Richard Blanco

América by Richard Blanco

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:34:19 GMT

Source: missingstreet.tumblr.com --- Sunday, June 02, 2013
América BY Richard Blanco I. Although Tía Miriam boasted she discovered at least half a dozen uses for peanut butter— topping for guava shells in syrup, butter substitute for Cuban toast, hair conditioner and relaxer— Mamá never knew what to make of the monthly five-pound jars handed out by the immigration department until my friend, Jeff, mentioned jelly. II. There was always pork though, for every birthday and wedding, whole ones on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, even on Thanksgiving day—pork, fried, broiled, or crispy skin roasted— as well as cauldrons of black beans, fried plantain chips, and yuca con mojito . These items required a special visit to Antonio’s Mercado on the corner of Eighth Street where men in guayaberas stood in senate blaming Kennedy for everything— “Ese hijo de puta!” the bile of Cuban coffee and cigar residue filling the creases of their wrinkled lips; clinging to one another’s lies of lost wealth, ashamed and empty as hollow trees. III. By seven I had grown suspicious—we were still here. Overheard conversations about returning had grown wistful and less frequent. I spoke English; my parent’s didn’t. We didn’t live in a two-story house with a maid or a wood-panel station wagon nor vacation camping in Colorado. None of the girls had hair of gold; none of my brothers or cousins were named Greg, Peter, or Marcia; we were not the Brady Bunch. None of the black and white characters on Donna Reed or on the Dick V ...

Sara Habein’s #CBR5 Review #14: Looking For The Gulf Motel by Richard Blanco

Wed, 29 May 2013 18:36:17 GMT

Source: cannonballread5.wordpress.com --- Wednesday, May 29, 2013
My review of Looking For The Gulf Motel by Richard Blanco recently appeared on The Rumpus . Here’s an excerpt: Look, perhaps we should have more open lusting for poets, yeah? If that is someone’s gateway into a poet’s work, then so be it. We all need more poetry in our lives. All right, now that I’ve got all that off my chest, can I also tell you that I really enjo y Looking for The Gulf Motel ? Yes, I do. Truly. It hits all my thematic hot spots — love, lust, and loneliness. Blanco revels in memory and intimacy, and much like Tracy K. Smith’s poetry, his work makes me want to bed down and stay. Filed under: 4 stars – a great book Tagged: poetry , Richard Blanco , Sara Habein ...

Inaugural poet Richard Blanco uses new platform to push gay, immigration causes...

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:15:38 GMT

Source: www.facebook.com --- Friday, May 24, 2013
Inaugural poet Richard Blanco uses new platform to push gay, immigration causes http://ow.ly/lmrMx Read the story by Fox News Latino ow.ly Poet Richard Blanco is blending his art with activism, and availing himself of speaking engagements to heighten awareness about, and lend support... ...

Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco Visits HRC

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:27:36 GMT

Source: www.hrc.org --- Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The first openly gay, Latino inaugural poet stopped by HRC's office in Washington, D.C. to chat with the staff. ...

Richard Blanco Delights Guests With a Poetry Reading at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach

Sat, 11 May 2013 21:22:26 GMT

Source: www.passportmagazine.com --- Saturday, May 11, 2013
Inaugural poet Richard Blanco (photo by Jason Nuttle) This is the first blog posting in a new series we call: I Wish I Had Been There! In support of the 25th anniversary of Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco delighted guests with a poetry reading for the “Plum Blush of Dusk” soiree at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach on Wednesday, May 1st. In rapt attention, audiences fell under the spell of Richard’s words—classic prose to poetic beauty. On Mr. Blanco’s first visit to the Palm Beaches as the “pop star poet,” this reception was a perfect way to honor Richard as an artist and celebrate tolerance. Click here to view a great selection of photos from the event by Jason Nuttle . ...

We Hear; Tom Brady, Orb, Richard Blanco...

