Amalia Ortiz
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From “Rememory of Strange Fruit” by Amalia L. Ortiz
Strange fruit, not hanging but withering in crowded trucks—Loss is expected in transport. Drivers still get paid big bucks.Brown bodies praying from the pardon of our southern breeze—The south still produces strange fruit, just not entwined in trees. Amalia Leticia Ortiz appeared on three seasons of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry on HBO. She is Continue reading
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National Poetry Month 2025
I don’t remember my first poetry book. Not even the first poem I read, though I imagine both might have been something written by Shel Silverstein. I have come to believe that Silverstein’s poetry is the gateway drug for most of us. Though despite not remembering where it started, poetry has become a major part Continue reading
Alan Dugan, Alan Pelaez Lopez, Amalia Ortiz, Amanda Gorman, Ana Castillo, Andrea Gibson, Audre Lorde, Beatriz Miralles de Imperial, César Leonardo de León, Claudia Rankine, Edward Vidaurre, Gregory Sherl, Guy Duke, Jack Kerouac, Jacob Saenz, James K. Baxter, Jared Singer, John Murillo, Kate Rushin, Marvin Bell, Michael Jones, National Poetry Month, Ntozake Shange, Paul Guest, Philip Lamantia, Poetry, R.K. Fauth, Rita Dove, Sabrina Benaim, Shel Silverstein, Tato Laviera, Xochiquetzal Candelaria -
from: “Lullaby for the Immigration Ocelot” by Amalia Ortiz
from: “Lullaby for the Immigration Ocelot”for we all drift into sleep curled tight like a fetusthen, when dreams unfurlwe fan out like fists unclaspedor flags stretched long on the horizon Ortiz, Amalia. “Lullaby for the Immigrant Ocelot.” Rant. Chant. Chisme, Wing Press, 2015, pp. 20-21. Continue reading
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National Poetry Month 2024
Amalia Ortiz, Ana M. Fores Tamayo, Andrea Gibson, Assata Shakur, Benjamín Naka-Hasebe Kingsley, César Leonardo de León, Claudia Rankine, Cynthia Cruz, Dunya Mikhail, Gloria Anzaldua, H. Melt, Ire'ne Lara Silva, Jane Mead, Juan Felipe Herrera, Kamala Platt, Katana Smith, Lauren Badillo Milici, Molly Brodak, Natalie D-Napoleon, National Poetry Month, Ocean Vuong, Olivia Gatwood, Pat Mora, Poem, Poetry, Priscilla Celina Suárez, PW Covington, Rossy Evelin Lima, Sabrina Benaim, Tracy K. Smith, Valarie Wallace, Vijay Seshadri, Warsan Shire -
Poetry Break
Once again: “Your Life” by Andrea Gibson “I Carry Your Heart with Me” by e.e. cummings “Explaining My Depression to My Mother” by Sabrina Benaim “Ohm” by Saul Williams “Why are Muslims So…” by Sakila & Hawa “14 Lines from Love Letters or Suicide Notes” by Doc Luben “Some Things You Need to Know Before Continue reading
Allen Ginsberg, Amalia Ortiz, Andrea Gibson, Carlos Andres Gomez, Cassette Tape, Denice Frohman, Doc Luben, e. e. cummings, Edward Vidaurre, Edwin Bodney, Elizabeth Acevedo, Grace Carras, Guante, Helly Shah, Hobo Johnson & The LoveMakers, I Recorded This For You, In Albany New York, Jamie Mortara, Leticia, National Poetry Month, Neil Hilborn, Pablo Neruda, Poem, Prince Ea, Priscilla Celina Suárez, Sabrina Benaim, Sakila and Hawa, Saul Williams, Shane Koyczan, Suli Breaks, Tato Laviera, The 126ers, Tim Minchin, Tracy K. Smith, Warsan Shire -
Poetry Break
I met Amalia Ortiz several years ago at the Nueva Onda Poetry Cafe. I loved the way she moved through language. How she molded it. How her words just flowed from her mouth to the mic to our ears. Please enjoy. I was taught well how to purge my pain in private pick myself up Continue reading
Chapin City Blues 