John Akpata and Francisco Ucàn Marìn,
two gifted artists honor the presentation of our poetry books.
John is a well known poet from Ottawa and an excellent declaimer.
A straightshooter when it comes to humanistic topics like racism,
immigrants' exploitation, abuse of political power, poverty and so many other themes.
Once on the stage, John's words fly unmercifully cutting the social rottenness of the surroundings.
...Carlos Perez writes honestly and without the pretentiousness of so
many Ottawa poets who seek celebrity, and feign political activism...
You will not find him in a corporate coffee shop,
or in the trendiest internet café. In a privately owned,
lesser known local coffeehouse you may encounter
a man who exudes confidence and cheerfulness,
because he knows the revolution is already underway and
he has made a significant contribution to it.
To hear Carlos Perez read his work will calm
the heart of the revolutionary, for he always puts
the common people above the value of any one individual.
He is calm and contented because he knows that
a revolution does not mean killing yourself while fighting
the power structure that never cared for you in the first place.
Instead, the true revolutionary discredits the power structure
with words that are ‘un poquito de tanta verdad’ a little bit of so much truth.
John Akpata February, 2008
Francisco, Mexican of Mayan origin,
his poems made him recipient of numerous international prizes and grants.
Also, Francisco is a scientist and educator with a vast knowledge of
the Caribbean and Latino culture.
...Ya antes en los ochentas, Patricia Donnet, escritora Argentina que desarrolla
la incansable narrativa de las tradiciones Amerindias Suramericanas escribió
su versión de Patria Grande, en pequeños cuentos.
En la importante historia revolucionaria de México, Emiliano Zapata,
en su Plan de Ayala, el 25 de noviembre de 1911 mencionó en relación a la Patria Grande...
...Carlos, realmente hace un ejercicio ejemplar de amalgamar los
elementos de brumas, flores, agua, azùcar, ríos ancestrales, el Amazonas,
besos, lunas, muertos y resurrecciones en este poemario de singular título.
Esperemos que este libro sea una pieza permanente del complejo rompecabezas
Latinoamericano, que en estos tiempos inciertos nos hacen falta menos guerras
y mas poetas para encontrar el camino y celebrar a la Patria Grande.
Francisco Ucán-Marín Febrero 2009, Ottawa
Both writers know Carlos well.
They all met during his university years
when joining forces for activist rallies.
These two poets admire Carlos' passion for the social
causes and the transparency of his art.
Carlos' experience assists his creativity and the
intended realism fluidly sprouts along the verses .
That is why, both artists did not hesitate on being
part in the publication of his literary work.
Carlos' poems are rooted in his connection
with the common individual and with those
communities living as the underdogs in our society.