Poetry @ Sonido de Calle

A Sprinkling of Poetry Magic in Boyle Heights

Image Credit: Abel M. Salas

A week ago today, I was one of three featured poets at a new poetry event in Boyle Heights, MC'd by Abel M. Salas, hosted at Sonido de Calle, a record store on 1st, and put together by poet, Mathew Nava . . . I am still bathing in the afterglow of poetry love . . . and I think events like this one, renew the spirit and start a conversation about the kind of communities we want to live, work, and play in.
As an outsider to that community (I was definitely the only British guy in the room), I was welcomed warmly into the space and after some street music and sidewalk chat to warm things up, Abel M. Salas got things started, reading some fine poetry of his own before introducing the three features: Marc Cid, Iris de Anda, and myself. This was followed by an excellent Open Mic in which a range of voices lit up the space with more poetry.
To round things off, Caius and Yuka, the Sonido de Calle duo played us out with an impromptu set that featured accordion and percussion. 
You can check out the short video of my time there: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmhoPzHna2M and watch this space because there will undoubtedly be more to come from the good people of Sonido de Calle that is very much putting itself at the heart of the Boyle Heights neighborhood and getting the word out about community activism, engagement, and connection. 

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