Established by poet Miguel Algarín and his literary cohort in Algarín’s apartment in 1973, the organization gradually expanded and bought the building in which it is currently located in 1981. The creative and free-flowing atmosphere described by De La Luz was a hallmark of the Cafe’s second coming as a New York institution. This debut is recreated in her autobiographical poem “For Witch It Stands”: “It was immense, a huge moment – the place was packed, everybody loved it.” “I’ve been a poet all my life, really, so it was such a refreshing eye-opener to see there was a place for it, that there was actually an interest, and that I had found a home,” recalls De La Luz. The artistic persona of La Bruja was “born” on April 3, 1996, during an open mic night at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, an iconic venue in Manhattan’s Alphabet City. How are you going to use your magic?”Ĭaridad De La Luz – a.k.a. “I’m not the only bruja – that’s the other message. “It’s really magical, it’s a lot of power that we all have,” she continues. If you can really appreciate the moment, you’ll see it’s really the moment you have created for yourself.” You just have to really hold fast to that prayer and let it evolve, let it happen – you have to be patient and wait. “Sometimes we say certain things and we don’t give the spirits time to turn it about. “With our words, with our thoughts, we create our reality,” she continues. I live for that.”ĭe La Luz, whose fiery stage presence belies her serene demeanor in person, believes performing is a “spiritual experience” and seeks to channel higher energies through her work.
People have told me that because of something they heard me say, it made them go home and write something amazing, which they’ve always wanted to say, and they find the poet within themselves.
“I feel honored that I can do what I do, and live, and inspire. “It’s the most natural high you can get,” she says of appearing onstage. Nourishing this local poetry scene is part of the mission for Caridad De La Luz, forty-one, whose pseudonym translates as “The Witch.” She leads regular workshops at schools, community centers and prisons, in addition to maintaining a busy schedule of live shows.
FOR WITCH IT STAND CRACK
La Bruja delivers the final line with elongated syllables in an exaggerated junkie twang, an invisible crack pipe clasped between two fingers of her right hand.
She feels out the atmosphere, talking to the audience, before kicking off her set with “Lola,” a poem about “an unwanted daughter” who “gets high to forget the time and the place / Where she works the busy path of drugs and disgrace.” It’s a modern parable of poverty, just six verses long, packing a thoughtful punch with every word: “Oh, my goodness! It’s hot and poppin’ in the boogie-down Bronx!” Then the evening’s hostess steps on stage to a boisterous welcome: A slight figure with a powerful, effervescent presence, La Bruja is in her element.
A moodily lit basement beneath the main room is buzzing with high spirits dinner was served before the performances began. Published Narrative.ly – February 21, 2014Īt the Mi Gente lounge/bar in the Castle Hill neighborhood of the Bronx, one Friday every month is poetry night, and Jwas a special occasion: “Babble in the Bronx” is celebrating its second anniversary.
0 kommentar(er)
