Greetings from Palm Desert, California, to poet friends from all over this planet we call home. This is Victoria Slotto, excited to introduce fellow poet-pubster, Pamela Sayers who will host this evening. Many of you have encountered this talented lady who lives in the beautiful country of Mexico and whose verse so often invites us to travel there for a visit with her. Today, she will tell you a bit more about herself and her adopted home, and encourage you to reciprocate. Fasten your seat belts and put your laptops in an upright, ready-to-use position!
Buenas tardes, my name is Pamela, some of you may know me as the woman who
lives in and writes about Mexico. Some background on how I ended up moving here:
One day almost 12 years ago my husband sold our house, and we packed up our belongings and got in the car to head south of the border. Since my grown and only daughter had recently gotten married, and I virtually had no major commitments, I thought: “Why not.”
Well, it was a culture shock the first few years, everything was completely different than what I was accustomed to. People were more open, the food was amazing, and family and friends were what mattered most. We lived in Oaxaca for the first six years, which became a source of writing inspiration, but not until we moved to this wonderful city of Puebla did I truly come to appreciate the diversity of this land. We live at an elevation of over 7, 000 feet, where bougainvillea bloom year-round, guarded over by an active, smoking volcano nicknamed Don Goyo; his real name, Popocatépetl, comes from the Nahuatl words popōca ‘it smokes’ and tepētl ‘mountain’, meaning Smoking Mountain — and when he starts spewing fire the people here laugh and say he is angry.
Needless to say, this place, which I now call home, has become a great source of writing material for me, as there is usually not a day that goes by where I don’t notice something beautiful and awe-inspiring. The food here is a cultural smorgasbord with varieties ranging from traditional Poblano to Italian, Brazilian, Argentinean, French, Chinese and Japanese. No lack of finding something delicious to eat.
So all of this leads us to the poetic prompt for today. I would like you to write about where you live, tell us how it makes you feel, what the food is like, what the people are like. You get the idea.
I am looking forward to reading everyone’s contribution. I would also like to extend a great big thank you to the dVerse family for inviting me to present this prompt.
Saludos,
Pamela
Here’s one of my poems inspired by life in Oaxaca:
The Lure of Beauty
Terra cotta tiled roofs descend into view,
wasted white on an egg-yolked sun
rising on homes, carrying tales of bells
with distinct rings; I turn my back
so death won’t take my soul … like those
old abandoned buses lying in a caressing,
cold crevasse, watched over by
a stream of crosses resurrected on
mountainsides, playing tag as you pass by
El Diablo sinking his limbs and horns into red clay,
ready to give a slight nudge into
unforgiving, but loving arms of trees
When no-one wants to claim you, only to
keep you as a trophy for their lost day,
landscapes can embody space, giving
it life, a personality.
Process Notes:
Excerpt from Diario Despertar de Oaxaca
El “Espinazo del Diablo”, leyenda mixteca:
Indeed, they found the wounded dying, and a bus turned over the precipice, over three thousand meters, with more than 30 people dead and at least two seriously injured, who testified that a beautiful woman with long hair made the driver stop and caused him distress. Thus began the accident in the “Devil’s Backbone,” unquantifiable in all forms. You can still see the remains of some buses overturned and traces of where they tried to cross the road to inform people and Mixtec communities.
On top of the hill is a chapel of the Virgen de Guadalupe, there are pictures of the Virgin of Juquila and a number of crosses, witnessing the misfortunes that occurred in the “Devil’s Backbone.”
Thank you, Pamela. I hope many of you will join us in these world-wide travels. To Participate:
- Write your poems and post it on your blog or website;
- Access Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post;
- Fill in your name and copy and paste the direct URL to your poem in the spaces indicated;
- Come on back to the pub (I hear Pamela has pitchers of Margaritas at the ready) visit and comment on as many poems as you can, and enjoy.
Photo Credits:
1. El Santuario de los Remedios by photographer Cristobal Garcia Ferro
2. Puebla in the early 1900’s by Puebla Antigua
3. Las Portales – wiki commons
4. Talavera Shop – wiki commons
aprille said:
How wonderfully coloured.
Such a difference.
Even the name is inspiring.
