She would have been 100.We who loved her
and were loved by her met at Gilka's home-
a circle of friendship with a pot luck table
Stand we together with toasts in hand,praising
her loving acceptance,wisdom,Light and example
She related sans authority-7 languages later
in her homeland Bolivia she staged a Poetry Festival
in Aymara(indigenous language despised by the Spanish)
became a film star in black and white colors
lived in Italy,learned English by herself,came to Austin
already famed as "declamadore"-to perform @AIPF,
poesia y calle,poesia y sur,Expressions and open mikes.
She would kiss you full on the lips at 96-had memorized
Neruda,Borges,Mistral-all those truly Southern poets
whose speech was flaming tongues/with her-smooth rivers..
We spoke of her because she is still with us-example
of poetry as universal,language as necessity,love as all-
then the piano roared to life-percussion ,guitars,songs
arose as though her spirit had touched us(as it has-
100 cycles round the sun-we have yet to reach the end of...
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