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Zeteo (ζητέω): to challenge, question, dispute, explore the forgotten and ignored

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A Bad Time for Poetry

March 23, 2015 by Ana Maria Caballero

A few nights ago I dreamt that a close friend and I were stalking Bertolt Brecht in Paris. Since I rarely have such intellectual dreams, I took it as a sign to read some of the German writer and thinker’s work. Although Brecht is perhaps best remembered for his contributions to theater, he is also considered to be one of the greatest German poets that ever lived. Brecht’s approach to poetry, as opposed to the way in which he took on […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, History, literature, poetry, reading, theater, writing

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Ireland’s Favorite Poem

March 17, 2015 by Ana Maria Caballero

Ireland may be known for St. Patrick’s day, and the heavy beer drinking involved. But, it is also known for the many legendary writers that came from its rolling green hills. James Joyce, William Butler Yeats and, most recently, Seamus Heaney all called Ireland their home. This year, RTE, the national broadcaster, hosted a contest aimed at identifying the country’s most-loved poem written in the last century. The winner is a sonnet by Seamus Heaney called “When all the others were […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, Ireland, literature, poetry, reading, writing

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Go Medieval on Your Verse

March 10, 2015 by Ana Maria Caballero

One of my favorite blogs is called “Interesting Literature.” It is just that, a site with interesting, often very random, facts about literature and literary history. A few weeks ago they published a piece called “10 Short Medieval Poems Everyone Should Read.” Fear not. The poems included  are only a few lines long and translation is provided, so they are very easy to read. Sure, the poems’ subject matter may seem simplistic, almost pre-adolescently romantic. But it is nevertheless fascinating to have […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: art, books, culture, History, medieval poetry, poetry, reading, writing

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Young Adult, in Verse

March 3, 2015 by William Eaton

I recently visited the main branch of the Miami Public Library System and was strongly impressed by what I found. Although the entire library was elegant, spacious, well-stocked and easy to decipher, the teen’s section was truly remarkable. There were large signs indicating that only 12-19 year-olds were allowed to use the area, which was equipped with computers, lounge chairs and large arched windows. One of the section’s featured books caught my eye, so I picked it up. It is […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, free verse, literature, poetry, reading, writing, young adult

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Naomi Shihab Nye

What Doesn’t Change

February 24, 2015 by Ana Maria Caballero

Written by Arab-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye, the poem below is launched in a childish tone, but closes in a distinctly mature voice. For me, this combination of child/adult voices is what makes the poem interesting, what makes it work. Otherwise, the piece stands the risk of being another doe-eyed “barrio” poem. But it is not. It is a rather masterful poem representative of Nye’s highly respected and abundant body of work. Trying to Name What Doesn’t Change Roselva says the […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, literature, poet, poetry, reading, writers, writing

2

The drawbacks of ethnic product placement

February 23, 2015 by Alexia Raynal

Or On the Importance of Inclusion To some extent, ethnic art (including film and literature) has been recognized as an empowering tool for minorities. Latino and African-American advocates have consistently pushed for the inclusion of content reflecting the lives and struggles of people of color in art and at school. But while these stories have gradually made it into the market, they have nonetheless preserved their ethnic labels. For example, movies with African-American casts are usually labeled as ethnic films rather […]

Categories: Alexia Raynal, ZiR • Tags: African-Americans, art, books, children, education, film, literature, reading, writing

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Carol Ann Duffy

Nothing my thumbs press will ever be heard

February 17, 2015 by Ana Maria Caballero

I keep coming back to this poem by British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy again and again. There is a myth among poetry writers that poets will only ever write a few perfect poems. Well, I think this is part of her (quite ample) list of absolutely perfect poems.  It is from her collection “Rapture,” which won the T.S. Elliot Prize and should be on every poetry fan’s bookshelf. Text I tend the mobile now like  an injured bird We […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, lit, literature, love, poetry, reading, writing

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I Take It Back

February 10, 2015 by Ana Maria Caballero

This will be my third and last post on Chilean poet Nicanor Parra, a former mathematician who is famous as Latin America’s straight-talking alternative to flowery verse.  Parra recently turned 100 and is still doing well, an impressive feat for any being. After most of his recitals he would say “I take back everything I’ve said.” Below is a poem that summarizes the poet’s (anti) attitude.   I Take Back Everything I’ve Said Before I go I’m supposed to get a […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, literature, Nicanor Parra, poetry, reading, writing

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parra poetry

A Brief Fable

February 3, 2015 by Ana Maria Caballero

This week, I continue to explore the poetry of Chilean writer Nicanor Parra, who could be loosely described as the anti-Neruda anti-poet. The poem below is one of the best I’ve read by Parra. A Man A man’s mother is very sick He goes out to find a doctor He’s crying In the street he sees his wife in the company of another man They’re holding hands He follows a few steps behind them From tree to tree He’s crying […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, lit, literature, poetry, reading, writing

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