Peregrinaje: Bilingual (Bilingüe)

By Rudy Calderón

Rudy Calderns sixteenth book of verse, Peregrinaje, is the latest volume of poetry from the Mexican American poet from California. The poetry in this book spans the course of three years with the latest poems being written in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Being a bilingual volume, the readership can enjoy it in either English or Spanish. From poems like Son of the Americas or Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day, readers will discover a poet who has a deep love for the Americas as well as someone who has a keen viewpoint on the social ills of society. More than anything else, it is a volume of poetry that inspires critical thinking and an appreciation of the world.

El libro decimosexto de poesa de Rudy Caldern, Peregrinaje, es el ltimo volumen del poeta mexicano-americano procedente de California. La poesa en este libro abarca temas que fueron escritos al traspaso de tres aos con lo ms recientes habiendo sido escritos en Santo Domingo, Repblica Dominicana. Siendo un volumen de poesa bilinge, los lectores podrn disfrutarlo en ingls o espaol. Desde poemas como Hijo de las Amricas o Maana ser un da mejor, lectores van a descubrir a un poeta que tiene un amor que abarca Las Amricas y tambin alguien que tiene un punto de vista sagaz en cuestin a las desgracias causadas por la sociedad. Ms que nada, es un libro de poesa que inspira el pensamiento crtico y una apreciacin del mundo.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504924214

Rudy Calderón

Rudy Calderón was born in the metropolis of Los Angeles, California, in 1974. He is a first-generation Mexican American whose family came to the United States to make a better life. They worked the fields of California by picking strawberries, lettuce, squash, and tomatoes. Calderón has seven other brothers and sisters and a loving mother, Ana Munguía. For his undergraduate degree, Calderón was graduated from California State University–Bakersfield with honors (cum laude) majoring in history and taking a minor in political science in 2001. He is grateful to the CSU Bakersfield history, philosophy, religious studies, and political science departments for giving him rigorous, challenging, and many out-of-comfort-zone experiences. As a university student, Calderón had his worldview expanded exponentially. As a graduate of El Camino Junior High School and Santa María High School, Calderón returned after his university training to work in these schools for a few years. He was voted by his colleagues as the "Site Teacher of the Year" for the 2007–2008 academic school year while teaching at El Camino Junior High. As a tutor at SMHS, he learned invaluable teaching skills as he helped students develop their critical thinking and communication skills to better understand subjects like history, government, economics, Spanish, and English literature. As a poet, Calderón has been privileged, in an excessive manner, to publish sixteen books of verse. In 2004, he was a featured reader at the eighth Annual Latino Book and Family Festival, an event hosted by actor and social activist Edward James Olmos. He’s been invited to and has read his work in renowned poetry venues like the Nuyorican Poets Café and the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City. As a California native, Calderón has been invited to and has read in various cities throughout the state. For several years, he has been a featured reader at the global event known as the 100k Poets for Change. Being a teacher and poet has been an enriching experience for Calderón. Finding the opportunity to build his teaching roots in the progressive Lucia Mar Unified School District, Calderón taught from 2010–2015 at Paulding Middle School. He was awarded the District Teacher of the Year for the 2013–2014 school year. Currently, Calderón teaches AVID, English-language development, and World History at Arroyo Grande High School. For more information please visit www.uni-vurs.com.

Book preview

© 2015 Rudy Calderón. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/21/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-2422-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-2423-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-2421-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015911552

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Table of Contents

Author’s Introduction

Poems in Santo Domingo

Son of the Americas

In slow motion the doves arrive

Go ahead, bury my heart in Santo Domingo

All around Santo Domingo

Today in the Dominican Republic

In homage to Eugenio María de Hostos

Toward over there I go (Homage to Felipe Munguía)

Poems in New York City

Greenwich Park (at Father Demo Square)

A McDonald’s in Spanish Harlem

A Finnish beauty

Looking back

Poems in California/México

Tomorrow will be a better day

Compassion in Mexico City

The future in slow motion

Cumbia

Peña-Nieto

Movement

Expand yourself

Caleta

Don’t take it personally

A rose’s thorn

PEMEX

Parque Papagayo

When I am free

Harmony

Poems in Costa Rica

Like coffee

A ghastly hotel

At Volcano Poas

The most solitary man

Irazú

About the Author

Tabla de Contenidos

Introducción del Autor

Poemas en Santo Domingo

Hijo de las Américas

En cámara lenta vienen las palomas

Anda, entierra mi corazón en Santo Domingo

Todo alrededor en Santo Domingo

Hoy en La República Dominicana

En homenaje a Eugenio María de Hostos

Hacia allá voy (Homenaje a Felipe Munguía)

Poemas en La Ciudad de Nueva York

Greenwich Park (at Father Demo Square)

Un McDonald’s en Spanish Harlem

Una belleza finlandés

Mirando hacia el pasado

Poemas en California/México

Mañana será un día mejor

La compasión en La Ciudad de México

El futuro en cámara lenta

Cumbia

Peña-Nieto

Movimiento

Expándete

Caleta

No lo tomes personalmente

La espina de un rosal

PEMEX

Parque Papagayo

Cuando esté libre

Armonía

Poemas en Costa Rica

Como el café

Un hotel abominable

En el Volcán Poas

El hombre más solitario

Irazú

Sobre el Autor

Dedicated to my brother/

Dedicado a mi hermano

Felipe Munguía

(1964-2014)

And since you’re not experienced in things of the world, all things that are a bit difficult seem impossible to you. But the time will come, as I’ve told you before, when I’ll tell you about the things that I’ve seen down there, and they’ll make you believe the things I’ve just told you, the truth of which doesn’t allow an objection or dispute.

-Don Quixote

Y como no estás experimentado en las cosas del mundo, todas las cosas que tienen algo de dificultad te parecen imposibles; pero andará el tiempo, como otra vez he dicho, y yo te contaré algunas de las que allá abajo he visto, que te harán creer las que aquí he contado, cuya verdad ni admite réplica ni disputa.

-Don Quixote

Author’s Introduction

The poems that reside in this volume span the course of three years. I begin this book with the most recent poems, which were written in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in November 2014. There are two reasons these poems are at the beginning of this book. First, they are the most recent. There was a certain level of vivid clarity about them when I began the formatting process. Secondly, and more importantly, they are poems written a few days prior to being informed of the sudden passing of my eldest and dear brother Felipe Munguía. With my brother’s memory at my side, I worked through this book with a dogged determination to see its completion. The latter reason is better explained in the following two paragraphs.

I learned a valuable lesson in my brother Felipe’s passing. From him, I learned to understand the intricacy that is the tragicomic. He used to echo in his own unique way that we are just pilgrims passing through such that we should not take life too seriously. Being raised by a single mother who played as best she could the role of both parents, my brother Felipe would allow my siblings and me brief respites that I recall to this day. As a child, I remember he would take us on Sundays and treat us to lunch and then drive us to the park to run free. We would, of course, be elated, and we played to our hearts content out in the open air. At times, I would look over toward Felipe, and I could see him smiling toward us. He allowed me to feel one of the basic foundations of Maslow’s hierarchy, security. I could play without concern of dangers in