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28 de Junio, 2008

Luis Omar Salinas

Categorized under Literatura , Raza , Salud | Tags: Chicanos, Luis Omar Salinas, Poets

A PIONEER IN CHICANO LITERATURE dies, leaves beauty in the hands and hearts of many. My father tells me "Omar was a true poet, great friend."

There were quiet times when Tío Luis fell silent, deep in thought beyond what most would understand, including his only niece, Lamar Saenz.
The thoughts racing through Luis Omar Salinas' mind were constant and profound, haunted by the specter of a lifelong loneliness and a longing for the most fundamental love of all, Saenz said.

It was from this dark place and from the memories of his childhood growing up in Robstown and Mexico that Salinas drew the inspiration to put words to his sadness. It was a gift that would make him a pioneer in Chicano poetry.

Salinas, 70, died last month in California after a lengthy illness, but it was his hope and now the mission of his family to promote the poetry that became his outlet for grief.

"He never wanted to be rich," Saenz said. "He just wanted his poetry to be known."

—Poet was an inspiration to his niece, many others

Sometimes Mysteriously
Sometimes in the evening when love
tunes its harp and the crickets
celebrate life, I am like a troubadour
in search of friends, loved ones,
anyone who will share with me
a bit of conversation. My loneliness
arrives ghostlike and pretentious,
it seeks my soul, it is ravenous
and hurting. I admire my father
who always has advice in these matters,
but a game of chess won't do, or
the frivolity of religion.
I want to find a solution, so I
write letters, poems, and sometimes
I touch solitude on the shoulder
and surrender to a great tranquility.
I understand I need courage
and sometimes, mysteriously,
I feel whole.

—Luis Omar Salinas

 The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 6:48 PM.  | Top | View blog reactions

Comentarios (3)

Nora dijo:

Thanks, Nez, for sharing this with us. What a brave and trusting soul he was. It takes such courage to let others see such profoundly deep and personal thoughts, such raw emotion.

Palabras por Nora spat forth on el 29 de Junio, 2008 at 09:06 PM

nezua dijo:

el gusto es mio. i agree, nora.

Palabras por nezua spat forth on el 30 de Junio, 2008 at 09:33 AM

Cato dijo:

Thanks for sharing. I was born in Robstown, but had not ever heard of Luis Omar Salinas. I am richer now, than I was five minutes ago for having read a tiny bit of his poetry. Thank you.

Palabras por Cato spat forth on el 2 de Julio, 2008 at 09:18 AM