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a publication of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

Ofrendas y

2013

November 2013 | Vol. 26 Issue 9 San Antonio, Tejas

15 años

Calaveras

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ATTENTION VOZ READERS: If you have a mailing address correction please send it in to lavoz@esperan-zacenter.org. If you want to be removed from the La Voz mailing list for whatever reason please let us know. La Voz is provided as a courtesy to people on the mailing list of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. The subscription rate is $35 per year ($100 for institutions). The cost of producing and mailing La Voz has sub-stantially increased and we need your help to keep it afloat. To help, send in your subscriptions, sign up as a monthly donor, or send in a donation to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Thank you. -GAR

VOZ VISION STATEMENT: La Voz de Esperanza speaks for many individual, progressive voices who are gente-based, multi-visioned and milagro-bound. We are diverse survivors of materialism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, classism, violence, earth-damage, speciesism and cultural and political oppression. We are recapturing the powers of alliance, activism and healthy conflict in order to achieve interdependent economic/spiritual healing and fuerza. La Voz is a resource for peace, justice, and human rights, providing a forum for criticism, information, education, humor and other creative works. La Voz provokes bold actions in response to local and global problems, with the knowledge that the many risks we take for the earth, our body, and the dignity of all people will result in profound change for the seven generations to come.

La Voz deEsperanza

November 2013vol. 26 issue 9

Editor Gloria A. Ramírez

Design Monica V. Velásquez

Editorial AssistanceAlice Canestaro-García

Cover Art The Summoning by Stella Marroquin

La Voz Mail Collective Mario E. Carbajal, Juan Díaz, Carolina

Esparza, Angela M. García, Sylvia Garza, Kyler Liu, Ray McDonald,

Lynn McWhite, Angie Merla, Davina Merla, Pájara, Luis Pérez, Kamala Platt, Marissa Rodríguez, Anthony Saldivar, Argelia Soto, Angélica Vargas, Isabel

Velásquez, Damian Zapatay MujerArtes

Esperanza Director Graciela I. Sánchez

Esperanza Staff Imelda Arismendez, Itza Carbajal,

Marisol Cortez, J.J. Niño, Melissa Rodríguez, Susana Méndez Segura, Monica V. Velásquez

Conjunto de Nepantleras-Esperanza Board of Directors-

Brenda Davis, Araceli Herrera, Rachel Jennings, Amy Kastely, Kamala Platt, Ana Ramírez, Gloria A. Ramírez, Rudy Rosales,

Nadine Saliba, Graciela Sánchez

• We advocate for a wide variety of social, economic & environmental justice issues.• Opinions expressed in La Voz are not

necessarily those of the Esperanza Center. La Voz de Esperanza

is a publication ofEsperanza Peace & Justice Center

922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212210.228.0201 • fax 1.877.327.5902

www.esperanzacenter.org

Inquiries/Articles can be sent to:lavoz@esperanzacenter.orgArticles due by the 8th of each month

Policy Statements

* We ask that articles be visionary, progressive, instructive & thoughtful. Submissions must be literate & critical; not sexist, racist, homophobic, violent, or

oppressive & may be edited for length. * All letters in response to Esperanza activities or articles in La Voz will be considered for publication. Letters with intent to slander individuals or groups

will not be published.

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center is funded in part by the NEA, TCA, theFund, Coyote Phoenix Fund, AKR Fdn, Peggy Meyerhoff Pearlstone Fdn, Horizons Fdn,

New World Foundation, y nuestra buena gente.

La Katrina has not been happy with us. Fifteen years of making fun of la muerte simply does not sit well with her. However, we are not happy with her for she has, once again, taken some of our family and friends to the great beyond.

In 1999, we began to highlight Calaveras in the November issue of La Voz de Esperanza in tribute to the Day of the Dead. The San

Anto buena gente rose to the occasion sending in more and more Calaveras each year. We did more research on the tradition and in 2005, decided to try out a Calavera broadsheet, a centerfold that could be lifted out as a single long news page, like más antes. People had also begun to send in recuerdos of loved ones that had passed —so, in 2009 the November Voz issue became the Calaveras and Literary Ofrendas issue. Artists, too, have contributed wonderful images from the beginning. As such, we have tried to maintain a Posada-esque flavor by emphasizing the

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political and using traditional and contemporary calaca images sprinkled throughout the issue.

During the 15 years of Esperanza’s Calaveras issue, women have played a prominent role in the writing of these satirical death poems as well as contributing artwork. Much of it has graced the front page, as well. Few women during Guadalupe Posada’s time, the late 19th and early 20th century, engaged in either the writing or drawing of calaveras. In honor of our

quinceañera, the 2013 issue of Calaveras honors mujeres with Stella Marroquin’s calavera on the front cover, Liliana Wilson’s image celebrating our 15 years of Calavera covers and Celia Calderon’s image that begins the first page of text. We are celebrating a quinceañera of Calaveras because the calaveristas, Esperanza staff and buena gente have made it possible. You know who you are! Read and enjoy! — Gloria A. Ramírez

Art: Liliana Wilson

Calaveristas: Dulce Benavides • Lucia Bolanos • Alice

Canestaro-García • Janie Cepeda • Nephtalí De León • Julien Ekiaka-

Oblazamengo • Norma Guzmán • Rachel Jennings • Josie Méndez-Negrete • Irma Mireles • Hilda Moreno • Timothee Khonde Ngoma •

Kamala Platt • Enrique Sánchez • Elva Pérez Treviño • Rita E.Urquijo-Ruiz • Amelia Solsona Wilburn • Jerry Zertuche ~

Cuento: Anna Marie Sánchez ~ Literary Ofrendas: Lucille Morales Briseño • David Zamora Casas • Lola Cueto • Nephtalí

De León • Rocio Delgado • Brenda L. Flores • Art Mantecón • Pablo Neruda • Isela Ocegueda • Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle • Rogelio

“Smiley” Rojas Moctezuma • Randy Romo • Sandy • Larry Skwarczynski • Joe U ~ Artwork: Raúl Anguiano • Celia Calderon •

David Zamora Casas • Castillo family • Lola Cueto • José Chávez-Morado •.Anel Flores • Carlos Lowry • Stella Marrroquín • Leopoldo

Méndez • Maricela Olguin • Pájara • José Guadalupe Posada • Ralfka • Cameron Vásquez Ramírez • Mary Agnes Rodríguez • Sandy •

Rufino Tamayo • Elva Pérez Treviño • Liliana Wilson • Alfredo Zalce

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AgradecimientoQuiero agradecer

Aquellas cosas que nunca pedíPero, que estan a mi alrededor

Con un idioma própio y universal;Aromas, sonidos y colores.

La obra del hombre y el poder de dios, El equilibrio justo de los cinco sentidos

La armonía natural de los cuatro elementos, El aroma de los colores,

La textura de la vida, El monte, el árbol y yo. El perfume de la noche,

La lúz sobre el olvidoLa música del atardecer,

Los mensajes ocultos, El llanto de la niebla, la sangre de la tierra,

Los espiritus del cielo, Los contrastes,

Y por el hermoso amanecer de hoy.

—Enrique Sánchez, “Don Calaveras”

Dos Mil TreceMe despierto en las mañanas y doy gracias a dios;luego, despues del almuerzo, leo el periodico.Mi siento contento porque mi nombre no se encuentra en la sección de los muertitos. En este año dos mil trece vuelvo a esribir calaveras teniendo en mente que calacas me anda pisando los talones; digo esto porque cumplí ochenta y cinco. Imagínense ustedes:Quince abriles más y cumplo los cien. ¡Qué esperanza!

—Enrique Sánchez “Don Calaveras”

A los vivos que están muertosI went to learn how to grieve

To let go of those who are deadTo banish the memory of someone unknown

A ghost I made up in my head.

They cried for the men that they lovedAnd wondered at how they’d move on.

They hoarded their things like treasure unseen,And they prayed to their Lord to be strong.

I sat still in my chair at the tableSilent as an undisturbed tomb.

The edges of shame crept into my heartBut mostly a new kind of gloom.

They wept for deep voices, strong armsOf men that were no longer there,

But I was grieving the loss of a dream,My invention, an unanswered prayer.

Stood up to escape the somber space,Shook cold, wrinkled skin over bone,

Walked into the heat of the street in my city,Pale sky above trees—I, alone.

— Isela Ocegueda, UTEP

—Cuando hagas tu trabajotú ten mucha precauciónsi te resbalas tantitoo te dan un empujónviene la muerte corriendoy te llevará al panteón.

—Todos sabemos que la muertesiempre esta a nuestro ladovigilando nuestro caminoy aunque el mundohaya cambiadoella sabe en que momentotienes que estar a su lado.

para

¡Mucho cuidado!

