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.

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.

Canadian Connections/Conexión de Canada

The migratory book you send me has left me and I'm finally responding to your question. The book has now traveled from Ontario to one of the western provices of Canada...Alberta. It's in good hands! Thank you for the opportunity to take part in this project and for your patience in waiting to hear from me.

what connects us?

a need to see ourselves
reflected in each
other

as a way to measure
distance on this
journey....

for comfort
and
acknowledgement

and a need to be one....

Photos from Ethiopia/Fotos de Ethiopia

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.

Migratory Books in Ethiopia/Libros Migratorios en Ethiopia

Thanks to Bonnie Macallister, who will be carrying Migratory Books with her this July. Bonnie is a recipient of a Fulbright-Hays Grant for Ethiopia. After this summer, the Migratory Books will have visited every contienent except Antartica. Bonnie tells me that electricity and internet access are a bit sketchy, but any and all responses are always welcome!

Muchisimas gracias a Bonnie Macallister, quién llevará los libros migratorios con su este julio. Bonnie es un recipiente de un Fulbright-Hays Grant, para Ethiopia. Después de este verano, los libros migratorios habrán visitado cada contienent excepto Antartica. Electricidad y acceso del red es difícil, pero, todas las respuestas son agradables.

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.

Local Philadelphia Response

what connects us? pain and desire

where am i? philadelphia

where is the book going? i'm going to mail it to my doctor/artist friend in texas first thing tomorrow morning.

¿qué nos conecta? ? El dolor y el deseo

¿dónde estoy? Filadelfia

¿adónde este libro va? voy a enviarlo a mi doctor/artista amigo en texas en la mañana.

Response from Rebecca Gilbert/Respuesta de Rebecca Gilbert.

Muchismas gracias!

If anyone is interested in participating in the Migratory Books Project, please drop me an email 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.

Migratory Books on Nexus Radio/Los Libros Migratorios en el Radio Nexus

On February 1, from 2-4 PM, I will be participating in a Zine Reading on Nexus Radio, the current project at Nexus Foundation for Today's Art. Organized by Katie Haegele of The Lala Theory, I will be reading from both the Spanish and English versions of the Migratory Books Project.

Other readers will be in attendance, including Bonnie MacAllister. Nexus Foundation for Today's Art is located at 1400 North American Street, on the first floor of the Crane Arts Building, in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. Hope to see some of you there!

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

En El Febrero 1, a las 2-4, yo participaré en una lectura de zines en el Radio Nexus, el proyecto actualmente al Nexus Foundation for Today's Art. Organizado de Katie Haegele del Lala Theory, leeré de los versiones inglés y castellano de los Libros Migratorios.

Otro lectores estarán allí, por ejemplo Bonnie MacAllister. Nexus Foundation for Today's Art se localiza en 1400 North American Street, en el primer piso del Crane Arts Building, en el barrio Kensington de Filadelfia. ¡Esperanza de verle allí!

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.