Books, Reviews, Short Stories, Authors, Publicity, a little poetry, music to complement...and other stuff including politics, about life... "Books, Cats: Life is Sweet..."
Manny is my "adopted" brother... I have not been able to talk to him (on line) for almost a year... We met on Facebook, a place that once was my almost daily location for at least a small part of the day. I'd been on Facebook for around 20 years... I had developed a close set of friends who were mainly writers of books. I have read and reviewed all of Manny's books, so do a search to find them here... On Facebook, Manny had problems with having his ID stolen... that seems to happen a lot where individuals take the name of a popular FB member and create another site under that name... Soon problems of access started and it was the individual who was the real person who had to clean up the mess and start over... Then I was told that it appeared that something seemed to be wrong with my account--that they were blocking it to check... It's been almost a year that I have been blocked from my account on Facebook. Yesterday I installed a new Anti-virus and discovered that Facebook had been tracking everywhere I went... Why? Those of you who read my blog surely assumed the same thing I have. They support the republican mess that is now destroying America and I am fighting against it... So, if you see my blog disappear someday...you'll know why... Or, they could "disappear" me because their new law is that if they can prove that even a citizen is thinking something they don't like, they can be arrested! Yep, I could be disappeared! Provided for your information in this time of corruption in our government...
~~~
IF ANYBODY SEES THIS AND KNOWS HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MANNY MORENO, PLEASE PASS ON MY NEED TO TALK TO HIM... AND SHARE THIS FIRST POEM FROM HIS LATEST BOOK. THANK YOU!
Monolin “Manny” Moreno is of Yaqui-Tarascan descent and an Enrolled Member, of the State Recognized Group of Texas Band of Yaqui Indians. His Yaqui Ancestry records date back to the late 1600’s. He has four books published: The Bridge is Gone, poetry, and The Elder: A Tribute, remembrance of elders Harry Jack and Barry Beaver Turner--both published by Back40 Publishing, and his book of poems, Longview Road, Sam Aros and son published. His fourth book is Scared – Coming Full Circle published by Eaglespeaker Publishing. It is under revision to be published under new title Scared – The Healing. • Manny’s poems are about the beauty and heartache of growing up in rural Livingston, where his grandparents settled in the early 1900’s, and about his rough and crazy decades in Stockton. Readers have admired the plain language, emotional power, and honesty of Moreno’s verse. His poems have appeared in Song of the San Joaquin, Hincha Poesia and Whispering Thunder. He was nominated for the Pushcart Award in 2011 and was Poet of the Month for Moon Tide Press in June 2012. • Moreno is a Sun dancer and member of the Black Wolf Honor Society Gourd Clan and Native American Church. He has appeared on Native Voice TV in Santa Clara, KKUP Indian Time Radio in Cupertino and on Channel Ten for Native American Month. Manny has lectured and read his poems in many venues, most recently at Modesto Junior College (Modesto), and the Haggin Museum and Mexican Cultural Center (Stockton).
The Tree
A twig from an ancient tree
was planted in this valley
ninety-years and a day ago
with grandparents' post-migration
arrival
propagated with a labor
of love and dream songs which
sprouted roots rich
with indigenous sacred hope
and over decades this twig branched-out
into an ancestral tree
lush with a heritage of scattered leaves
some have prevailed on the railroads
farmfields and overseas
warriors in battlefields
some have crooned and swooned
on saddles of assimilation
not total though
to gain an education
some have hummed commitments
to heaven in humble jubilation
some have whistled weary in whirlwinds
on life’s meager means
some have not forsaken
chanting enchanted
traditional ancient
cosmic conscious themes
and now
in this soul-deadening
out of balance Y2K
millennium infancy
I reflect in the autumn years of my being
standing somber in
the shade of our tree;
what will become of it
and me?
For the tree
expands into five generations
perpetuating a pristine
perpetual dream
in this valley reality like
enormous hawk wings
encapsulating us with
a shade of simplicity
celebrated in a social
status of invisibility
and I
native son shy of eloquence
irrigate the tree
with common words
to nourish-in nutrients of this life force
flowing in crimson canals of flesh
in the fertile soil of San Joaquin
in the plants and critters
in the rivers and
pulses of little towns
being shredded for
progress and malls
in the decades deciphered
from a million memories
fertilized for posterity
prestige and dignity
of the tree and landscape
and panorama
of our souls.