Art: Celia Calderon, Mexican artist, part of Taller Gráfica Popular. Born in Guanajuato in 1921, she died in 1969.

—Si te vas a divertirhazlo con mucho cuidadoporque si luego te alocasy no cuidas de ti mismo llega la calaca flaca.....y te llevará hasta el abismo.

—Lucia Bolanos

Ofrendas dia de los muertos

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My father worked here and there, but never anything stable. He liked to be free, so being a stay at home dad suited him well. Many considered him lazy since my mother was the breadwinner, but not in my book if you take care of kids.

He was always involved with me and my sisters. At the table we would play games like Candyland, cards, and our all-time favorite, Monopoly. Monopoly was a game that we can play all day and night. We would even stay up until three in the morning just laughing and having a good time. His life fell apart when he made bad choices. He wouldn’t come home sometimes. And when he would be home, sometimes he would mentally and physically abuse my mother. My brother got tired of it and found a place for us to move. My father didn’t even know this, since he would come and go as he pleased. That same year he lost his mother to cancer. It was a year of change for him. Losing something personal can make you feel lousy, and losing everything can make you really lose it. He slept at relatives’ homes, friends’ homes, and basically anywhere he could lay his head. He ended up living on the streets. He slept on cardboard boxes, under the bridge and outside of the homeless shelter. Other homeless men would pick fights with him and steal from him. Once, they even stole his prosthetic leg from him.

He found pleasure in alcohol and drugs. He said he would drink and do drugs to forget. To forget about life struggles and the family he lost. He talked about how he wanted to be someone important, and how one day he wanted to live with his family again. And for one last time he would have liked to dance with my mom. Fast forward! —He ended up dying from a drug overdose. With him went his dreams. To me, he will always be remembered as my loving father. Once you love someone; you will always love them, no matter where they go.

OfrendasFernando Flores 08.12.1962 — 09.30.2011

Remembering my father...

by Brenda L. Flores

People come and people goYou got to let them knowThat you care for them That you need themWhat they mean to you

People come and people goYou got to let them knowHow special they areHow they make you feelThat they are beautiful and smartThat you love them for themHow their presence has impacted your world

People come and people goPlease, let them knowExpress your loveHug them every chance you getShow them, write it, and say it out loudIt’s all about making memories

People come and people goDon’t take things personalFor people are fighting themselvesWhen people come and people goLet there be no –would of, should of, could of,You got to let them knowThe three words that mean so muchI love you

People Come and People Go

Ahora brillas cuán bellaY desde el cielo me mirasTe extraño mucho, mi nenaY no termina mi pena Fuiste fiel hasta la muerteTuve suerte conocerteY otra vez tu companíaSe disfrutará algún día — Rocío Delgado

Recordando...

Casi un año que te fuisteMi Choquito consentida

Y te siento todavía A pesar de tu partida

En una noche muy fría

Te convertiste en estrellaLa más preciosa de ellas

Que a seguir me ayudaría

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center thanks the following

buena gente for their donations:

Nasrin Piri, in memory of Michele Myers

Edith Speert, in memory of John Stanford.

6

Ofrendas

“Blowing Red Kisses into Sky”Our Brothers, who art in Heaven,

Protect us who alive are still,Lesbian, TransGender, Bi, Queer.Death to Fear, Bigotry and Hate.

Corporate systematic killingMama pacha / clean air / water.

Brothers, AIDS TOOK YOU So Quickly,Still I dance with Your Memory,

Sing your favorite punk rock song,Lighting candles on your Altar,Blowing Red Kisses into Sky.

Ofrenda & Art by David Zamora Casas

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¡ Ay mendiga pelona! ¿Qué hiciste?¿Porqué el nueve-once eligiste? ¡Que chiste!Día de memoria trágica a Juancho eligiste.Hombre noble, sincero, obrador – qué triste.

Sus hechos en esta vida resaltaban de su pecho.Fue, era y será siendo de la gente en todo hecho.Gente buena, gente agradecida, nunca olividen este fiel amigo.Él lucho por la educación y también por el enemigo.

¿Pelona, pelona, quién va ocupar su lugar?¿Habrá otro ser que tanto su obra sepa amar?

Él siempre portaba su periodico communista y el cartelón contra la guerraAmbos portaba para ver si lograba la paz en la tierra.Hombre de gracia, Huesuda te ha recogido.Pero en esta tierra y mundo siempre seras RECONOCIDO. —Joe U.

Note: In 1961 Stanford began selling communist literature through a mail-order bookstore in his home called All Points of View. The business was raided in 1963 and Stanford was hauled into court-represented by his attorney, the late Maury Maverick, Jr. The case went to the Supreme Court, where it failed and all of Stanford’s material and literature was returned. —Larry Swarcynski

¡juAnCHo Y jo PReSenTe!This departing shadowThis Communist CourageBuilding WarmthJoined Free This Garden after LOVE This Fortitude of freedomFaced justiciable Junctures JUT ‹JO› JunctionJourneymen FOR A JUST Jumbo revolutionThese juxtaposed Jewels Juniper mindsJimmied Jim Crow-Jackbooted Jabber Jackasses This Frantic Father jinxed by JingoismJumbled by jackal texas John n JoJustifiableJostling our Jerrybuilt systemJogged jigged JeeredThis jagged jaded jingo JacketThese JasMine Jocund Janitors STOODThese jolly joyful JacobinSSan Antonio StanfordsThis garden after dark Honk for Peace*—larry-vfp-humanistGreengan ‘PEACE Vigils’ each/

Penando por perder en poker, Pepe montó a Pedro, su caballo, ya bien

borracho. Pepe pensaba pensamientos de pobre. Se quedo dormido, pero Pedro siguía en camino a casa.

A Pedro lo asustó algo y trató defenderse a pataliadas; Pepe se cayó al sacate y los pingos lo pescaron.

Los pingos le hicieron muchas cosquillas, y espantado, Pepe no pudo reir, pero estrujaba para librarse de los pingos. Firmemente en las manos de los pingos, gritaba Pepe: ¡Prisionero no seré, pinches pingos!

Lo movieron unos pasos y con mucha fuerza lo hecharon a una noria honda y oscura.

Pepe pataliaba y gritaba hasta llegar al fondo de la noria. Pegó al agua y

despertó sorprendido que Pedro y él habian llegado a casa.

Desmontando, Pepe le dijo a Pedro: ¡Ya nunca me lleves a tomar en el Día de los muertos!

Pedro se rió como solos los caballos pueden.

Colorín, colorado, este cuento se a acabado. —Anna Marie Sánchez, Westsider, artist, mother of three, abuelita of six

Painting to honor my mom who loved music, dancing, gardening, made tamales every single year and didn’t mind a “high ball” every now and then.

LA BoRRADAStella Sandoval Born April 23, 1923 Died August 10, 1995

She had a gold tooth, a white streak down

the middle of her hair. Loved high heels,

bold colored jewelry and nails painted bright red.

Her green eyes against dark skin were stunning.

She brought with her — light.

Art: Pájara

Pepe y los pingos

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Beloved friend, loyal one, martyr Amiga querida, leal, mártir I’ll take a breath between drags if you give me a clue between drinks Respiraré entre tiradas si me das una pista entre tragos quick-witted, sufferer like Christ, rapido ingenio, sufridora como Cristo, your artistries grew into the darkness of a Mercedes Sosa song and went out with the greys sus artistries crecieron en la

oscuridad de una canción de Mercedes Sosa y salieron con los grises our secrets mystify the fragility of life and hold the surrealism of death nuestros secretos mistifican la fragilidad de la vida y sostienen el surrealismo de la muerte the full moon, the skulls, lust la luna llena, las calaveras, la lujuria a proud mother sitting in the smoldering August heat giving purpose to the waters of march una madre orgullosa sentada en el calor de agosto ardiente dando propósito a las aguas de marzo too heavy for the heart living within the haunting demasiado pesado para el corazón viviendo dentro de la obsesionate so compassionate, so ... pugnacious, the great cook tan compasiva, tan ... belicosa, la gran cocinera missing the laughter since you were taken by the same angels

who brought you here faltando la risa desde que fueron tomadas por los mismos angeles que te trajeron aquí but we’ll remember ... for the time being pero recordaremos ... por el momento Bio: Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle is Anna Marie Sanchez’s friend of 40 years. Special thanks to Alicia.

Anna Marie Sanchez Oct. 30, 1956 – Aug. 6, 2013

Photo by PRO

Ofrendas

For Anna : Para Anna by Prechie

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jimmieMay 17, 2005

Jimmie, Jimmie, you were supposed to linger with me.My big brother —he was like no other.

First-born —for him, we mourn.He was the oldest,Some say the boldest.He became the elder of our family.Was King Midas of our tree.

