold
Jack Seileman

The list is endless. To add names to this list go to the Comments and send them to me. I will add them.

 

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Posted on: January 26th, 2016 by admin No Comments

Buckminster Fuller

(Buckminster) Fuller said that he had experienced a profound incident which would provide direction and purpose for his life. He felt as though he was suspended several feet above the ground enclosed in a white sphere of light. A voice spoke directly to Fuller, and declared:

From now on you need never await temporal attestation to your thought. You think the truth. You do not have the right to eliminate yourself. You do not belong to you. You belong to Universe. Your significance will remain forever obscure to you, but you may assume that you are fulfilling your role if you apply yourself to converting your experiences to the highest advantage of others.

Fuller stated that this experience led to a profound re-examination of his life. He ultimately chose to embark on “an experiment, to find what a single individual [could] contribute to changing the world and benefiting all humanity.”

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Posted on: January 8th, 2016 by admin

Mandy Patinkin

Earlier today I saw a CBS News piece on actor Mandy Patinkin as he went to a beach on a Greek island as refugees came ashore. He went to, as he said “connect with reality” and meet these people as they fled conflicts in the Middle-East. Patinkin said “fear is the poison of our lives.” Our humanity is at risk if we don’t help these people. “I’m not a politician. I’m an actor. I refer to myself as a humanitician. And all I want for myself, my children and for all people all over the world, is to be less afraid,” Patinkin said.

After the obscene pronouncement from the Republican candidate in the earlier news segment Patinkin’s passionate and oh so human response to these people was so so heartening. In him I saw a man fully human and I was so touched and moved. Fear is a poison that must not take over our lives else we walk around devoid of what it means to be human. He said reaching out to those in need is a kindness and is what we must do. And I am so grateful to him for manifesting his humanness. That is what we must see in this time of bigotry and playing on other’s fear.

Mandy Patinkin is a man of consequence, my respect and love to him in this time of confusion. Go here to see the news item.

-John Peterson

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Posted on: December 10th, 2015 by admin No Comments

Thanks Leroy

I just saw Trump’s disgusting and abusive portrayal of a disabled person. Having just published Leroy Moore’s book Black Kripple Delivers Poetry & Lyrics I realize how much Leroy has affected me. Leroy has the same speech and physical patterns that Trump caricatured but the great difference between them is that Leroy has great compassion for those who share his disability. And let me tell you his intelligence far out shines Trump’s and mine. He works tirelessly for the rights of the disabled, for the rights of black disabled persons, the rights of disabled women and for the rights of all of us to give up our prejudice and ignorance. May his love spread far and wide. Leroy is the kind of person I wish to see showing us how to include all people in our human community. Thanks Leroy.

John Peterson

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Posted on: December 10th, 2015 by admin

Echu

Seen by the eye of faith
the cherry blossoms
are always about to fall.
It is a rare privilege to be born
as a human being,
as we happen to be.
If we do not achieve
enlightenment in this life,
when do we expect to achieve it?

—Echu

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Posted on: November 14th, 2015 by admin No Comments

Francis of Assisi

“He who works with his hands

is a laborer

He who works with his hands and his head

is a craftsman

He who works with his hands his head and his heart

is an artist.”

 

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Posted on: October 6th, 2015 by admin

Watershed Event in Berkeley

Folks,
Poetic Matrix Press will have a table at the coming Watershed event in Berkeley this Saturday Sept 26th and we invite all of you who will be in the area to stop by and say hello. All of the proceeds from all book sales will be donated to Sandy Stillwell and Dennis who lost their home in the Valley fire. Sandy and Dennis and hundreds of others lost their home to this most destructive fire. Our heart is with them and so we make this small donation to assist in a small way. Thankfully they are safe and have good friends and family around them. Stop by and by a book. Also Francisco X. Alarcon will be reading from his recent book Borderless Butterflies/Mariposa sin frontera at the event and so check him out. It should be a good day all around. -John
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Posted on: September 27th, 2015 by admin

Katrina by Lyn Lifshin

If you have attended to the news lately you know this is the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that so devastated New Orleans and the gulf region. In 2010 our press had the opportunity to recognize Katrina’s 5th anniversary by publishing Lyn Lifshin’s book of thoughtful personal poems, Katrina, about the people caught up in this most difficult experience. These poems are so indicative of Lyn’s direct, personal style. Lyn writes without embellishments so that the lives of the people can be seen. She is a master at this kind of direct, immediate poetry.

Katrina by Lyn Lifshin is available at our distributor Small Press Distribution (SPD) www.spdbooks.org. To see more on Lyn’s book Katina and her recent book that our Press has published, Malala, about the courageous recipient of the 2014 Noble Peace Prize for her work go to our website www.poeticmatrix.com.

See some of the poetry from Katrina by Lyn Lifshin at our Forever Journal.

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Posted on: August 28th, 2015 by admin

Star Trek Quote

Star Trek Season 3: Ep. 5. Arthur H Singer

Is There In Truth No Beauty

The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity.

And in the ways our differences combine to create meaning and beauty.

Posted on: August 21st, 2015 by admin