In the midst of so much inequality: Ode to the Class of 2017

Delivered to graduating seniors and their families at Pomona College’s Class Day

It’s great to be here today
to recognize you all in this way
I want to be here fully in celebration
but I can’t without first naming some realizations
I offer these reflections
with all humility
in the lessons you’ve taught me, class of 2017
Please know, I didn’t set out to rhyme
that’s just how the words flowed this time
The severity of the issues remain
I just speak them with little academic refrain

Mas…In the midst of so much inequality: Ode to the Class of 2017

People say: ‘Tia Lencha, what does ju say about Donal Tromp?’

tialencha300I say there are racists, or Marxists, or Russia-level fascists
An orange glo-worm that hashes and dashes.

“Hey Beaner,” said the weiner, “go back to Mexico!”
Three gueros in a car. I yell back at the guero,
“Oh yeah? Thas not bery far.”

And the white people say, there’s no racists, or Marxists,
Or Russia level fascists, no orange colored glo-worm
That hashes and dashes

Mas…People say: ‘Tia Lencha, what does ju say about Donal Tromp?’

Taco trucks deserve their own haikus! Add your haiku here

haikusvignetteDo you love tacos and the trucks that bring them to every corner?

Write a haiku to show your love!

The Japanese poetic form consists of 17 syllables, in three phrases of 5, 7, and 5.

Wikipedia:

The fundamental aesthetic quality of … haiku is that it is internally sufficient, independent of context, and will bear consideration as a complete work.

Here are a few for inspiration:

Pollo, carnitas
Different strokes for different folks
TACO USA

Mas…Taco trucks deserve their own haikus! Add your haiku here

For the Vets: Anti-war poetry from WWI: ‘Dulce et decorum est’

Today we observe Veterans Day, AKA Armistice Day, which marks the end of the first World War.

Dulce et Decorum est was written by poet Wilfred Owen in 1917, and published posthumously in 1920. Owen served as a lieutenant in the conflict. The poem is known for its horrific imagery and condemnation of war.

They don’t use poison gas too much any more (attention ISIS and Bashar Al-Assad) but phosphorous flares and drone strikes aren’t much fun either.

POCHO dedicates this poem to all our veterans in gratitude for their service and sacrifice and with the hope no child will ever be sent into war again.

Mas…For the Vets: Anti-war poetry from WWI: ‘Dulce et decorum est’

For the Vets: Anti-war poem from WWI: ‘Dulce et decorum est’

Today we observe Veterans Day, AKA Armistice Day, which marks the end of World War I.

Dulce et Decorum est is a poem written by poet Wilfred Owen in 1917, during the War, and published posthumously in 1920. Owen’s poem is known for its horrific description of chemical warfare and condemnation of war.

The Masters of War are not supposed to use poison gas any more but drone strikes aren’t much fun either.

POCHO dedicates this poem to all our veterans in gratitude for their service and sacrifice and with the hope no child will see war again.

Mas…For the Vets: Anti-war poem from WWI: ‘Dulce et decorum est’

For the Veterans: Anti-war poem from WWI: ‘Dulce et decorum est’

Today we observe Veterans Day, AKA Armistice Day, which marks the end of the first World War.

Dulce et Decorum est is a poem written by poet Wilfred Owen in 1917, during the War, and published posthumously in 1920. Owen’s poem is known for its horrific imagery and condemnation of war.

They don’t use poison gas any more (attention, Bashar Al-Assad in Syria) but phosphorous flares and drone strikes aren’t much fun either.

POCHO dedicates this poem to all our veterans in gratitude for their service and sacrifice and with the hope no child will ever be sent into war again.

Mas…For the Veterans: Anti-war poem from WWI: ‘Dulce et decorum est’

Video Triple Feature! Cheech’s art + braceros + ‘Margarita’

Cheech Marin's 'Chicanitas'
'Harvest of Loneliness'
'Margarita'

Sabado Pochonte Triple Feature! Cheech Marin’s collection of “small Chicano paintings” lights up the documentary Chicanitas, the black and white history of braceros comes to life in Harvest of Loneliness and the classic poem by Ruben Dario shimmers in the wordless animated Margarita.

Mas…Video Triple Feature! Cheech’s art + braceros + ‘Margarita’

Amerikkkan Stories hardcore poetry excerpt: ‘Soy Ilegal’

Since the beginning we, la raza odiada
the hated race
have been caught in the middle
just as we are now
between the fall of Tenochtitlan
and the migrant farms that feed a nation
in this modern day version of divide and conquer
1492
1942
2010
what’s the fucking difference?
we are all just a bunch of savages
pachucos y wetbacks
soy ilegal

Mas…Amerikkkan Stories hardcore poetry excerpt: ‘Soy Ilegal’