Te daba pena que no estudiaste¡Aye! Pero, como trabajaste!Ayudaste a mucha gente.Porque eras muy inteligente.

Ya no vas a estar conmigo.Tú, más que hermano, eras mi amigo.I’ll miss the Sunday phone callsInviting us to break. (That’s what you called it).

Oh! Anguished heart! It tore me apart.To learn you were leaving.Immediately, I began grieving.

You are the man!A successful business you ran.Your accumulation was tremendous.To your family, you were very generous.

Fuiste muy fuerte,Cuando se te cambio la suerte.Te moriste muy valiente.

Ya no tienes dolor.Ahora estás con el Señor.Para mi es un horror,Vivir sin tu amor.

Tu única carnala, Lucila —Lucille Briseño Morales

Yolanda GarcíaHow could you die?

Go off and fly?My beautiful friend is gone. I always thought she looked like

Raquel Welch.My sorrow and love for her, I will not squelch.

When I was told of the death of my long time friend, Yolie, I said, “No, no, no”.

Refusing to let her go.I don’t want it to be so.

I can’t believe she’s gone.I’ll have to live without her from now on.

I met her in our freshman year at Providence, through her cousin Isabel,

Who was my friend since age six at Sacred Heart.

Isabel left us a long time ago.I know they are together and they glow.

Yolanda joined her husband, John, the same year that he had to go.

Although we are feeling very low, we knowShe is with her parents, young daughter and husband.

They greeted her and took her by the handTo a place where there is no land.

But choose to believe we will someday land.

I wasn’t with you when your daughter died,Must have been in California or Germany.

Wish I had been there with you.

I’ll miss my triple comadre, who was in my wedding and I in her’s.

She honored me by choosing me to baptize Tisha, her first-born

It is for her mother we all mourn.

Even though she lived far away,Friends forever we did and will stay.

Love you forever, Comadre.—Lucille Briseño Morales

Ofrendas

Art: Rufino Tamayo

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FukushimaCalavera, 2013

en Tokyo los Japoneses se saboreaban los tesesparientes de Hirohitose limpiaban los moquitos,se tomaban una fotocuando pegó el terremoto

y en la planta Fukushimase tostaron las gallinastronó la planta nuclear nadie lo puede negar

en eso salió una flacala Japonesa Calacavamonos de la Chinavamonos del Japóny así se fue Fukushimacon toda su radiaciónal atómico panteón ! —Nephtalí De León

Calaveras 2013

A Volar

Antes de a border un avión te registran de pie a cabeza.Sucedio que a un tipo poderoso no le parecio Buena idea.Se ingresó a una fila como res al matadero ¡Qué caray!Resultó un gran borlote; ya mero lo encueraban;Más por ser tan importante lo dejaron que pasara.La Catrina bien vestida con todo y su sombrerote.Lo acompañó en su viaje sin regreso y sin mitote. —Enrique Sánchez

Ven aquí, Beneby

Before death, Mr. Beneby,one very smart guy in the room,told his CPS employees, “Spread the word! ‘Low carbon’ coal.” Zoom!

From Fredericksburg to San Antowent the message : “CLEAN” energy:The Good News: “65% by2020, reality!”

“Why did you fiddle with the truth?”Lucifer asked of Benebywho said, “Please see it through MY eyes.Look in MY eyes, at THESE charts. SEE?”

So with Beneby by his side, Lucifer sent HIS pingos, too.They spread the gospel far & wideLOW OR NO carbon in our poo.

I mean, energy! Miracle?Count dirty carbon-producing energy as though it did not produce much carbon? Seducing?

Greenwash magic! Or something like. “Clean coal”, nuclear, natural gas (snap!) are now low or no carbon-emitting energy. Ha! ¡Zás!

“Ven aquí, Beneby, FOR-E-VAH we can rule the gas & oil guys, the fossil fools. Stall solar,wind, geothermal (while you boil). —Alice Canestaro-García

Artwork: Ralfka

Art: Raul Anguiano

Artwork: Raúl Anguiano

Vida Rascuache Verde #1

Said Katrina Greena on the lastfin de semana de septiembre Let’s Round Up the numbersand head for Sustainability...

So all piled into her old tercel headed to the great norte blanco... “We won’t go with less than ocho.”-- a rule borrowed from Bargarh taxi drivers...

She divvied out the gas per person in her mind: 48 mpg, 64 miles each way, ocho personas 2 & 1/2 gallons divided by eight people --

That’s 1/3 gallon each...carbono pedprintno fractions, fractoids, fracks,just facts... —Kamala Platt

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President Barack Obama By Nephtalí De León

President Barack Obamawas enjoying his mañanawith an English cup of teaplanning his bombing of Syriaby a beautiful wisteria…

I can do it, I can do it, so excitedly hummed hewhen a strange flaquita womansaid it just aint gonna be

I’m the big wheel said Obamawho can possibly stop me?when he slipped on a bananaon his very last mañanadidn’t even drink his tea

Mr. President, it’s fatethat you gotta come with meso the Deportation chieffound his life a little briefwhen he left with la Pelonato the cemetery zona !

Vladimir Putinby Nephtalí De León

The Russian Vladimir Putinwas eating a mutton legand some kremlin crunchy toastwhen a thin lady in a troikawith a big bottle of vodkamade a pass at him with, –“Shorty! You look to me very worthy!”

“I’m short as an undercover,”said the intelligence lover…Impressed, the bulimic girlwho trotted around the world,said, “Let’s go to where there’s no end…don’t snitch to your Snowden friend…” “Wait a minute!” said the leader,“I’m writing Mr. Obamaa note in the New York times…”Right away, and quite thereafterhe quickly began to snore as he left with the Pelona to the land of nevermore!

Calaveras

Edward Snowden By Nephtalí De León

fhe NASA whistle blowerwas hiding behind a mower.fhe global network of spieswas trying to catch like flies the trillion billion of liesEdward Snowden had unlatched …

from Hawaii to Hong Kong?what if they think I’m wrong?who will take me under their wingwith America’s dark stingto capture me anywhere like Bin Laden in the world…?

don’t worry said a flaquitaI’ve got the perfect hide out where u ain’t gonna be followedbut because u did good thingsfor commoners and for kings I’ll let u have a vacation I’ll postpone your terminationhe rushed on his lucky breakand la Pelona just smiledI’m not making a mistake!

Ya le otorgaronSu premio Por saber Moldear el barro.

Y los Castillos celebrando Este reconocimientoMientras los ángeles cantanY ofrecen sus alabanzas.

Mira calaca inclementeNi siquiera te imagines

Ya te llevaste al maestro A la Vero nos la dejas.

Ya Puebla y San AntonioY hasta Washington, D.C.

Reconocen el legadoQue se fundo con el barro.

Vete paloma queridaDile a todas las calacas

Que vayan por Peña NietoY dejes los artesanos.—Josie Méndez-Negrete

El Premio de Vero

Senator Ted Cruz

What causes a curse like Ted Cruz?Is it genetics or the booze?When he wins, the rest of us lose.With Old Harry, he tends to schmooze.*

What causes a curse like crazy Ted?Is he cruel or sick in the head?Thinking of him makes me see red.My health insurance he has bled.His searing hate fills me with dread.With Old Harry I’ll dance instead.

*Old Harry is a name for the Devil. —Rachel Jennings

Art: Familia Castillo

2013

La Voz de esperanza2013

OB

AM

A (S)C

AR

ET

he Republicans are peeved

running and crying all scaredshut dow

n business in D.C

.and they blam

e “Obam

acare”

“—N

o government for you, honey”

smiled the bunch of buffoons

receiving even more m

oneynot from

people, but from goons

The poor, destitute, and hungry

into their plans they don’t factorhard-w

orking people are angrytheir reign w

ill end ipso facto

The governm

ent can’t existw

ith these idiots running freew

anting democrats to exit

and bullying all with glee

Lady D

eath, who all observes

grinning and greedy, arrivedB

oehner, Bachm

an, all the Reps

of their lives they were deprived

To Obam

a she said sternly“—

better turn this thing aroundor before your term

is overI w

ill have you underground”

—R

ita E. U

rquijo-Ruiz

Lo

s De

rr

ot

ad

os

Vino la C

atrina por Cruz;

el que no para de hablar mucho

Causó el paro nacional

y esta dañando a muchos.

Este hom

bre sigue terco y sigue necio¿Será porque aspira a la presidencia —

a cualquier precio?L

e preguntó la Huesuda

–¿se te olvido quién ganó?“¡Y

el que estuvo con las riendas –por poquito nos hundió!”E

ste morenito, a pesar del criticism

o ha sabido borrarC

on paciencia el destrozo causado por los poderosos,¡Tanta m

uerte!L

a Catrina lo observa

ahogado por tanto te que tomó!