~~~
"keep on dancin'"....I am told by my ancestors in the spirit world.
When I stumble they catch me when I fall they lift me up when life becomes so hard to endure they gather in my dreams and console me when I look for answers they guide me when I am weak they strengthen me.
The many changes I dedicated myself to undergo, has taken years of much patience, discipline, commitment and hard work, all for my well being.
Humility was the driving factor.
My art and books have been a healing of sorts for this journey of my life. They have given more meaning and reason to love the work, finding enjoyment and contentment and moments of serenity and peace.
It feels good to be in no competition with anyone. As I get older the most important ambition now is, to evolve into a better human being .
It's that simple. I've learned to follow my heart. And the spirit that moves inside of it, is calm and without hate and anger, and although the world has ways of robbing that, to anger me, it goes away when the sun goes down.
All day my mind is caught up, as I move around taking care of things, going here and there, taking care of this place and Homie the cat, in giving thanks for the blessings. Not for the things, but for the spirits of my ancestors holding me up, and for Grandfather for opening my eyes, and giving me understanding.
Lioj em chiokoe uttesia. Paas into waata.
Manny, thought I'd add one of my favorites which seemed to match and complement your prayer...
Manny Moreno, Author and Artist, is an ongoing contributor and friend at Book Readers Heaven... Thank you, Manny, for your beautiful words from your life!
In this. his fourth book and a poetic memoir, Manny Moreno worries--he does not want to have those of our indigenous nations ever be forgotten. For America, it is good that we can meet and come to know the Elders, those who can speak with experience for himself and his people. It is doubtful that I will ever forget Manny in my lifetime. He is constantly sharing his words, sharing his past...Yet, those who have come to know and love him, we will never have enough time with him... I've been with him through much time...and books...he has written... Over 10 years!
Longview Road begins, first, with a display of the photography by Moreno as the book cover. His ability to catch a period in time is caught again and again as an Elder of the Yaqui Indians, again brings us his memories, his family, and the reality of his life through various artistic mediums . Readers will see that his early life was hard--he succumbed to drinking as many of his peers did during those times... But was it liking to drink or liking the escape from what he and others endured... If you pay attention, the indignities of the white man hover over his thoughts as he shares how he fought his way through to become a role model to be recognized and respected for all that he has shared to us through his books...
For instance, he speaks of those working to pick grapes in the intense heat when the crop was ready to go to market...It was bad enough to bend over daily, the sweat running down their backs... but to be humiliated further, the growers refused to provide any type of restroom facilities. These little twists to share the emotional impact are delivered with a punch... And who among us cannot hang our head in shame, knowing that the growers were white owners...
Still, often, such as the poem shared above from his latest book, he takes the time to share his world--God's world, his ancestors' world, stopping just to gaze and admire the flight of a hummingbird, even while he worries...will he be remembered? Will his Yaquai family...and Nation survive and be known? Remembered? Certainly this is a primary goal of Manny's life.
I'm a little older than Manny, but one of his poems was reminiscent for me, as I remember my brother always watching cowboy movies... Manny remembers too, he remembers that the Indians always were played by white people and were always killed. Indeed, even in schools, they were taught that their ancestors were savages and that "their" God would forgive them, even while also teaching that their God had been crucified--much like the Indigenous people? But their elders would say: "Never Forget! Never Be Ashamed."
But then there was at least Tonto...
I listened to grandpa and understood him well
but I never saw Indians in any movie
high-jump that bar to portray them fully human
except for Tonto who wasn't really dumb.
~~~
Drinking, growing up in his home town, working in the hot sun to harvest tomatoes and grapes--and so much more. But the one that was most memorable for me was "The Pain of Forgiving..." I am reminded that, today, in this world, most eyes are turned to Ukraine, seeing the devastation there caused by just one man... Americans are responding in many ways to meet the needs of the affected people... So, why don't we also want to do the same with those here in America who daily worry about where they will find the way to eat, to pay the bills for the small home where they live (or no home, even).
