Monday, February 22, 2010

Poetic Response from a Traveler/Respuesta Poetica de una Viajera

Compound Ceremonies (A Poem from Ethiopia)

(for Greg)

I saw your death in the hills,
One rose like the Martiniquaise Diamont.
Loomed above, struck like a monolith,
A headline for your obituary.

Today’s manuscripts were forged in 30 kg. of gold,
Etched in recurring forms,
No artist would admit to these letters.

My lover phoned, non-caffeinated.
I stared at panoramas pre-biblical in origin.
Few syllables seemed magnified by the tchat,
Lidded by this strange narcolepsy.

Now I’d walk, crank a lantern,
Don borrowed gloves,
Climb alongside crutches,
Ox horns poised to gore.
Slurp soup from a chicken I’d passed roadside
On the arm of a boy who had petted it
Like a kitten or a pigeon.

Milky blind eyes, unexpected limbs,
A polio survivor who wore four shoes to support his hands,
Frail old women who feverishly kiss the steps of St. Mary’s church,
Miracles in the film on their lips,
Every day a pilgrimage six hours ahead.

More nervous here than in Dire Dawa,
“City of Thieves,”
When solicited for crosses and camels,
I try to pronounce the Amharic for husband.
This sounds something like bahl.

I’ll leave clothes for baskets,
Buy necklaces in threes,
String instruments in blankets,
Celebrate thirty-three among Ethiopia eyes,
Smelling your funeral in incense and campfire.

Bonnie Macallister


If anyone is interested in participating in the Migratory Books Project, please email me at rocinantepress (at) gmail (dot) com. Recipients of the Migratory Books, please either email me your responses or post them under the "Comments" button.

Si usted está interesado en participar en el Proyecto Libros Migratorios, por favor mandeme un email a la dirección electronia rocinantepress (a) gmail (punto) com. Recipientes de los Libros Migratorios, por favor mandeme un email o usa el botón de "Comments," por sus respuestas.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Migratory Books at the Schuykill Center for Environmental Education/Libros Migratorios en el Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education


The Migratory Books Project was selected by Zoe Cohen, Art Program Manager at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, for inclusion in the exhibition Nest and Branch. Read an interview with the curator here.

El Proyecto Libros Migratorios fue elegido por Zoe Cohen, la encargada de programas de arte en el Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, para inclucion en la exposición Nest and Branch. Lea un artículo con la curadora aquí.




The Migratory Books were also featured in two recent articles by Mary Tasillo, Bound and Lettered and the Journal of Artist Books. Both articles appear under the title Democratic Organization, and are based on Mary's talk at the 2008 Pyramid Atlantic Conference and Book Art Fair. Thanks Mary!

Los Libros Migratorios también fueron ofrecidos en dos articulos de Mary Tasillo, Bound and Lettered y Journal of Artist Books. Los dos aparecen bajo el nombre Democratic Organization, y venido del discurso de Mary en la 2008 Pyramid Atlantic Conference and Book Art Fair. Muchisimas gracias, Mary!


If anyone is interested in participating in the Migratory Books Project, please email me at rocinantepress (at) gmail (dot) com. Recipients of the Migratory Books, please either email me your responses or post them under the "Comments" button.

Si usted está interesado en participar en el Proyecto Libros Migratorios, por favor mandeme un email a la dirección electronia rocinantepress (a) gmail (punto) com. Recipientes de los Libros Migratorios, por favor mandeme un email o usa el botón de "Comments," por sus respuestas.