—E

nrique Sánchez

Ca

la

ve

ra

par

a G

.Z.

¿Cóm

o duermes bajo la luna

Con la m

uerte en tu lechoC

on la rabia de la gentePor el asesinato que has hecho?

¿Cóm

o paseas bajo el solTodavía con pistola en m

ano?¿C

on la culpa en el corazón,C

ómo vives seguro y sano?

¿Zim

merm

an? Mejor K

iller-man.

¿Florida? Mejor Pistólida.

Pero no importa los nom

bres…A

La C

atrina no le interesa.

Te

d C

ru

z

Here lies the loud m

outh,T

he lawyer from

Houston dow

n South,T

he Senator from the L

one Star State,H

e spoke for hours and hours fighting on late.

Alas to address a long speech,

Where the end w

as not in reach,W

ith his voice that would not cease,

He passed aw

ay dictating at ease,H

e caused his own death at last after fainting,

After his m

ind became tired of debating.

—

Jerry Zertuche

La

Ca

la

ca

, Lo

s C

ris

tia

no

s y

La

D

isc

rim

ina

cio

n

La

Dan

za d

e la

Cal

aca

Bai

land

o co

n lo

s Jo

tínH

abla

ndo

del C

rist

iano

Y s

u fe

en

el o

ído

sin

fin L

a C

alac

a pr

edic

ando

L

a pa

labr

a de

Dio

sU

sand

o a

los

cris

tiano

s,Su

s hi

jos

y su

dul

ce v

ozQ

ue lo

s jo

tín s

on d

esca

rado

sQ

ue p

agar

án p

or s

us p

ecad

osA

llí la

gen

te s

in c

ontr

olY

min

istr

os s

in c

onso

le.

La

Cal

aca

junt

o co

n D

ios

Para

la g

ente

fiel

de

Fe“A

la u

na, a

las

dos

A la

sin

, boo

n, b

ah. E

hele

.”

—E

lva

Pére

z T

revi

ño

Sen

at

or

We

nd

y D

av

is

Hur

ray

for

Sena

tor

Dav

is!

Boo

n fo

r M

ary,

Mol

ly, M

avis

.B

ane

of m

en w

ho w

ould

ens

lave

us.

Her

legs

are

str

ong,

her

hea

d le

vel—

her

stam

ina

incr

edib

le.

The

Red

Sne

aker

is h

er s

ymbo

l.Fo

r Pe

rry,

she

is th

e D

evil.

A g

ood

frie

nd o

f L

etic

iaan

d of

Pla

nned

Par

enth

ood’

s C

ecile

,W

endy

gav

e us

cau

se to

like

her

.Fo

r w

omen

’s c

hoic

e, to

her

hon

or,

she

endu

red

a fil

ibus

ter

with

out r

estr

oom

bre

aks

or w

ater

.N

ot o

ne g

ood

pee

for

thir

teen

hou

rs.

The

long

ord

eal w

as H

ell f

or h

er.

She

outla

sted

poi

nts

of o

rder

.

—R

ache

l Jen

ning

s

A L

a C

ha

n

A la

cha

n se

le o

curr

ió

habl

ar m

al d

e su

pró

jimo,

¡Que

des

grac

ia!

A d

ivid

ido

a Sa

n A

nton

io

con

su le

ngua

.Q

uizá

est

o se

a un

ard

id

para

logr

ar p

uest

os m

ás a

ltos

en s

u vi

da p

oliti

ca

hay

tant

as p

osib

ilida

des.

..“L

a C

atri

na”

ya le

hec

hó o

jos:

al

pan

teón

o, a

la m

ejor

chi

char

rón

—

Enr

ique

Sán

chez

Wh

er

e d

id a

ll

t

he

ta

co

tr

uc

ks

go

?

On

the

corn

er o

f C

ultu

ra a

nd C

omm

erce

Str

eets

he

re li

es th

e C

o-O

pt F

ood

Tru

ck, “

La

Cal

aver

a G

ourm

et!”

Se

rvin

g on

ly th

e fr

eshe

st c

ultu

ral a

ppro

pria

tions

dai

ly!

La

Cin

dy’s

Gor

dita

sta

nd c

an’t

com

pete

w

ith it

s co

rnm

eal fl

apja

cks;

qui

noa/

blac

k be

an tr

eat!

Len

gua

taco

s ar

e no

t whe

re it

’s a

t…

bear

ded

hips

ters

love

our

Chi

tlin

Wra

ps!

Nee

d so

met

hing

to w

ash

it do

wn

with

?

How

abo

ut a

kal

e-in

fuse

d Sm

or-c

hata

, fre

shly

whi

pped

! H

ow m

uch?

You

ask

, whi

le w

aitin

g in

line

…

Oh,

the

pric

e yo

u’ll

pay

is g

oing

to b

e w

ay to

o hi

gh…

—

Dul

ce B

enav

ides

2013 L

a Vo

z de

esp

eran

za

Sen

at

or

Le

tic

ia

Van

de

Pu

tt

e

Take

Let

icia

Van

de

Putte

:sh

e is

one

fine

legi

slat

or.

She

is h

ardw

orki

ng a

nd a

stut

e.G

reg

Abb

ott:

a bl

ovia

tor.

Whe

n sh

e sp

eaks

, the

Abb

ott i

s m

ute.

She’

ll ki

ck S

atan

out

of T

exas

.O

ur r

ed s

tate

will

turn

blu

e to

boo

t.

—

Rac

hel J

enni

ngs

LA V

OZ

de

ESP

ERA

NZ

A

No

v 2

013

• V

ol.

26

Issu

e 9

• Pa

ge

13

TE

XA

S A

-ZU

-LA

DO

Rep

ublic

anos

gus

anos

Rep

ublic

anos

com

prad

ossi

gan

así d

e in

hum

anos

que

su ti

empo

se

ha ll

egad

o

En

Teja

s y

en to

dos

lado

ssu

roj

o se

va

acab

ando

la g

ente

va

atan

do c

abos

y a

las

urna

s va

n lle

gand

o

Tén

gann

os m

iedo

, mal

cria

dos

que

de a

zul v

amos

cub

rien

doci

udad

, est

ado

y co

ndad

ose

rán

nues

tros

, irá

n vi

endo

Con

Wen

dy D

avis

de

jefa

Van

de

Putte

y C

astr

o al

iado

sy

los

“roj

os”

tras

las

reja

sya

no

esta

mos

alie

nado

s

La

Cal

aca

ya n

os d

ijo“¡

Qué

ND

O, n

i que

nad

a,yo

que

ust

edes

ni m

e afl

ijom

e lo

s lle

vo a

la ti

znad

a!”

—R

ita E

.Urq

uijo

-Rui

z

La

Ca

la

ca

, Lo

s C

ris

tia

no

s y

La

D

isc

rim

ina

cio

n

La

Dan

za d

e la

Cal

aca

Bai

land

o co

n lo

s Jo

tínH

abla

ndo

del C

rist

iano

Y s

u fe

en

el o

ído

sin

fin L

a C

alac

a pr

edic

ando

L

a pa

labr

a de

Dio

sU

sand

o a

los

cris

tiano

s,Su

s hi

jos

y su

dul

ce v

ozQ

ue lo

s jo

tín s

on d

esca

rado

sQ

ue p

agar

án p

or s

us p

ecad

osA

llí la

gen

te s

in c

ontr

olY

min

istr

os s

in c

onso

le.

La

Cal

aca

junt

o co

n D

ios

Para

la g

ente

fiel

de

Fe“A

la u

na, a

las

dos

A la

sin

, boo

n, b

ah. E

hele

.”

—E

lva

Pére

z T

revi

ño

La

de

la

bo

lsa

ro

ja

En

los

sese

ntas

y s

eten

tas

la v

imos

por

la r

aza

pele

arE

nfre

ntan

do lo

s po

lític

os d

e es

as d

écad

as s

in p

arar

.Su

com

prom

iso

por

la r

aza

no f

ue e

n va

no

porq

ue h

oy la

bol

sa r

oja

por

San

Ant

onio

va.

Pron

to a

City

Hal

l la

vem

os ll

egar

vi

sita

ndo

un o

rgul

lo d

e su

vid

a—su

hijo

, Jul

ián.

A p

oco

tiem

po la

bol

sa r

oja

en lo

s pa

sillo

s de

l con

gres

o na

cion

al v

acu

ando

a s

u ot

ro o

rgul

lo –

su h

ijo, J

oaqu

ín, v

a vi

sita

r.

Reg

resa

ndo

a Sa

n A

nton

io la

hue

suda

a

Ros

ie c

on s

u bo

lsa

roja

trat

a de

arr

ebat

ar.

