My Heart is a Pomegranate/ Mi Corazón es una Granada by Jessica Helen Lopez
This book is a collection of testimonial poems created as an act of confessionalism by the writer. It is not a pointed retribution, rather a gathering of words meant for survivalism and connection to those readers who are so inclined to participate in a type of personalized, haphazard piecemealed journey stitched by the author. It is sloppy at best, proudly unpolished, surreal to some extent and is a tapestry of truthful renditions written by a queer/bi-sexual, fiercely feminist Xicana poeta, who also happens to be a single mother, grassroots organizer and a long-time, non-traditional teacher of creative writing. To say that these combined identities do not directly contribute to what is the culmination of this book, is to lack a truth telling that denies an honest description of these respective poems. This book is about being a puta, cabrona, and an unapologetic bruja, but also about experiences that serve to confuse, discombobulate and incrementally provide a type of dying that is, ironically enough, a fuel for the act of living. My Heart is a Pomegranate/Mi Corazon es una Granada is a juicy little slice of fruit bleeding onto the page. It is the aftermath of a memorable hangover.
This book is a collection of testimonial poems created as an act of confessionalism by the writer. It is not a pointed retribution, rather a gathering of words meant for survivalism and connection to those readers who are so inclined to participate in a type of personalized, haphazard piecemealed journey stitched by the author. It is sloppy at best, proudly unpolished, surreal to some extent and is a tapestry of truthful renditions written by a queer/bi-sexual, fiercely feminist Xicana poeta, who also happens to be a single mother, grassroots organizer and a long-time, non-traditional teacher of creative writing. To say that these combined identities do not directly contribute to what is the culmination of this book, is to lack a truth telling that denies an honest description of these respective poems. This book is about being a puta, cabrona, and an unapologetic bruja, but also about experiences that serve to confuse, discombobulate and incrementally provide a type of dying that is, ironically enough, a fuel for the act of living. My Heart is a Pomegranate/Mi Corazon es una Granada is a juicy little slice of fruit bleeding onto the page. It is the aftermath of a memorable hangover.
This book is a collection of testimonial poems created as an act of confessionalism by the writer. It is not a pointed retribution, rather a gathering of words meant for survivalism and connection to those readers who are so inclined to participate in a type of personalized, haphazard piecemealed journey stitched by the author. It is sloppy at best, proudly unpolished, surreal to some extent and is a tapestry of truthful renditions written by a queer/bi-sexual, fiercely feminist Xicana poeta, who also happens to be a single mother, grassroots organizer and a long-time, non-traditional teacher of creative writing. To say that these combined identities do not directly contribute to what is the culmination of this book, is to lack a truth telling that denies an honest description of these respective poems. This book is about being a puta, cabrona, and an unapologetic bruja, but also about experiences that serve to confuse, discombobulate and incrementally provide a type of dying that is, ironically enough, a fuel for the act of living. My Heart is a Pomegranate/Mi Corazon es una Granada is a juicy little slice of fruit bleeding onto the page. It is the aftermath of a memorable hangover.
Jessica Helen Lopez was the City of Albuquerque Poet Laureate (2014-16), and has authored five poetry collections. Her recent book, "The Blood Poems," was released by the University of New Mexico Press. A Justice for Rural and Migrant Womens’ Fellow, Lopez is an adjunct for the UNM Chican@ Studies Department. A California-born Xicana, she is a NM Humanities Council Chautauqua Scholar, award-winning slam poet, recipient of the NM Women's Press Zia Book Award and was featured as, "One of 10 Up and Coming LatinX Poets You Need to Know," by Remezcla. Visit her at jessicahelenlopezpoet.wordpress.com.