Rudolfo Anaya

Years ago Rudy and Patricia Anaya, along with David Johnson, Tony Mares, Jim Fisher and others, launched the Rio Grande Writer's Association which boosted poetry and all creative writing across the state and the SW . . . Voices of the Rio Grande came out of its first conference and it remains the groundbreaking anthology for us in these parts . . . thank you, Rudy . . . and thanks for sending this . . .

The Pulse of Life

It was the twelfth of June

            another hot and humid Florida night.

In Orlando young people gathered at the

            Pulse Club, enjoying camaraderie, the

            dance floor pulsating with life,

            dancers moving to syncopated music,

            Latin rhythms, good will embraces,

            laughter, friendships, plans for

            tomorrow, flashing smiles releasing

            stress in silent motions.

Then the pulse of life ended.

            A man on fire came from a dark,

            twisted place, methodically spraying

            death, massacring our LGBT

            dancers who fell like cut flowers.

Pulses died in 49 bloodied wrists,

            blood pressures plunged to zero,

            juices of life that would never

            flow into the future stained

            the sad dance floor.

Shock spread across the country,

            across the world, enough grief

            to last many lifetimes.  Lost lives

            cannot be replaced.

Orlando pulled together, offering

            condolences and help.  From here

            we sent flor y canto, oraciones,

            flowers and poems, prayers.

            Left bereaved on this senseless

            plain, we wondered who killed the

            Golden Rule, Love Your Neighbor.

We mourn our fallen comrades, our

            gay sisters and brothers, and after

            grieving we march to tear down the

            barricades of hate, bigotry,

            prejudices.  We march to tear down

            walls that separate.

                                                ©2016 Rudolfo Anaya

                                                6/19/16

Hi, Larry, good to hear from you. Yes you may use my poem in TRUCK . . . . New, just out, my new novel, THE SORROWS OF YOUNG ALFONSO, reviewed by David Stenburg in [The Albuquerque] Journal.  . . . Keep well my friend, Rudy. . . Keep well my friend,  Rudy