When Georgia O'Keeffe was asked why she painted her flowers so
big, she answered in her wonderful voice
that it was "To force us to notice."
And that's one of the roles that I think minority writers play.
They force us to notice what has not been part
of our American literature.
I said to a high school class this morning,
one of the roles that I think minority writers play
is they make American literature more honest.
So I wanted to do a series of poems about Mexico and being
Mexican-American or Chicano or Hispanic--
whatever word you're most comfortable with.
The first is actually pre-Hispanic entitled,
"Cañon del Sumidero" which is a canyon right outside of Tuxtla
Gutierrez.
There's a legend about the canyon.
"Their cries were drowned literally in that green.
Their cries tumbled and twisted like the bodies.
Even babies falling that leap from the Spaniards glint.
Indians running, running for the last time to that high cliff.
Mothers throwing their own out away from the rocky ledge.
Throwing themselves into that green glint
of the startled river.
The canyons, caves, and trees trapping
cries echoing, echoing and yells like conquerors.
That last triumphant gasp.
Green."