On October 23rd, Muscatine Community College hosted a “Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home” event. This spoken-word event celebrated the power and beauty of Latino poetry, highlighting the stories, culture, and creativity of the community through live performances from students. This initiative was part of a nationwide celebration of Latino poetry thanks to the Library of America. They aim to inspire the next generation of poets. Prizes were awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place finishers.
Participants prepared with two writing workshops leading up to the event. Sergio Mendoza, EICC’s curriculum and talent manager for transportation and construction expressed that this event was “a powerful way to honor the legacy of Latino poetry while fostering a deeper understanding of what it means to make a home in America.” Poems were written in English and Spanish.
Our very own West Liberty students participated in this event. Monserrat Ruvalcaba, Angela Cobos Fernandez, and Alejandra Garcia Chacon finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place respectively. The poems submitted by West Liberty students varied from childhood memories, memories of their homeland, letters to their grandfathers and the desire to pursue a better life. Before going to the event, students recited their poetry to a panel of teachers at the high school. Teachers gave them feedback and voted for the best presentation. Tears were shed by teachers because their poems were moving. Business teacher Kathy Garrido said she wished everyone would read these poems. I still keep thinking about Montserrat’s poem “My father’s gift”. It’s a heartfelt reflection on a meaningful gift her father gave her, symbolizing all the sacrifices parents make for their children. It’s a powerful reminder of how deeply their love and efforts shape us, leaving a lasting impact. Trust me, her words will move you to tears.
Angela’s poem is titled “Cuba, Tierra de mis Cubanos” and it’s a moving poem that conveys a deep nostalgia and an unwavering love for Cuba. Cobos Fernandez powerfully captures the beauty, history and sorrows of the island, evoking vivid images of a glorious past and a challenging present. The musicality of her verses is intertwined with a longing for the eternal magic that characterized the country, from Havana to Santiago, from the mountains to the sea. Angela shared with me that she loves writing and she wanted people to hear about the beauty of her people and the island, which is overlooked by the politics in her country.
Alejandra’s poem is titled “The Girl Who Learned to Fly” and is a poem that beautifully captures Alejandra’s journey of adapting to a new language and life in a new country. Through the metaphor of learning to fly, Alejandra illustrates the challenges, growth, and triumphs she experiences along the way.
The West Liberty students that participated in this poetry contest are all English Language Learners. They put in the effort to read the poems in both languages, an experience that helped them build confidence in themselves and their writing abilities. Through this process, they discovered a powerful way to channel their emotions into written poetry. They would like to send a heartfelt appreciation to their mentor Lupita Saucedo, West Liberty High School’s community liaison, for encouraging them and taking them to these opportunities. It is beyond doubt that this experience is one of their favorite memories in high school.