You know, folks, President Biden has created the most diverse Cabinet, I would think, than ever before. He has put together a budget plan to meet the needs of all Americans... yet republicans refuse to participate in making significant financial support across the nation. They would rather not spend research time and effort to actually build a solid platform for the people. Instead, they have chosen to incite parents, in particular, into believing what they are saying... all disinformation which can be proven if each of us makes the concerted effort to be the Americans we are supposed to be... Specifically to recognize our common creed as written in our Constitution...
All Are Created Equal...
Read the Words of an Indigenous Elder
The Pain of Forgiving
Do I forgive the great Mystery
for taking mom and dad
in the prime of their lives
when we needed them most?
Do I forgive the great Mystery
for the manna of prosperity
that never rained on us
for the hand-me-downs
let-me-downs
ridicule and shame?
Do I forgive Mr. Nelson
the hippy wannabe
7th grade teacher
who slammed his bony
knuckles on the top of my head
made me nearly black out
for dozing off in his white
His-story class?
Do I forgive myself
for decades
drinking
doping
car wrecks
emergency rooms
detox - recovery centers
jails,
for the scuffles
in rage and
shame and pain
I brought mother
family and people
I hurt along the way?
Do I forgive the American dream's
invisible
undeniable
borders of hate
bigotry
closed doors
disappointments
cultural trauma?
The pain
of forgiving
Howls
Rains
Flowers
~~~
If we continue to ignore our needs in America,
can we really Call Ourselves Americans?!
Imagine what it feels like to have waited for a president who would work to meet the needs of all Americans...and then see that, because of political issues, your help will not be provided...not again...just like in the past... Why is Congress--the republicans--not approving What Americans Voted for in 2020
Meeting the Needs of America!
Moreno shares about the choice he had to make, ending with, "There was nothing, nada, not a thing, not there for me, I had to find a way out, or rot, and die...
Are we allowing too many issues to be pulled into the spotlight when the needs of our elders, our children are being ignored?
Read Longview Road and other books by Moreno...and learn just how badly we Americans, we white men...and...women... still refuse to acknowledge that they are NOT the only people living (and hurting) in our nation...
~~~
Find Manny on Facebook, Connect With Him...He routinely contributes and shares his history, his words, his drawings...and so much more! All for Sale for this Elder Entrepreneur. Check out my reviews for his four books... You will find a wealth of Indigenous History from this one Elder... Read Him!
Manny recently sent me the last painting above. I had not seen it before and he chose which, of his many available paintings or drawings, that are available for purchase... It is titled "In The Eyes..." I quickly changed it in my mind to "In His Eyes..." I believe this is a self-portrait, empathizing all that he has to tell us... There is pain, endurance, and love of his ancestry...but is there forgiveness? Can we expect him and others to forgive what we did to our "neighbors" as we colonized America? I personally think we should try. There are many indigenous people who have little support, other than what they can scrape together from field word, or with their talent, like Manny has. If you have contributed to the Ukrainians or other foreign countries, such as Africa's cry for children...then, please, please...look at his eyes... Find some way YOU can help...even if it is just committing to writing your republican representatives and say that you want to have them support the Build Back Better bill for support of our elderly all over, no matter what race...and our children...again, no matter what race...
Native Americans value their ancestors as part of their lives... Let us recognize that our ancestors put together a promise, called the Constitution, that said that All Are Created Equal. Let's all try harder to let those in need begin to have the support that our Creed Promised Them! Look at His Eyes... Look at The Eyes...all those who are in pain, hurting, needing some type of support... right... here... in... America!
Elder Care Message - Right Now, many of you may know of an elder person who is in need. Perhaps it's for food, medicines, household tasks...or even just a need to have somebody talk or call them occasionally. Commit yourself to helping the older American... And, if you'd prefer to get involved with our young, then there are orphanages or perhaps neighborhood children that are not getting enough to eat... Perhaps the parent needs a baby sitter...and you're in need of "giving something back..." Think about it, it takes little effort to acknowledge, to commit part of your time to those in need...
Matthew 25:40 New International Version
"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me...'
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