Day Four and Five : On the front page of El Colombia with some Fellow Poets

By: aromaproductions on 3:28 PM

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Read this article on the Festival Published by El Colombiano.

Last night the opening poetry readings were held in an amphitheater. About 5000 people showed up and sat in the rain on cement slabs to hear poets read. This is really a different culture. They covered themselves in thin plastic raincoats and held up umbrella and did not budge when the rain came. This is a very unique experience.

I am getting to know these poets as people and not just someone's work that you read in a book. I am reading this afternoon with the Caribbean poets who come from Guyana, Monserat, the Bahamas, St. Vincent and the Grenedines and another Island I can't remember right. The most famous is Grace Nicols from Guyana. There are poets that read and poets that perform or poets that sing their songs and play assorted instruments. One is an African griot from Gambia. One of the most entertaining performer was the Russian poet who is over 70.
I was interviewed by journalist from one of the top Columbian newspapers. I think I represent Antiguan writers very well. I told them how active Antigua writers were and how they are involving the youth in creative projects like creative writing competitons, theater etc. So I have to look out for the paper tomorrow. If I can find out what the inernet address is I could try to post it.

Today I went out into the city with three other female poets. They represent Armenia, Liberia and Chile. Our Columbian guide is a university student who speak English excellently. She comes from Medellin. I bought a few souvenirs.

I am going to take a short nap now and get ready for the reading. I have to  met the Spanish reader first, then we will go to the university. I am booked for seven reading all together.

I have three anthologies with the works of all the writers. It contains one English poem and two Spanish poems from each writer.