Estamos aquí: Poems by Migrant Farmworkers
Poems translated and edited by Janine Pommy Vega
Book edited by Sylvia Kelly, Bob Holman, and Marjorie Tesser
“My belief is no one can live by bread alone, or by work alone: you need dreams and ideas that require imagination. You need something to ponder and reflect on before the day is over. I bring in simple writing exercises. Most of the men can read and write; I take dictation from those who can’t. The exercises require the memory to kick in. What’s the scariest moment you can remember? Who is the loveliest woman you’ve ever met? Did your grandparents tell you stories, stories from old times? What’s a moment, an experience that sticks in your mind and will never go away? “
-Janine Pommy Vega, August 2007
Presentation(s) by:
Group Discussion
What ideas, stories, feelings, reasons for migration, etc., could we grasp from these poems?
Look for poems that explore the following topics. Expand on the narratives presented by the farmworkers. What silences do you identify?
Group 1
.Tragedies in the homeland (civil war; militarization; extreme poverty; lack of opportunities; corruption)
.Dangerous journeys
.Crossing the border (life-threatening experiences)
Group 2
.Protecting the lives and well-being of children and loved ones
.Facing racism, fear, and abuses of power
.Time spent away from family (leaving people behind; partial or full separation)
Group 3
.Sacrifices and daily struggles
.Sending remittances (money, goods, etc.)
.Pride (surviving and achieving economic goals; nationalism; ancestors)
Group 4
.Awareness of time passing
.Longing, sadness, and living in the past
.Wishes of returning