Connections

The following are a few of the projects that are being undertaken by past and present USPiM participants, faculty, guest readers and others who have connected with each other through the U.S. Poets in Mexico programs: 

  • In June and July 2010, Forrest Gander and Alfonso D'Aquino participated in our first Translation Residency in our Two Voices, One Vision program. They stayed in Coatepec and Xalapa, Veracruz for two weeks and worked on translating each others poems. USPiM also filmed a documentary during their first week, which is currently being edited.  We are seeking a publisher for the book of their translations, which will be followed by a reading tour in the U.S. and hopefully a few Mexican cities.


  • During our Merida 2009 workshops, faculty member Jonathan Harrington met guest reader and Maya language poet, Briceida Cuevas Cob, who lives in Campeche. Jonathan has been working on translating Briceida's poems from Maya to Spanish and English. During those same workshops, Jonathan met James DenBoer, a poet and publisher.  James is publishing Jonathan's translations of Briceida' s poems  through Swan Scythe Press (Sacramento, CA) due 2011.

  • Melisa Larios, a poet from Mexico City, was a scholarship recipient for our 2009 Merida workshops.  She is now working on translating a book of poems written by a faculty member for the same workshops, Jack Collom.


  • Fernando de la Cruz, a poet and college professor living in Merida and also a scholarship recipient  for our 2009 workshops in Merida, started a poetry reading program called Cafe Poesia in Merida a few months after our January workshops. National and local poets give readings and there is also an open mic for local poets.