Pero

mi c

omad

re, R

osie

, más

fue

rte

pudo

jala

r,di

cien

do, “

Es

mi p

rote

sta

hast

a qu

e la

s m

ujer

es

reci

ban

un s

alar

io d

e ig

uald

ad.”

La

hues

uda

se f

ue e

nrab

iada

gri

tand

o,

“¡E

so e

s im

posi

ble

porq

ue lo

s R

epub

lican

os

no lo

dej

arán

has

ta q

ue e

n tu

ata

úd tú

y

tu b

olsa

roj

a se

enc

ontr

arán

!”

Pero

, Ros

ie, j

amás

dej

ando

un

desa

fío

pasa

r, ex

clam

o, “

¡Ya

vere

mos

, hue

suda

, po

rque

los

vota

ntes

pos

ible

lo h

arán

yel

igua

ldad

de

sala

rio

de n

osot

ras

será

!”

—Ir

ma

Mir

eles

Wh

er

e d

id a

ll

t

he

ta

co

tr

uc

ks

go

?

On

the

corn

er o

f C

ultu

ra a

nd C

omm

erce

Str

eets

he

re li

es th

e C

o-O

pt F

ood

Tru

ck, “

La

Cal

aver

a G

ourm

et!”

Se

rvin

g on

ly th

e fr

eshe

st c

ultu

ral a

ppro

pria

tions

dai

ly!

La

Cin

dy’s

Gor

dita

sta

nd c

an’t

com

pete

w

ith it

s co

rnm

eal fl

apja

cks;

qui

noa/

blac

k be

an tr

eat!

Len

gua

taco

s ar

e no

t whe

re it

’s a

t…

bear

ded

hips

ters

love

our

Chi

tlin

Wra

ps!

Nee

d so

met

hing

to w

ash

it do

wn

with

?

How

abo

ut a

kal

e-in

fuse

d Sm

or-c

hata

, fre

shly

whi

pped

! H

ow m

uch?

You

ask

, whi

le w

aitin

g in

line

…

Oh,

the

pric

e yo

u’ll

pay

is g

oing

to b

e w

ay to

o hi

gh…

—

Dul

ce B

enav

ides

Mil

ey

Cy

ru

s

A m

ucha

s es

quin

clas

des

trui

ste

con

tus

fals

as a

tenc

ione

s.D

espu

es d

esro

pada

¡y

más

tris

te!

—¡e

ndro

gada

! Te

fui

ste

Twer

kian

do

y co

n la

leng

ua c

olga

ndo.

Q

ueda

ste

tan

quem

ada

que

hast

a la

pel

ona

se q

uedo

eno

jada

! Q

EPD

, la

Mile

y C

yrus

!

—

Jani

e C

eped

a

Art:

Anel

Flo

res

Lo

s Tr

an

via

sC

omo el turism

o en nuestra ciudad es importante,

hay gente a favor y gente en contra de tranvias.A

la huesuda no le importa

si mueren bajo rueda o bajo llanta.

Lástim

a que este medio de transporte no sea para todos.

Tienen ustedes a las lanchas que pasean a la gente.

Los precios son exorbitantes y los que no tienen dinero

no se pueden pasear mucho m

enos nadar, Valgam

e Dios!

—E

nrique Sánchez

Jo

hn

Bo

eh

ne

rE

se Juan Boehner aquel que la m

ajoría escogió. C

on la silla y el trono con mano dura reinó.

No hacía caso a ninguno y nunca entró en razón.

Era su lujo y dicha contradecir al jefe m

ayor. A

Obam

a nunca lo respeto, quizás por ser contrahecho o por no acceptar su color. A

hora está bajo tierra y la Pelosi ahora sí ya sonrió!

—

Janie Cepeda

El

GO

PE

l GO

P, o sea los GO

Pen’jos, decian querer m

ucho a su Am

érica pero a cuál A

mérica?

La B

lanca o la verdadera multi-color?

Cargando sus arm

as y embri’ga’os con te

se fueron anihilando con sus mism

as GO

Pen’jadas contra inm

igrantes, conta Mujeres, contra gays,

contra trabajadores, y conrtra todo aquel de color. A

hora, ya ni su rastro queda y afuera con su voz! O

jalá el Rey de las tineblas les devuelva su tiranía feroz.

Hasta nunca G

OP!

—D

ulce Benavides &

Janie Cepeda

Re

ve

re

nd

C

ha

rl

es F

lo

we

rs

Rev. Flow

ers preaches hate.To bash gays, he is never late.H

e keeps only lies on his plate.C

oupled mates, he claim

s, must be straight.

For bigots, he is a magnet.

He shouts such filth from

the pulpit,C

hristians say, “We’re not all like that!”

At C

ity Council, a ruckus.

His arm

y arrives on buses.H

is cunning tactics upset us.T

his strange preacher smells sulphurous.

His hot prejudice is hellish.

Why m

ust this man be devilish?

Like the pastor H

arry Powell

in Agee’s N

ight of the Hunter,

he’s tattooed “LO

VE

” on his right fistand the w

ord “HA

TE

” on his left fist.

—

Rachel Jennings

LA V

OZ

de ESP

ERA

NZ

A N

ov

2013 • Vo

l. 26 Issue 9 • Pag

e 14

Art: Anel Flores

—

Gisela O

scegueda

¡Aqui se AcAbA el mundo! N. Guzmán

Sin duda aquí se acaba el mundoLas Javalinas comen de la selvaA nadie molestanLos estudiantes se ponen a beber de ‘Starbucks’Cuando quieren —asisten a la clase.Los administradores, indican que quieren más alumnosPara poner trabajar a los profesores Les gusta cuando todo sale bien, Se ponen a platicar, planear, y modificar Mientras los profesores se ponen a caminarHasta que ya no puedan más. Trabajando con los estudiantes, sin fallarHasta que llegen al panteón, No les queda másSin vida van a quedar!

lenTiTud A Todo dAR por Julien Ekiaka-Oblazamengo

Es notable la lentitud con que operanLos trabajadores de “maintenance” en TamukEn el “Rec Center” por mucho tiempo dejanLas máquinas con el aviso “Fuera de servicio”Un mes entero, nada cambia y sigue el aviso.Y ellos arman su teatrito y compadrazgo.

No sé por cuál magia, el fenómeno se extendió Ahora en los baños del edificio RH, el anuncio apareció.Como si alguien ahí había martirizado o sacrificado,Va un mes entero, y sigue todo ¡“Fuera de servicio”!A los estudiantes esa situación molesta

Andan cada caída para saber lo que adentro hay.Pero no contaban con lo el secreto que había ahí.La muerte apagó y nos dejó sin

A punta de pie se acerca Mónica¡Y la calaca lo jala por las patas! Viene al rescate Victor,¡Y la flaquita lo lleva por el cabello!Se pasa por un Sansón Armando,¡Y la Huesuda en la cabeza le da un cilindro!Y viene Ana para que a su tío defendiera¡Y el “nyaka nyaka” lo jala por la cola–dera!

Espantados y enfurecidos, los profesoresAlocadamente corren a buscar a los trabajadoresQue por su culpa la huesuda del baño se apoderóLos obligaron a reparar el bañoPero Tim, enojadísimo, a todos empujó“¡Que la huesuda los guarde en su desgraciada gloria!Por huevones, ¡que los lleve a huevonear con ella!” gritó.

lA mueRTe del PRoFe eKiAKA por Timothee Khonde Ngoma

Caminaba en la escuelaParecía preocupado

Porque la muerte lo esperabaPara pronto llevarlo

En la solitud de la tumba

Dejando en el escritorioLos libros que llevaba

Pensando con miedoQue la calaca desesperada

Lo encontrará saliendoY atraparlo con prisa

Con camino al panteónLa calaca contenta

Al profe se llevóPara que en paz dejaraA su pobre alumnado

Y que sólo usaraSu segunda vida

TAMUK Calaveras Texas A&M University @ Kingsville

esTA mAesTRA – YA esTA mueRTe

por Hilda Moreno

Me siento en esta bancaPero no entiendo nada

¿Será que no me importa?

¿Qué tendrá que ver conmigo?Si solamente le entendiera

La muerte de mi ser.

Me dice la maestraPiensa como yo¿Tú qué sabes?

Ponme atenciónNo sabes lo que se

¡Preguuuntame! ¡Preguuuntame!

Ésta maestra, ésta muerteNo me deja vivir

¡Me estiró de patas!

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • November 2013 Vol. 26 Issue 9• PG15

—

Gisela O

scegueda

Art: Cameron

LA V

OZ

de

ESP

ERA

NZ

A •

No

vem

ber

201

3 V

ol.

