by
Francisco X. Alarcón
| Listen “listen, mijito we are never really alone” whispers my grandma to my ear like a flapping hummingbird in the dark “the wind the stars the sea never stop speaking to each of us” | Escucha “escucha, mijito nunca estamos solos en realidad” me susurra mi abuelita como colibrí aleteando junto a mi oído en la oscuridad “el viento las estrellas el mar a cada uno no nos dejan de hablar” |
© 2010 Francisco X. Alarcón. All rights reserved.
When I first started gathering books for the school library I've helped build, I got a large donation from a couple that was closing a school they'd been running. One of the books I got was Bellybutton of the Moon (illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez), and it became a favorite of mine on reading number one. On reading three, I happened to notice that it was signed to the couple's son, so I got in touch to see if this was really something they'd intended to give me or if their son might, in fact, want it back. Of course he wanted it! I mean, I wanted it already, so I was not surprised. I mailed it back then went on my own quest to get a copy for the library... where it was one of the very first books I shelved. So for that reason, as well as the fact that I'm just plain old a fan, I must say I'm absolutely thrilled to have Francisco X. Alarcón here as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.
Yesterday, we saw Sounds Delightful by Graham Denton. Tomorrow... Reflecting by Liz Garton Scanlon! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.
6 comments:
Ooh, this is truly beautiful, in Spanish or English. I can imagine it performed in a readers' theater style.
And I love that the word "whispers" in Spanish is susurra. That is absolutely perfect.
Oh my. Beautiful poem. I want to whisper it into the ears of my grandchildren. Thank you.
_Great_ story on how Belly Button of the Moon became part of your library collection!
Lovely, lovely.
I completely agree with the previous comments, and would add what a wonderful writing prompt. What are the wind, the stars, and the sea saying? Write your own poem telling us the answer.
Beautiful poem and great side to side layout!
Greg,
You are a treasure. Sincerely. I have read your blog for years. You inspire me to write at home. I have never posted a poem. Maybe next year. Maybe this year I won't be so shy at SCBWI-LA to say hello to a very generous man.
I wrote a few poems for April and practiced my Spanish on this lovely one.
Again, Thanks,
Gillian
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