SAN MIGUEL EVENTS: Finding our humanity through poetry

On July 30, 2024 an event was held at Casa Nigromante to celebrate International Friendship Day. The program was a perfect way to highlight how we can allow our differences to bring us together, rather than pull us apart. At a universal and grassroots level.

We wanted to make this a truly bilingual event—an attempt to bring the local, English and Spanish-speaking residents together. We have these diverse, parallel communities that don’t mingle frequently enough—the varied theater companies, the discussion groups; the poetry reading and appreciation groups. They exist side by side, all in our town, but seldom do they include the two language groups together. What a wealth of talent on both sides of the language barrier, what an opportunity to join our efforts and learn from each other. What a great way to make new friends!

Casa Nigromante was a perfect venue because it was the birth home of Ignacio Ramirez—known as El Nigromante—one of the great intellectuals of Mexico in the 19th century. A man who distinguished himself as a politician, a promoter of progressive ideas, and someone who left a great literary legacy which ought to be better known and recognized.

You can find the full article about him in my blog of June 14, 2024.

Casa Nigromante is now owned by the University of Guanajuato, and is a wonderful venue for art exhibits, lectures, and other events. They provided us with a poster to promote the event, and we added a few details to make it more comprehensive.

A reading of poetry in a variety of languages with translations in both English and Spanish, would bring expats and locals in one celebratory event. With close to 100 people in attendance, and an overwhelmingly positive response, it seems that there is a need, and a desire for other such programs. One attendee said: “This was one of those evenings when one says that life is worth it...moments when one feels connected with the beautiful, wonderful and real of this life...”

And another added: “We need so much more of that now—visions of the beauty of our diversity…finding our humanity and all we have in common.”

For my co-host, Danita Brisson, and me, the warmth of these comments seemed like a clear mandate for another Music of Languages in the future. For those who did not have the opportunity to attend, you will find attached a document which encapsulates the program, including all the poems in their original language, and the translations.