26

Issu

e 9•

16

On August 19, 2005 the Texas Senate 79th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, adopted a resolution in memory of Maria del Refugio Wilton [Refugio Wilton Luna, sic]. The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center’s Fotohistorias program pays tribute

to the memory of “Cuquita” with a few photos of her career. Cuquita died on July 29, 2005 at the age of 86 after a long illustrious

career as a singer, actor, radio announcer and entertainer in San Antonio and Mexico. She was renowned for her powerful voice. At 16, she discovered her talent for singing. She joined radio station KCOR playing a character on a Spanish radio soap opera. She also sang product commercials for a variety of enterprises including the Pearl and Lone Star breweries. Cuquita was known as La Reina del Micrófono. She also served Texas as an ambassador to Mexico. Cuquita is remembered by her family as a devoted mother and grandmother who lived each day to the fullest and continued to sing throughout her life.

Cuquita WiltonOfrendas

A los viejitosLa muerte calaca y flacaanda por todos los rinconesbuscando gente viejita pa’ llevar a los panteones

Si quieres vivir más tiempo viejitoponte abusado—porque si te pasas tantitoy te das un resbalón viene la muertecorriendo y te lleva hasta el panteón

Si tu casa es de dos pisossube los pies despacitoy no te quedes atoradodetras de ti anda la calacapara darte un empujónte manda a la funerariay te espera en el panteón

Subete a tu camitaalzate el camisónponte boca abajitoque te pongo una inyecciónno quiero que te me mueras y te lleven al panteón

¡Precaución! Disfruta mucho la vida que dios a ti te ha otorgado sabes que él te quiere mucho y siempre estarás bien cuidadopero —si te agarra la locuray te pasas de la rayay empiezan las tentacionesaparece la calaca flaca y te dará de bofetones.

Cuando salgan de su casatengan muchas precaucionescon tanto muerto que ha habidoya están llenos los panteonesDónde nos van a enterrar?ya no hay ni un lugarcitopero llega la muerte lista —y nos mete en un hoyito

- Lucia Bolanos Hernández, 80 años que preparo sus calaveras desde julio.

Art: Maricela O

lguin

LA V

OZ

de ESP

ERA

NZ

A • N

ov

ember

2013 Vo

l. 26 Issue 9•

17

Hoy enterraron al jefe--el comandante general--and the earth will enfold ese vato, a vato who sang in baritone, vernacular bardic strophesof the lowly and despisedthose who labored, thieved, loveddrank, smoked, spat profanities and worshiped beneath an indifferent sun.

Hoy enterraron al jefe,and these streets and avenues de Sacrathat shade under dark wooden boneswill no more feel his tread.Los callejones y las cantinas de orowill ever be haunted por un fantasmacon disembodied horn-rimmed,tinted lentes y stingy brim.¡Águila! Que ahí va el espíritude nuestro poeta en busca de suaves licores,amables pláticas y un tazón dominguerode tripitas y pata homeopathic pancita for belly remedy for the hanging miseriesof late Saturday revels.¡Dale paso al jefe! Dale paso,

for here he comes singing,a derelict upright dogwith his hunchback vihuelachiming in tenor accordwith that unforgettable vozarrónque tenía when he was young.When he was young…Nothing but pity for youif you only saw the man of four score.Como gato and ligero on his athlete’s legs he was.Era un galán con élan.He strode through the worldconfident but wary just the same.The stage was his world, and every stage was his the instant he took it.He was a Greek creature for panic,a companion of nymphs,a bucking capricious, goateed fulano de tal.Quick era su salero.He punned like a chuked-outGertrude Stein,arroz es arroz es arroz.Too much folkloric irony perhaps…Too much self mockery, certainly…the weaponry of the assailed,

of the put upon,of those put on guardfrom the age of reason…But the mouthed beautyof the phrase, the words so liquid as to not be dammed upon the page,the words that were meant to be heard,palabras líricas that were as nothing,without that voice…It did not matter what he said!But what he said matteredwith a switching of codeswith the lightningof the syntactical synapsesbetween castellano, inglés y caló,the three-cornered wit of our fathers,the incomparable beautyof the plenty of our language,the mercury of our words.

Hoy enterraron al jefe.Hoy enterraron al jefe. —Art Mantecón, Sacramento Valley

Editors Note: Jose Montoya, artist and activist, died September 25, 2013 in Sacramento, California. He was a teacher, poet and community activist important to the Chicano movement of the 60s and 70’s. Poet Laureate of Sacramento, Montoya was also a co-founder of the Royal Chicano Air force — an artist collective that helped to define Chicano art as a significant art genre.

joSÉ eRneSTo MonToYA 1932-2013

Genio desde niño, Pediste libertad de información. Pero tomaste tu propia vida A manos ciegas de la nación.

A tí también te tocaron Los del gobierno, sin compasión. Enfocados en las reglas, Ignoraron tu gran visión.

Perdimos un visionario Por acciones de legislación. Pero también a los fiscales Trae La Catrina finalización. —Isela Ocegueda

Editor’s note: Aaron Swartz was a young computer programmer, writer, and cyber-political activist. He died in January, 2013.

Aaron Swartz

Ofrendas

Art: Tribute to José Posada by Alfredo Zalce

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Canto A Los Muertos Y Vivos en San Anto by Rogelio Smiley Rojas Moctezuma, San Anto, Tejas 2013

Ofrendas

José Ángel Gutiérrez en Texas nació y Siendo un hombre muy cabal Sólo en su raza creia –no en el gobierno estatal

Llegó el día cuando del racismo se cansóEn su pequeño Cristal al los jovenes organizó yHasta los padres unió y el walk-out resultó

Muy pronto como lumbre la voz corrió y la razaEn el resto de Texas se alborotó.A San Antonio una chispa llegó y pronto laEscuela Lanier tambien salió.

Organizó MAYO en los sesentas La Raza Unida Party en los setentasY tanta esperanza en la raza nació

Aunque unos temorizados estabanOtros mucho orgullo tenían

En un joven que tántos huevos tenía A los gobernantes sus verdades les decíaEl tiempo pasó y Jose Ángel con el RUP la política en Texas cambió

El día que la huesuda se le acercó Él le contesto, “ni miedo te tengo,olvidas que hasta a los pinches rinchesconfronté y al gringo asusté cuando ‘¡Kill the Gringo!’ proclamé”

La calaca se fue coliandoy a José Ángel amenazando, “En Aztlán un pozo te esta esperando!” —Irma Mireles, 10/2007

joSÉ ÁnGeL GuTIÉRReZ

Caaalaca, calaca, calaca, calaca….los muertos andan calaqueandoen El Cementerio San Fernando,mientras los vivos se la pasan cabuleando en un gran espíritucon la energía de la materiaechándose una Polkita con vueltas y vueltas en El Conjunto Festival en El Rosedale Parkmi Raza Chicana brincan y bailan cruzin’ la dance floor bién suavecitocon la Música Del Acordeón y El Bajo Sextomoviéndose con El Zapateadoal estilo Tacuachito en la tonada de “El Sube Y Baja” para arriba y para abajo se ríen gozando el díay disfrutan el amor en la noche….

¿Y qué onda con los muertosCarnalas y Carnales?

Pues andan calaqueando en El Gran Chancleo Universalechándose su ritmo del taconazo y quemando hule con nuestros Ancestros que siguen tocando sus rolas y cantando bién suavemente con las voces de ángeles en armonía.

Miren nomás hay está la Lydia Mendoza, “La Alondra de la Frontera” muy mona en su vestido Mexicano cantando “Mal Hombre”.También el Don Santiago Jiménez canta “Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio”. Y “El Rey de las Polkas” Tony De La Rosa se avienta “El Circo”.

Entonces los tocayos Rubén Naranjo con su “Preso Sin Delito”y Rubén Vela se avienta la sabrosa cumbia, “El Coco Rayado”.Narciso Martínez, “El Huracán Del Valle” agarra vuelo con “La Chicharronera Polka”. Luego, el Valerio Longoria está floreciendo pasiones en “El Rosalito”.El Bene Layton en su partida canta “Llorarás”. Then straight from Saluté International Bar in the heavens comes“El Parche,” Esteban Jordan,

según “El Jimi Hendrix del Acordeón” nos recuerda que “Soy De Tejas” y tú nunca vas al cielo “Si Te Portas Mal” como el Juan en el “Corrido De Johnny El Pachuco”.

Hay tántas más leyendas del Conjuntoque brillan con su Luz en El Congal Del Sol Tata Tonatiuh y El Cantón De La Luna Nana Coyolxauhquipara que siempre digan todos “Dale Gas Y Dale Shine En El Hueso” para que siga La Polka Cósmica moviéndose en La Pista Universal Celestial dándose vueltas infinitas con Rayos De Luz Solares en el San Anto Conjunto Estyle in Centre miles de estrellas bailando y rodeando,y con chingos de Cantos y Gritosa Los Cuatro Vientos!