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:33:34 GMT

Source: bostonherald.com --- Monday, May 06, 2013
That QB/QT Tom Brady reportedly bet $4,700 on Orb to win the Kentucky Derby and came away with a sweet payday somewhere in the neighborhood of $25K! Nice neighborhood! Brady was at the Run for the Roses with his bros Wes Welker and Tedy Bruschi and was seen celebrating with some of Orbâs posse at Churchill Downs .Meanwhile, wifey Gisele Bundchen was back in NYC hanging with the kids, Benjamin and Vivian , at a local park. ...

Richard Blanco and Gustavo Pérez Firmat

Fri, 03 May 2013 21:02:49 GMT

Source: www.youtube.com --- Friday, May 03, 2013
Richard Blanco and Gustavo Pérez Firmat On April 24, 2013, Americas Society hosted a conversation and reading featuring Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco, recipient of the prestigious Agnes Lynch ... From: ASCOAonline Views: 1 0 ratings Time: 01:23:52 More in Nonprofits & Activism ...

Inaugural poet Richard Blanco at LGBT Visitor Center in Miami Beach; to make other appearances

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:36:38 GMT

Source: miamiherald.typepad.com --- Friday, May 03, 2013
Posted to Facebook by the LGBT Visitor Center on Miami Beach: Meet and Greet with Richard Blanco at the LGBT Visitor Center — with Tyrone Antonio , Richard Blanco Poetry Page http://www.Richard-Blanco.com , Steve Adkins , Shayna Marcos , Karen Brown and Jorge Richa at LGBT Visitor Center on Miami Beach (Sponsored by MetLife) . Click here to view more photos. Inaugural poet Blanco -- the first gay person to be so honored -- will make several South Florida appearances this week. Click here for details. ...

What Do You Love about America? A writing prompt from Richard Blanco

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Source: kristinberkey-abbott.blogspot.com --- Friday, May 03, 2013
I realize that many of us are winding our classes, but I couldn't resist recording some teaching ideas that I picked up at the Richard Blanco events on Monday. Blanco pointed out that his first assignment in his first MFA poetry class was very similar to what he had to do for the Inaugural poem. His class spent time reading Whitman, William Carlos Williams, and Robert Frost. And then, the assignment: write a poem about America. You can read that first poem here . Compare it to the Inaugural poem, "One Today," which is here . Your Composition or Lit students could compare the two. The webpages have ways to have Richard Blanco read the poem. It would be interesting to have students discuss and then write about the difference in hearing the poem and in reading it. And then, students could write their own poem about America. Blanco said that the question that led to the rough draft of "One Today," was "What do I love about America?" I've had good luck with the opposite question, and there's a long history of poets critiquing America. My students react to Ginsberg's version as if he's a bit insane--which of course, you could argue that he was. They can't imagine anyone being so angry about the atom bomb. I ask them, "How would you fill in this blank today? F--- you America, with your ________." I like Blanco's question better these days. What do you love about this country? I'm tired of hearing about what makes people angr ...

Richard Blanco Reads Poem "Betting on America"

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:15:39 GMT

Source: www.youtube.com --- Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Richard Blanco Reads Poem "Betting on America" On April 24, 2013, Americas Society hosted a conversation and reading featuring Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco, recipient of the prestigious Agnes Lynch ... From: ASCOAonline Views: 8 1 ratings Time: 03:54 More in Nonprofits & Activism ...

Inaugural poet Richard Blanco to read this week at fundraisers in Palm Beach, Coral Gables

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:55:48 GMT

Source: miamiherald.typepad.com --- Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Inaugural poet Richard Blanco -- the first gay person to be so honored -- will make several South Florida appearances this week. Blanco, who grew up in Miami and also is the first Hispanic Inaugural poet, will speak Wednesday at the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council 's Plum Blush of Dusk Soirée at the Ritz-Carleton in Palm Beach. From Palm Beach County Human Rights Council: The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach is honored to host the "pop star poet" on his first visit to the Palm Beaches. PBCHRC's 25th anniversary kick-off event is a perfect way to honor Mr. Blanco as an artist and celebrate the diversity of our community. The 15 minute poetry reading and reception (cash bar) will be an intimate gathering held by the firepit on the hotel's oceanfront terrace from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 1st. Prior to the poetry reading, a very limited capacity VIP "meet and greet" will be held in the hotel's Presidential Suite, an amazing oceanfront space designed to bring luxurious fun and cheeky character to a traditionally proper suite. A wall uniquely dedicated to "shoe art" adds to the unexpected tone of the Presidential Suite. Miami native Robert Tabor designed the shoes, all of which pay tribute to past First Ladies and other worldly dignitaries. The Hilary Clinton shoe is a high-powered blue pin stripe pump with a heel prominently spiked through a dog house (aptly labeled, Bill). The Barbara Bush shoe is a classic orthopedic wing ...

