La Noche y Ella
by Juan Rivera
University of the Incarnate Word
Cada noche que suspiras,
Es una melodía en el alma mía.
Una musa, que recibe mis mejores fechorías
Me acepta y se ríe en sinfonía.
Para aquella noche de diciembre,
Supe que eras rebelde,
Eras como esos grandes recuerdos de los cuales,
no quiero que sueltes.
Esto empezó siendo para ellas y terminé hablando de ella.
Ella, que tiene una sonrisa que me atropella,
Ella, que como la noche me aconseja,
Ella, que como el día me renueva.
Solo, te escribo más verbos sueltos
Para que algún día, el universo nos pegue de nuevo,
Y esto, que solo es para ella,
Y solamente ella,
Espero que lo disfrutes y entiendas la encomienda.
Interview with an Author
1. What pieces inspired you to start writing poetry?
After receiving Gabriel García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera as a gift from my mother, I began writing poetry. Everything changed for me after reading the book. Márquez's portrayal of love as a flawed, enduring, and magical being rather than as a flawless ideal changed my perspective on storytelling.
2. What theme do you find yourself constantly writing about in your works?
Typically, I write about love; not just romantic love, but the kind of love we carry, lose, and attempt to comprehend. My poetry frequently reflects how my perception of reality has been influenced by my experiences in love. I investigate how these experiences impact memory, time, and the narratives we tell ourselves about ourselves, whether they are related to longing, nostalgia, heartbreak, or hope.
3. What do you think are important elements in thought provoking poems?
A thought-provoking poem, in my opinion, must have emotional truth, even if it is encased in abstraction or metaphor. It should cause the reader to stop, think, or experience an unexpected emotion. Vulnerability, rhythm, and powerful imagery are also crucial. The poems that make you feel seen or understood, even if only briefly, are, in my opinion, the most potent since they are profoundly personal yet also universal.
4. What role do you think poetry has on our society today?
Poetry allows us to slow down in a world that moves quickly. The raw, human experience is captured, something that lengthy essays, headlines, and algorithms frequently overlook. In an age when individuals are inundated with information, poetry encourages introspection, empathy, and interpersonal relationships. Our inner lives, our common feelings, and our capacity for deep imagination and emotion are all brought to light by it. As it's said in Dead Poets Society, “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.” Poetry is more than just ornamentation; it is necessary. It serves as a reminder of what it is to be human.