¡Ajúa!—¡Ajúa!—¡Ajúa!—¡Ajúa!¡Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay!

Art: Guadalupe Posada

Art: Maricela Olguin

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We are happy to announce the return of many international artists for the 2013 Mercado de Paz —plus a number of new artesanos. White clay artist and amate illustrator, Angélica Morales Gamez of Tzintzuntzan and award-winning ceramicist, Enedina Seferina Vásquez Cruz known for clay minatures and clay virgenes —both will be back this year. Continuing their yearly hiatus to the Mercado are famed Zapotec rug weavers Guadalupe Vásquez and family; prolific wood

carver, Cristina Herrera; one of the famous Aguilar sisters, master clay sculptor, Irene Aguilar; Juchitán huipil and embroidery master, Teresa López Jiménez; and members of the reknown Castillo family of Puebla, Doña Martha Soledad Castillo and Patricia Castillo who work on polychromatic pottery and sculptures. The Castillo family arrives fresh from a trip to Washington D.C. where Verónica Castillo received the NEA National Heritage award. In addition, La Red, Niu Matat Napawika, a cooperative from Puebla, returns with products from 11 regions of Mexico that include textiles, weavings, dolls, palm leaf figures and more!

N E W I N t E r N a t I o N a l V E N d o r s ! @

New vendors from Mexico will include Cecilia Bautista from the Pu-répecha de Ahuirán region in Michoacán who brings rebozos with ancient cultural designs and techniques including the use of feathers. The Kua-naua association of Tenancingo also brings rebozos and items made from rebozo cloth including shoes, ties, handbags and more. Martha Santiago Alvarez of Arrazola Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca, a part of “EcoAlebrijes,” a fair trade association, will bring wood carvings known as alebrijes.The group works towards conservation and reforestation of the Copal Tree and uses a traditional operating system called “Usos y Costumbres” based on the concept of serving community and promoting justice and peace. Another award-winning ceramicist, Magdalena Pedro Martínez, from San Bar-tolo, Coytepec, Oaxaca who is also a doctor will bring her black clay figures of women in traditional dress. Finally, Verónica Lorenzo, weaver from Mixteca Baja de la Costa Chica in Oaxaca brings her special Huipi-les and textiles made with the ancestral and magical color, purpura, found only in a special seashell of the region. Veronica represents back strap loom weavers in the cooperative, Jiñi Ñuu, and helps others orga-nize workshops, also. Her group works to rescue the Mexican Coyuche cotton that is a unique dark color said to be used for Spanish royalty in Pre-columbian times. These are all confirmed international vendors for the 2013 Mercado. There will be more! Plus, of course, our own local vendors who keep Peace Market afloat each year. This promises to be the best year yet! Light candles and pray for good weather! Remember, November 29th and 30th are the 2013 Peace Market days! (see back ad)

Angélica Morales Gamez

Cecilia Bautista

Verónica Lorenzo

Magdalena Pedro Martínez

Traditional weavers of the Amuzgo community

The screen doorslammed shuta rifle crack of soundthat split the air…creatinga silence so profoundit was as if the earthand all she carriesupon her facehad together ofone accord…stopped breathing

And then the cricketsbegin again and aman at the front and oneat the rear carries youacross the porchtheir breath coming hardas they lift you upover the stepand you’re so beautifuleyes closed peacefullyhair a shining black haloframing your silent facestark against the whiteof stretcher sheets

I sit up high in mycrow’s nest of astrange man’s armspeering over his shoulderheady with the scentof his aftershaveOld Spice, I think…not really knowingwhat the tableaubefore me means

as you disappearedinto the gaping mawof a white, red bubbletopped vehicle thatflashed and screamed youaway from me / from usinto the void of night

I didn’t know thenthe hurt that you carriedso deep that it was groundinto the DNA of yourbones, your blood andyour brain…all tinysilvery razorblades ofpain that cut away yoursmile a little morebit by bit until your teethno longer saw thelight of day

I didn’t understand an agonythat could make youwant to disappear…forever

For a long time aboutthat night I didn’t rememberthe ceremony of yourpreparations to leave ushow you bathed us anddressed us all upin our Sunday bestmy two brothers and I

how you sat us uponthe sofa all in a rowso shiny and perfectwhile you took yourselfin your finest raimentbehind the bathroom doorwhere with the click of a lockyou embarked uponyour journey…no luggageneeded as you swallowedyour one way ticket

You came back one daybut not really…the absenceit was there…in your eyesfor a very long timeI missed you so much —Randi Romo

The night You Disappeared - When Dead is Dead But Isn’t LA

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Ya los esqueletos, practican su danza. Cantan y rien llenos de esperanza!

Por noche y por la mañana van corriendo por la calle,pero como están tan flacoses facil que se desmayen!

Los siguen los gatos, tambien los perritos.Porque por la calle van tirando gritos!

Comen dulces todo el díalas libras les están subiendo

parece que no les importaporque siempre están sonriendo!

Les gusta el café caliente,y la cerveza bién friapero llegando la nocheles carga la meláncolia!

Comen frijoles y sopa, con tortillas bien calientespero todo el aguacate se le queda entre los dientes!

—Amelia Solsona Wilburn, an elder who grew up in the Westside wrote for the Lanier High School newspaper, El Nopal

Art: Lola Cueto

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el más famoso cantanteera el actor Pedro Infante el idolo popular no dejaba de cantar

le cantaba a las preciosasle cantaba a las ingratasen la cantina eran diosasy aveces andaba a gatas

por ser tan alegre y finole dijo una caprichosatrae tu botella de vinovamonos a mi chosa

a la isla del eden?dijo el simpatico actory ella dijo como florvamos donde no nos ven

por ser tan fino tesorole dijo la peloncitaven conmigo que te adoroy asi se nos fue el cantantecon la pelona truinfanteel famoso Pedro Infante

- by Nephtalí De León ©

Conmemorando 40 años de la muerte de Pablo Neruda

Artist: Carlos Lowry se crio en Chile y ahora vive en Austin.

Por que pos ya ve ..uno de tierno..pos lo agarran así muy de repente, ¿no?y luego pos.. pos… ¡ah! eso sí, no se deje... ¡ay no! por que … porque pos ya ve la leche, ya es más agua que lecheahora si quiere pos, pos … mejor no nos casamos… verda’…?

La flaquita dijo, ¡wow! Vámonos bigotitosquiero que les cuentes cuentosa todos los difuntitos.

¿Cuantos cuentos cuento?porque soy de sentimiento… y al notar bien a la guapa pensó que era la Calaca y Cantinflas nomás dijo – ¡a caray!Y la guapa le responde ¿Cómo la ves desde ay?

Sube a nacer conmigo, hermano. Dame la mano desde la profundazona de tu dolor diseminado.No volverás del fondo de las rocas.No volverás del tiempo subterráneo.No volverá tu voz endurecida.No volverán tus ojos taladrados... — excerpt of Neruda’s poem

Pedro Infante

a los inmortales ~Cantinflas © by Nephtalí De León, San Anto

Se le caían los bigotesy también los pantalones.Sporteaba su three-piece-suit.It was always half-a-vesty zapatos de goodwill...

He was beyond tortilla flat.Beyond – el Charlie Chapulín(el Charlie Chaplin) Can you imagine him in silent movies?He loved to talk a storm and in the end he said nothing at all,or maybe nothing needed to be said.He said it all in his Cantiflas walk.

While shining shoes in a cantinaalguien le gritó torero¡ en la cantina tú t’ inflas !y asi comenzó “Cantinflas.”

Y le dijo a una flaquita,aunque estaba peloncita, uste’ creé que uste’ y yo… pues mire usté, pues yo decíapues ya ve, no vaya decir la gente…pues no crea… ya ve, lo agarrany l’agarran a uno y pues, luego no lo sueltan y pues, no hay que ser ¿verda’…?y pos yo nomás decía que usté’ y yo .. por que posno somos chiquitos ¿verda’…?pero… ya ve los niños, digo …pues, ¿cuántos niños quiere tener?

Art: Liliana Wilson

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Amnesty International #127 info. Call Arthur Dawes, 210.213.5919.

Anti-War Peace Vigil on Thurs. (since 9/11/2001) from 4-5pm @ Flores & Commerce. Contact Tim 210.822.4525 | timduda@aol.com

Bexar Co. Green Party info@bexar-greens.org or call 210.471.1791.