Some of us are going to be just a touch dissatisfied wth our surroundings by comparison 🙂
Pamela said:
Aprile, you feel differently after reading my piece I’ve entered for the prompt. I went back to the beginning.
Pamela said:
*will* my typing, argh…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Very nice and very nice to be able to enter early here. I will be giving a little contrast from a cold but sunny Stockholm were I live close to nature… 🙂
Pamela said:
Looking forward to reading about a place I dream of visiting, Bjorn.
claudia said:
cycling to work over the solid ice…how awesome is this…
Laurie Kolp said:
So happy to see you here, Pamela. Thanks for sharing your story on how you ended up in Mexica… and thanks, too, for letting me live vicariously through you.
Pamela said:
Thanks, Laurie, anytime.
claudia said:
nice…thanks victoria for bringing pamela into the pub and pamela..really love your prompt idea.. and so looking forward to read what people write and also learn a bit more about the places you all live… your poem is very cool pamela…oh my and what a story..
Pamela said:
I am happy to be here, Claudia. Thanks so much again.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
And we’re happy to have you, Pamela!
scotthastiepoet said:
What a beautifuly written and fully realised poem, Pamela – Yes a wonderfully redolent evocation of the culture you now live in, but so much more besides… A real pleasure to read such well crafted and heart-felt work. With Best Wishes Scott http://www.scotthastie.com
Pamela said:
Thank you, Scott. Looking forward to your work.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Welcome everyone and a great big thank you to Pamela who is hosting for me today. I look forward to reading about those places you call “home.”
Pamela said:
Hi Victoria, thanks for inviting me.
Pamela said:
I am very happy to have been invited to do this today, thanks dVerse Family. I wrote about my first experience in Oaxaca staying with a family of pig farmers. Now, that was shocking. Looking forward to reading others contributions.
Pamela
Glenn Buttkus said:
You get the huge Welcome Hug 2nite, Pamela. Loved your prompt & poem. Any time we can mine our past with emotional recall, the poetry will flow like the lava off your neighbor volcano. Hope you get a large compliment of poets sending their heart-whelping just for you!
claudia said:
smiles…poetry that flows like lava is a hot image…smiles
Pamela said:
Me too, Glenn 🙂 Thanks.
brian miller said:
hey pamela….great fun on the prompt….just got the kids out of the class and looking forward to taking a tour through everyones words and seeing all the sights….smiles…
Pamela said:
Hi Brian! I am quite happy to be here. Making my rounds and there are some lovely poem I have read so far. Sense of place does bring out beauty, doesn’t it?
Jamie Dedes said:
Well done, Victoria. Enjoyed.
Pamela said:
Hi Jamie, I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you?
Jamie Dedes said:
Am well! Thank you. Busy. Busy. Glad to see you are still at it with your delightful signture style. 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Pamela, Jamie’s posting new poetry almost everyday…she’s amazing!
Pamela said:
Then I must start following her.
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
Thanks for a delightful post! I don’t have time to write about my home today, but I did write this verse a few years ago, which still reflects how I feel about my community — Bayside, Queens, New York:
A Baysider’s Ode To Queens
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Both a county and a borough,
Part of New York City too.
On Long Island, yet not of it.
I’m confused as hell. Are you?
A diverse United Nations.
Queens folk come from far and wide.
Ethnic food that beats Manhattan.
You won’t read that in the guides.
Crime is low and people friendly.
Safer here than in the burbs.
Merit Scholars by the bushel,
And the sunsets are superb.
Home to airports rather major,
And the Tennis Open’s here.
Then there’s theater, art, and baseball,
And our Jazz Trail has no peer.
Though I hail from mid-Long Island,
They will never move me back.
Bayside Queens, my hometown village,
Off the Apple’s beaten track.
claudia said:
nice…never made it there while in NYC…next time i will…you made me curious…really feel your heart in this…
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
Thanks very much Claudia!
brian miller said:
nice kane, def love all the texture you got out of where you live….would not mind walking that jazz trail a bit…smiles…
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
Thanks very much Brian. It’s a delightful place, indeed.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Ha! Another place I spent a few years of my life…Queens!
