International Poet Olga Gutierrez-Garcia

                                                   International Poet Olga Garcia


Hello to folks in the U.S., new international readers in India, Ireland, Egypt and to brand new readers in Bhutan!

Each year, several poets and I get together from time to time for breakfast, or a luncheon salad, mid-afternoon tea, and dessert or a few evening street tacos. We relax in venues from East Village  to Hillcrest to Downtown San Diego's international food district.

This unusually bright, clear skied day, Olga Garcia international poet and an editor of the San Diego Poetry Annual https://sandiegopoetryannual.com/   meets me for an early lunch. We choose a favorite chil-lax eatery: Bread and Cie in Hillcrest  http://www.breadandcie.com/the-cafe/    They have a varied menu, but we usually have one of their tasty, balanced salads, bread,  and tea--food that fuels our sharing.

                                                            Bread and Cie

On the way, our conversation turns from everyday life to performances and the arts. I have been laboriously writing poetry and composing again after a very long hiatus. Creativity can be a beautifully difficult process. Jim Moreno, Sylvia Telafaro, Chris Vannoy and Olga, Reg. E. Gaines inspire me. It will happen. I haven't been able to pick up pen or pencil to pas de deux with my lyrical muse in rhythmic arabesques across the page truly for several years now. But their wise eyes meet my gaze with wisdom. I know, they seemed to whisper quietly. I know. "Soon." 

                                                              Olga Garcia

We park and then stroll around sunny Hillcrest streets, thankful it is not a rainy day. It has been raining for hours in clusters of days for several days in San Diego. We have land sliding and tress falling, flooding streets and fogging late nights yawning into the face early morning clouds. We have been in a long drought. But so much rain? Well, it is good for saturated land to dry out.

                                                       Delores Fisher (blogger/poet)

                                                         Olga Garcia (poet)

We arrive at  Bread and Cie after walking and sharing holiday anecdotes and photos; we sit down to our usual--salad with cranberries, walnuts, varied greens, sprinkled with gorgonzola cheese and more holiday stories. Healing . . . . energy, it's almost palpable, you know, the energy.

                                                       Selfie Time!!!!!


It surfaces often in conversations lately. Several other San Diego poets note positive, healing, energy growing at open mic nights. It's not only among poets, but also in other artistic communities, collaborations, tributes, acknowledgements of work touching hearts and lives.Think of Adele's Grammy and her heartfelt thank you for Beyonce's artistry which lit the way for Adele to shine her again light onto our global stage.

Perhaps an organizer will sponsor a "world arts day" in near future. We will share our melodies, sculptures, paintings, photos, writings,  encouragement for too many right now  who are wounded and weary,

Hmm . . . .a  21st century global Langston Hughes type of "Weary Blues" or maybe a jazz inflected Horace Silver "Song for my Father" ...mother, sister, brother. Some people say we're beyond Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On? But perhaps we are revisiting Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes "Wake Up Everybody" calling for elders and youth to declare a truce and work together for community betterment. Another version, Hip Hop, calls youth to rock the vote. Three generations of performers Jeremiad for surviving strife. I like the original, and the Hip Hop version, but John Legend and the Roots "Wake Up Everybody" resonates most for me.

Creativity working in community. 

Thankful for artists who help others re-claim voice and message.
Delores Fisher