NEWS
To win it, Chapman students can enter the first U.S. Poets in Mexico Mérida Fellowship poetry contest, which promotes Mexican culture and poetry to Americans. The winner of the Fellowship will be able to attend free poetry workshops in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico from Jan. 2 to 9. Housing for a week, Spanish lessons and day trips are all included. Airfare and meals are not.
The winning entries will be published in U.S. Poets in Mexico’s journal, “Pyramid.”
“The goal of U.S. Poets in Mexico is to [further] literary cultural awareness between Mexico and the United States,” said Sheila Lanham, director of U.S. Poets in Mexico.
The group was created in March 2008 because Lanham thought that the United States did not turn to Mexico for poetry. Lanham said that most Americans are not curious about Mexico’s culture or history, something she wants to fix.
“I don’t know much about the U.S. Poets in Mexico, but they did send a notice to creative writing faculties all over the country,” said Anna Leahy, assistant professor of English.
Leahy said that Deborah Escalante, a graduate student in creative writing, attended the U.S. Poets in Mexico workshops last year.
“The faculty and participants were friendly and enjoyed discussing and interacting with one another,” she said. “Even though the participants came from all over the U.S. and one from Canada, we all got along really well and it was an open, friendly environment.”
Escalante enjoyed exploring Mérida’s history and culture because her family is originally from the area.
“I think every writer should visit this city if they have that opportunity, because they will find themselves so overwhelmed with the beauty of the scenery, the history, the people, and the language that they can't help but become inspired,” she said.
Escalante’s enthusiasm for the workshops matches Lanham’s.
“[American and Mexican poets should] find out what both are thinking about, how they view the world, politics. Communicate about everyday life: wonderful things, like a greater appreciation of our lives,” Lanham said.
Submissions must be turned in by Nov. 1 and winners will be announced Nov.15.
Applications are available at http://www.uspoetsinmexico.org.
Contact this reporter: crystal.saavedra@thepantheronline.com