Bodhirose said:
Love this, Madeleine! Your heart comes through loud and clear…very nice.
Kelvin S.M. said:
…aww… double + like…
smiles…
heidi said:
You had me at food. I need to add Queens to my list.
Pamela said:
Ah, Madeline, NYC will always take first place in my heart, but Puebla is running a close second. Thanks for posting this.
claudia said:
when i was in california, i fell in love with the mexican food…sigh…shrimps burritos for example…
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Yum. Glad you got to experience a bit of Mexico in California, Claudia!
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
Thanks Pamela. And thanks again for a wonderful post.
Lucid Gypsy said:
What a fantastic prompt and a great post.
Pamela said:
I hope to see a poem from you, Lucid.
lovemorestudio said:
Awesome prompt! Now I have to cram a response!! See you soon 🙂 ~peace, Jason
Pamela said:
I will be looking for your poem, Jason.
lovemorestudio said:
It took some time, but I really wanted to strike the right tone. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to write about my adopted home and this prompt really let me go there. Thanks again!
ihatepoetry said:
Thanks for the great topic and lead-in. From Moreno Valley, just a stone’s long-ass throw away from Palm Desert and Victoria C. Slotto. (Did I see you at the Willie Nelson concert last week at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio?)
Pamela said:
Buddah, I loved your poem you wrote to this.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
No, but I would have gone if I’d known you’d be there. Did it have that certain fragrance that I remember from the Eagles and Steely Dan a few years back?
brian miller said:
haha what fragrance is that…smiles.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
If you don’t know, I’m not telling.
kkkkaty said:
Glad for the theme today and I love your town of Puebla having been there one time..looking forward to reading everything..
Pamela said:
It is a great place to live, Katy.
brian miller said:
been working on a grad school paper tonight so i have been a bit remiss….catching up now…
Pamela said:
Welcome back, Brian 🙂
Bodhirose said:
Thanks to Victoria for introducing Pamela to us. I was enthralled by your story of picking up and moving to another country. I would imagine the culture shock was a bit much at first but seems like you’re almost one of the natives now. Very nice.
Gayle
Pamela said:
Gayla, I am almost officially Poblana, though I don’t think I could ever give up my NYC roots completely. The difference in culture was enough to knock me over, however not now, I love it.
brian miller said:
great job tonight pamela…you handle yourself well behind the bar…smiles…have a good night poets…heading to bed….be back in the AM….
claudia said:
sleep well bri… i’m back in and about to catch up with the overnights..
Pamela said:
Get some good sleep, Brian. I am signing off soon, I have class in the morning.
claudia said:
sleep well pamela.. you did a great job behind the bar…
Pamela said:
Thanks,Claudia. You have a good day. I will be back tomorrow.
ManicDdaily said:
Pamela – a lovely poem – mine is an older one, which I’ve revised somewhat- maybe not quite right for the prompt but what came to mind. k.
Pamela said:
It may be older, Karin, but your heart shines through with grace at the writing.
ninotaziz said:
Dear Pamela,
So lovely to see you hosting. It is always a pleasure to have our paths cross over I think the last three years at least!
I love this prompt, but it is so hard to think of writing about this busy noisy colourful cosmopolitan that KL is.
When I think of places I live, I think of my kampung or village Chenor, my birthplace Hobart and my university city Ottawa.
I will figure out something.
Cheers!
Pamela said:
Loved your poems, nino.
Tony said:
Hi Pamela – and I hope you’re having a great time hosting at the Pub. Sorry not to have come in last night – I’m often a wee bit late – but after my poetry class I needed to catch up with family; they’d been out all day and weren’t home when I got in.
Thanks for the prompt too. I’ve written some stuff about my home city, but some more won’t hurt. Time to wheel out some of the wonderfully descriptive Scots words which don’t quite translate into English, and some of the distinctly Scots ways of using the English language. This should be fun 🙂
Tony said:
meant to say “when I left” at the end of that first paragraph. It’s too early for my brain….
Pamela said:
Tony, I am a typo factory at my computer. I am looking forward to your work.