Richard Blanco, Thurston Moore, and O, Miami Prove Miami Is a Family (Or at Least a Gang)

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:31:45 GMT

Source: blogs.miaminewtimes.com --- Monday, April 29, 2013
Inaugural poet Richard Blanco got the crowd's eyes all damp with his descriptions of a childhood family visit to Marco Island. Thurston Moore dedicated his poems -- the ones through which he dragged u ...

Broward College recibirá al poeta Richard Blanco este lunes

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:39:20 GMT

Source: www.sun-sentinel.com --- Saturday, April 27, 2013
El poeta inaugural firmará libros en evento libre de costo Richard Blanco, el poeta cubano que recitó en la ceremonia de investidura del presidente a principios de este año, vendrá a Broward College el lunes, 29 de abril, para firmar libros y hablar sobre su experiencia siendo el primer hispano nombrado como poeta inaugural. Será su segunda presentación en el sur de Florida desde el histórico evento, ya que el poeta recitó varios de sus poemas en un evento en Miami el mes pasado. ...

Poetry project of Honduran schoolchildren attracts Inaugural poet Richard Blanco

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:15:00 GMT

Source: www.miamiherald.com --- Friday, April 26, 2013
The Inaugural poet and an award-winning poet turned priest are getting Honduran schoolchildren to bare their souls — even when they’re shattered ...

Photo of a Man on Sunset Drive, Poem by Richard Blanco

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:15:56 GMT

Source: silverbirchpress.wordpress.com --- Friday, April 26, 2013
PHOTO OF A MAN ON SUNSET DRIVE: 1914, 2008 Groundbreaking Ceremony, City of South Miami, Sunset Drive Improvements by Richard Blanco And so it began: the earth torn, split open by a dirt road cutting through palmettos and wild tamarind trees defending the land against the sun. Beside the road, a shack leaning into the wind, on the wooden porch, crates of avocados and limes, white chickens pecking at the floor boards, and a man under the shadow of his straw hat, staring into the camera in 1914. He doesn’t know within a lifetime the unclaimed land behind him will be cleared of scrub and sawgrass, the soil will be turned, made to give back what the farmers wish, their lonely houses will stand acres apart from one another, jailed behind the boughs of their orchards. He’ll never buy sugar at the general store, mail love letters at the post office, or take a train at the depot of the town that will rise out of hundred-million years of coral rock on promises of paradise. He’ll never ride a Model-T puttering down the dirt road that will be paved over, stretch farther and farther west into the horizon, reaching for the setting sun after which it will be named. He can’t even begin to imagine the shadows of buildings rising taller than the palm trees, the street lights glowing like counterfeit stars dotting the sky above the road, the thousands who will take the road everyday, who’ll also call this place home less than a hundred years after ...

Inauguration Poet Richard Blanco Hopes to Offer Words of Unity, Belonging

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:38:57 GMT

Source: www.pbs.org --- Friday, April 26, 2013
Jeffrey Brown talks with Richard Blanco, the poet chosen to read at President Obama's second swearing-in, about what it means to be a part of the festivities. Blanco, a Spanish born Cuban-American, is the first Latino, openly gay, as well as the youngest poet to ever at a presidential inauguration. ...

Richard Blanco looks at the big picture

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:07:00 GMT

Source: www.southflorida.com --- Wednesday, April 24, 2013
At the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, the U.S. Inaugural poet will discuss his evolving vision of America and the large Carlos Betancourt portrait of him on display. There are pieces of acclaimed Miami-reared poet Richard Blanco — gay, immigrant, Hispanic — that have helped the nation define him. But they have also confined him. That may be changing. ...