How to help in Haiti

I've added a Doctors Without Borders widget at the upper right corner of my blog which makes it really easy to donate to an organization which has only one purpose. From their website:

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.

Today, MSF provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols.

In 1999, MSF received the Nobel Peace Prize.

MassLive has a good list of local places to donate in Western Mass., but here's another, put out by poet Magdalena Gomez:

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center (38 School Street Springfield, MA 01105-1338 - (413) 737-7450) is putting out a call for aid to Haiti. Below is a list of the needed items. It would be great if all of as can bring a contribution of the items needed to our Teatro V!da meeting on January 26th. A representative of PRCC will be there. I encourage everyone to give within their means. If everyone gives up a little luxury such as eating out, buying coffee at a cafe, or buying something we really know we can do without, it should be simple for each of us to bring something to show our solidarity with the people of Haiti and show support to our brothers and sisters during this tragic and sorrowful time. If this is not possible for you, perhaps you have some gently worn, clean clothing or shoes in good condition that we can also contribute. Please consider giving your best.

Here is the list:
* water
* supplies for First Aid
* toiletries
* clothes and shoes of all sizes
* linens
* non-perishable canned foods
* items for baby and infants

Please join me in contributing and let us put into action the civic engagement of Teatro V!da. It is my hope that everyone of us will bring something to contribute. Give from the heart, give what you can.

I know we can count on you.
Love to all,
Magdalena Gomez,Co-founder and Artistic Director,Teatro V!da, (a project of the Latino Breakfast Club)
P.O. 80722, Springfield, MA 01138-0722

Poetry contest - I got honorable mention

Every now and then something happens which brings different pieces of my life together. A couple of months ago I went to the Springfield Library to hear poet Martin Espada read-- always a treat-- and while I was there I found out that the library was having a poetry contest for Western Mass. poets. Without much thought or expectation, I picked a poem and sent it in. Lo and behold, I got honorable mention; yesterday the poets read their chosen works to a small band of other poets and friends at the library..

I was honored to get some kind and encouraging words from Magdelena Gomez, a poet whose work I admire very much. I was relieved also that people seemed to think the poem was better than I thought it was.

It's been years since I seriously thought of trying to get my poems published-- but I still write, and I still get pleasure from modeling words like clay to a desired effect. Most of my poems are much smaller than the one I submitted, more precise and not overtly political. But every now and then I write a poem like the one that follows:

The poets gather.
The revolutionary poets gather.
The revolutionary poets gather
on college campuses
where they have come to be heard
where someone else handles all the logistics, thank god
where they will be PAID
because poetry is WORK
aand poets have a right to make a living
form their amazing ability
to pin joy and pain
to the page with the right words.

They have come
riding on aged white reputations
on Spanish surnames and decade-new African names
to talk to fresh young minds.
O dear children, we will let you in
on why poetry is revolutionary
how poetry fights racism and sexism and imperialism.
We will tell you why these small words
have so much meaning beyond themselves
how the teacup leaves are a metaphor for the whole world
and maybe someday you too, you too, you too and if you can't
you can still be a part, you can still be inspired by us.

Meanwhile, across the river and the railroad tracks, three sounds:
almost too low to hear, awakening anger,
laying down the baseline, a soft mutter:

It ain't supposed to be like this,
it's supposed to be better.
It ain't supposed to be like this,
it's supposed to be better.

Then a sound so high, like a scream of horror:

My children, my children,
how did this happen?
My children, my children,
how did this happen?

Then the middle notes, which only need to be louder

to find each other:
I wish I had a job, a home,
I wish the cops would leave me alone.
I wonder if they rape my son
behind the bars when he's alone.
I never thought I'd say this, but
I hate this fucking rice so much.
If she drops out of school, what then?
I went to the shelter but couldn't get in.
We wait in the line. I look in your eyes.
I think we are planning a big surprise.

Choreography will be done
by experts in sidestepping disaster.
Theme provided by necessity,
rhythm courtesy of our hearts.
Soon to be playing everywhere.