Tony said:
I’ve managed to put something up, although it’s a bit rough and ready. Why is it that as soon as I want to write about Edinburgh, my muse decides to go walkabout? Earlier this year she had quite a lot to say about the city – not all of it flattering, I’ll admit; now almost nothing!
It’s late here now – I’ll be round to visit folks tomorrow.
Pamela said:
I thought your muse did quite well, Tony.
vivinfrance said:
Hi Pamela, what a coincidence that you should bring us this prompt today – I posted a photo tour of “where I live” earlier this week. Now I must turn it into poetry!
Pamela said:
Yes, Viv, I commented on the quaintness of your home. I do hope you write about your home.
Kelvin S.M. said:
..hola pamela .. me gusta su habilidad con las palabras… smiles… got too busy at work and thank God it’s friday here… let me see if can come up one for your prompt tonight…. smiles…
Pamela said:
Hola, Kelvin, te espero por tu poesia.
David King said:
You’ve set me off, not just on a post, but a project. Much thanks.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
That IS exciting, Dave.
Pamela said:
Gorgeous write, Dave.
aka_andrea said:
I posted twice becuase my first link didn’t work. Great idea for a prompt!
brian miller said:
got rid of your first one for you…
Pamela said:
Excellent reply to the prompt, Andrea.
Grace said:
How lovely to know more of your journey Pamela ~
I was hoping to write but work is in the way. Thank goodness its Friday. I hope to incorporate a little bit of place in my poem for OLN ~
Happy day to everyone ~
Pamela said:
I will be looking for your poem on Tuesday then, Grace. Hope your day is going well.
charlesmashburn said:
A great rpmpt, Victoria and Pamela! However, just as I am when someone asks me “Where you from,” I was stumped. I’m homeless–in a way–as in I been so many places, I don’t know which one is home. So, I figure home must be the sum total of all of them and where I am at the moment. Hope y’all enjoy what I finally came up with.
charlesmashburn said:
rpmpt??? what the??? I guess y’all know that was supposed to say “prompt”.
brian miller said:
hehe…it makes for a fun new word…
Pamela said:
Enjoyable poem, Charles.
Raivenne said:
Okay, it’s not exactly what Pamela asked for, but I think it applies. (Darn muse with its own mind!)
Pamela said:
Ravienne, a prompt is merely a springboard as one of my good poetry friends often says. I thought your poem was perfect and certainly on prompt.
Pamela said:
Good morning to all. How nice to see some familiar names here. I will be back to read in a couple of hours, I have two more classes today. See you all a bit later.
heidi said:
This post really challenged me. Thank you Pamela!
Pamela said:
Heidi, your poem is psalm-like, nice contribution, thanks for joining us.
Pamela said:
Marina Sofia, I loved your poem, but saw nowhere to comment on it. You have a lovely blog.
brian miller said:
wow what an amazing picture with it as well…
Pamela said:
But where to comment? I am lost, Brian.
Lydia said:
Beautiful prompt…..I am officially in love with what you have shown us of your home area in Mexico! Thank you so much, Pamela.
Pamela said:
Thanks for joining us, Lydia. Yes, we are very happy here.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Just finished my world tour and thanks everyone for sharing your homes and precious memories…as well as those not so precious. Thanks again, Pamela, for stepping up to the bar!
Pamela said:
My pleasure, Victoria. I have enjoyed these poems. What a variety, no? Thanks again for inviting me.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
A wonderful variety.
Imelda said:
Your poem is really lovely – like a Garcia-Marquez narrative.
Meantime, I am glad to be able to join the party, even at the eleventh hour, with a little something to share. 🙂
Thanks for the prompt.
brian miller said:
woot…there are still a few of us hanging around…smiles….just polishing up the cups for poetics tomorrow…smiles…
MarinaSofia said:
I was going to write a poem and upload a lovely picture of Mont Blanc and my surroundings, which I love with a passion. But my laptop crashed three times yesterday, I had to reinstall Windows from scratch, lost quite a few files in the process, am now worried I may need to buy my second laptop in 2 months… So I did something a bit unusual and connected to a story of mine on Cowbird, albeit at a very, very late hour (witching hour? Cinderella hour?)
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Oh, that’s awful, Marina. Scary, even. Hope someone can help you restore it.