Celebration Circle meets Sun.@11am @JumpStart@Blue Star Arts. Medita-tion, Wed.@7:30pm @Quaker Meeting House, 7052 Vandiver. 210.533-6767

DIGNITY S.A. gathering at 5:15 pm, mass at 5:30 pm, Sunday @ Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church, 1101 W. Woodlawn. Call 210.340.2230

Adult Wellness Support Group sponsored by PRIDE Center meets 4th Mondays, 7-9 pm @ Lions Field, 2809 Broadway. Call 210.213.5919.

Energia Mia meets 3rd Saturdays ev-ery other month starting Nov 2013 at 1pm @ Oblate School of Theology, 285 Oblate Dr. Call 210.849.8121

Fuerza Unida, 710 New Laredo, Hwy. 210.927.2294 www.lafuerzaunida.org

Habitat for Humanity meets 1st Tues. for volunteer orientation, 6pm, HFHSA Office @ 311 Probandt.

S.A. International Woman’s Day March & Rally planning committee meets year-round. www.sawomenwill-march.org or 210.262.0654

Metropolitan Community Church 611 East Myrtle services & Sunday school @10:30am. Call 210.472.3597

Overeaters Anonymous meets daily in English & MWF in Spanish. See www.oasanantonio.org or (210) 492-5400

The People’s Power Coalition meets last Thurs. Call Marisol 210.878.6751.

PFLAG, meets 1st Thurs. @ 7pm, Uni-versity Presbyterian Church 300 Bush-nell Ave. 210.655.2383. Parents of Murdered Children, meets 2nd Mondays @ Balcones Heights Community Ctr, 107 Glenarm | www.pomcsanantonio.org

Proyecto Hospitalidad Liturgy meets Thurs. 7pm, 325 Courtland.

The Rape Crisis Center, 500 US Hwy-90W Hotline: 210.349-7273. or 210.521.7273 or email: Drominishi@rapecrisis.com 7.

The Religious Society of Friends meets Sundays@10am @ The Friends Meeting House, 7052 N. Vandiver. 210.945.8456.

San Antonio’s Communist Party USA meets 3-5 pm on 2nd Sundays. Contact:juanchostanford@yahoo.com

S.A. Gender Association meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 6-9pm @ 611 E. Myrtle, MCCSA

The SA AIDS Foundation offers free HIV testing at 818 E. Grayson St. 210.225.4715|www.txsaaf.org.

SA–NOW is back! Call 210.887.1753 or see womansa.com for info.

SGI-USA LGBT Buddhist group meets 2nd Sat. at 10am @ 7142 San Pedro Ave., Ste 117. Call 210.653.7755.

Shambhala Buddhist Meditation classes are Tues. 7-8pm, & Sun. 9:30am-12:30pm at 1114 So. St. Mary’s. Call 210.222.9303.

S.N.A.P. (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). Contact Barbara at 210.725.8329.

Voice for Animals: 210.737.3138 or www.voiceforanimals.org for info

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for more info call 210.228.0201

Please use my donation for the Rinconcito de Esperanza

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The United Way Combined Federal Campaign is Here!

From Sept. 1 – Dec. 15, all federal and state employees will be able to donate

through the combined federal campaign. If you take part in the CFC workplace-

giving campaign, please consider designating the Esperanza (#7773)

as your organization of choice.

Make a Gift for the Future:A bequest is one of the simplest ways to support the Esperanza. A bequest from a will or a trust distribution is

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deduction your estate can claim.

For more info: call 210.228.0201 or email esperanza@esperanzacenter.org

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Notas Y Más Brief news items on upcoming community events. Send info for Notas y Más to: lavoz@esperanzacenter.org

or mail to: 922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212. The deadline is the 8th of each month.November 2013

Call for submissions for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s 36th Annual San Antonio CineFestival. Deadline: Nov. 1 | www.guadalupeculturalarts.org

Join the Martinez Street Women’s Center for the 2013 Annual Bling Bling Fling: It’s a Happy Thing! on Thursday, Nov. 7th from 7- 11pm at The Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham Street. In its 10th year, the event will honor the legacy of Hap Veltman. Tickets are $25 and available online at www.mswomenscenter.org

The Texas Commission on the Arts is accepting Young Masters Applications from 8th -11th grade advanced students who can get $2,500 yearly for 2 years to study an art discipline. See: http://tinyurl.com/youngmaster or contact ym@arts.texas.gov Deadline: Nov. 15, 2013.

The Women & Fair Trade Festival organized by Austin tan Cerca del la

Frontera celebrates its 10th year Nov. 23 & 24 in Austin, 10am-6pm @ the Old School, 1604 E. 11th St. Check Facebook.

The NACCS 2014 Tejas Foco Conference, Chicana/o Studies in Tejas: Transforming Our Communities will be held Feb. 20-22, 2014 at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio. Call for papers deadline: Nov. 30, 2013. See http://www.alamo.edu/main.aspx?id=33219

FemTechNet is an activated network of scholars, artists & students who work at the borders of technology, science and feminism in several fields. The FemTechNet ¡Taller!–Dialogues on Feminism & Technology meets Tues. 6:30-8:30pm, thru Dec. 3 @ Weston Center, 112 East Pecan St., (free parking) See http://femtechnet.newschool.edu or Facebook.

Texas Foco of NACCS is asking for Nominations for the Premio Estrella de Aztlán to honor individuals who have contributed their life’s work towards

the betterment of Chicanas/os in Tejas. Deadline for nominations is Dec. 31, 2013. E-mail nominations to Jesús: chano6_@hotmail.com Premio(s) will be presented at the NACCS Tejas Foco Regional Conference, “Chicana/o Studies in Tejas: Transforming our Communities,” Feb. 20-22, 2014, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, Tejas. | www.alamo.edu/nvc/tejasfoco

The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) conference will be held in Irving from March 9-13, 2014. The theme is “Break the Box: Collective Action Against Sexual Violence.” | http://taasaconference.org/speakers/

Nakum, an on-line journal published by the Indigenous Cultures Institute of San Marcos, Texas, is seeking scholarly and creative works for its upcoming issues. Visit: indigenouscultures.org/nakumjournal/call-for-papers for submission guidelines or contact lydia.french@indigenouscultures.org with inquiries.

Check out our new blog!Actos de Corazon: Honoring the Historias of San Anto’s Westside

www.corazonesdelwestside.blogspot.comor call Cynthia at 210.396.3688

This month’s topic: Food & Family in the Westside. Bring family recipes!Saturday, November 9th 10am - 12pm @ Casa de Cuentos, 816 S. Colorado (at Guadalupe St.)

Corazones de Casa de Cuentos invite you to come share historias, memories, coffee and laughter with us every 2nd Saturday! 10pm-2am

frack-aso: Portraits of Extraction in Eagle Ford and Beyond

call for entries for an exhibit on fracking and its effects on communities. Photos, video, artwork, performance + other creative works invited.

Want to help plan the exhibit? Come to a Frackaso committee meeting Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 6pm @ Esperanza. Call Marisol at 210.228.0201. Exhibit opens Jan. 25, 2014

submit a concept of your work in a one-page info sheet with the title, type of work (photo, painting, etc.), brief description (including size), and personal info (name, address, contacts). via email: esperanza@esperanzacenter.org or via mail: 922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212. submission deadline: fri, dec 6, 2013 Notification: Fri., Jan. 3, 2014

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PAIDSan Antonio, TX

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Haven’t opened La Voz in a while? Prefer to read it online? Wrong address? TO CANCEL A SUBSCRIPTION EMAIL lavoz@esperanzacenter.org CALL: 210.228.0201

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • November 2013 Vol. 26 Issue 9•

dia de los muertos

Fri & Sat, Nov 29-30 | 10am-6pm@ Esperanza, 922 San Pedro

see pg 19 for more info

de esperanzaNoche Azul

Friday, Nov. 15Mujeres en la

Canción Mexicana Pt. 2

Friday, Dec. 13 Tonantzin Guadalupe

Concerts start at 8pm @ Esperanza | $5

Join us for a

dia de Los Muertos CeLebration

Friday, November 1st 6PM

@ Rinconcito de Esperanza816 S. Colorado St. (at Guadalupe St)

Performances by Santos Soza y sus Estrellas,

Las Tesoros de San Antonio con Mariachi Durango, Urban 15, y

Las Calacas de San Antón

+ calavera readings + + community altares, kids activities, +

+ tamales, pan de muerto y más +

Rinconcito will be open for altares’ viewing Sat, Nov. 2 from 10am-6pm

and M-F, Nov. 4-8 from 10am-7pm

nos(otros)¡somos!

a bilingual multimedia performance that presents multiple facets of the immigration experience by first voices.

Saturday, Nov. 16 | Doors Open at 6:30pm Sunday, Nov. 17 | Doors Open at 2:30pm

Both shows followed by a discussion with performers

@ Esperanza | $7-10 Donation | www.esperanzacenter.org