shaken and stirred.

a little while back, i went to a queer-Chicana/o-themed slam poetry performance with a couple of friends and consequently had my mind blown.

the night was filled with thought-provoking and emotion-invoking lyricism - the likes of which i'd never experienced in a live performance setting. it was small, raw, and empowering.

the featured performer was Yosimar Reyes, a gay, 20-year-old Chicano, award-winning, critically acclaimed slam poet who's on the rise in the slam sub-culture of LA. his work primarily focuses on the issues concerning the intersection of colored queerness in the context of the gang war torn streets of LA and the burgeoning culture of the LGBT Chicano around the world.

hearing and seeing him perform was an unbelievable experience. the fact that it happened in a small, indie, hidden art gallery down an obscure street not too far from Skid Row was something that undoubtedly added to the power of his words, his voice, and his message - not that they needed help.

here are just a couple of the ones he performed:

Acts of Resistance
This is not fucking
Not to be confused with lovemaking

This is resistance

Your hand pressed upon my chest
The way your lips feel on mine
This could never be anything but that

Some say we were not born
To be inter connected like this

And to think people have died for us to feel so complete
You on top of me
Saying
This feels right

And it does

Never for a moment did I think I would find myself in this predicament
Whispering your name
As if I was in deep prayer

So in the blessings I envision
I see your hands
Caressing the parts of my body
I have grown to be ashamed of

You make me feel me
In its totality

Cause every time we are inter connected like this
I feel stronger
Like somehow
Through this fucking, lovemaking call it whatever
I am Home

So I open the doors of my body to you
No longer afraid
Of the ghosts that haunt me

The ones that came inside and left me empty
Took the innocence I sold for acceptance

You bring warmth
After the heated bodies
I am surprised that you are still here

Holding my hand

Telling me that I should not feel dirty
Because rituals like this do not involve bloodshed

This is resistance
Because brown boys are not supposed to love like this
We are not supposed to fuck like this

We are supposed to take
Break into women's bodies
And leave them homeless

We are supposed to inflict power
On the bodies of those who have nothing but love to give

This is resistance
You and I
Whispering in the middle of the night
Laying side by side
Your arm as my pillow
Your stories is all I want to hear

This is not fucking
This is resistance
Brown boys are not supposed to love

We were simply born to fuck

Each other up

So now that we are getting ready to do this again
I want you to hold me but this time pretend
That as we are committing this act of resistance

We are regaining all that was taken from us
Our dignity, our pride, our love for one another

Do me with justice

My mother always told me that going against authority would kill me

And if it does there is no other way I want to die

But with you at my side

Both of us shouting

Fuck the Police!
This is Front Line Resistance!

Mi Amigo (translations at the bottom, and they're numbered)
Because you will never be mine and I will never be yours
I write these words
Because in my heart I hold nothing but respect and admiration
And in my lips hide kisses that will never touch your skin

I write in silence
Thinking of the force you have upon me
How your breath carries winds
Tus brazos, (1)
Tus ojos, (2)
Tus Labios carry history (3)
Movements of our people
Como migrations
You have me thinking of home
And how I would love to build one with you
You by my side
Telling me what poems you like best

God must have made you with precision
because every time I look into your imperfections I see nothing but beauty
Eres como la luna en las noches que no puedo dormir (4)
Como las olas del mar que lloran (5)
Porque no las puedo oir...(6)
For you I would sing these words
Place them on an altar in honor of you
And offer my love and loyalty forever

Eres como el sol (7)
So powerful that I can't avoid you
Every Morning I awake to see you
And like the Sun and Moon
I must come to terms that we both work best whne we are
Separate
Y separados como nuestra tierra (8)
Te mando estas palabras (9)
Pa' que sepas (10)
Que siempre habra alguien que te quiere (11)
That I will always be here
And although I cannot love you like a lover
You will always be
Mi sol, (12)
Mi tierra, (13)
Mi amor, (14)
Mi Amigo. (15)

translations:
1. your arms
2. your eyes
3. your lips
4. you are like the moon on nights that i cannot sleep
5. like the waves of the sea that cry
6. because i cannot hear them
7. you are like the sun
8. and separated like our earth
9. i send you these words
10. so that you know
11. that there will always be someone who loves you
12. my sun
13. my earth
14. my love
15. my friend

needless to say, i bought the book. and took a poster. and friended him on facebook. and walked away feeling smarter, stronger, and inspired.