AmeRican Book

An amazing reflection of Puerto Rican identity in the twentieth century. Tying together the gain in recognition for Latino/a literature and its ties with history, Laviera opens this collection of poetry with him poem "book". "book" explores authors of the literary canon from Nicolas Kanellos, who is credited for helping put Latin@ literature on the map, to Cervantes, Unamuno, Neruda, and traditional white authors such as Shakespeare, Jefferson, and Hemingway. All these authors, and more unnamed, are tied together through their mutual contribution to literary tradition. Laviera writes that as Nicolas Kanellos, in his "writing room... opens a Spanish literature bookcase... history, the moistured / aging scent of relics... greet[] him / giving him / sacred space, and now, / feast" (13). There is acceptance and nourishment in this inclusitivity. There is a space to grow and develop ones own voice with the addition and recognition of the great authors who have come before. The poem ends with the book taking on its own voice and states, "allowed myself to call me / beautiful" (14). In recognition by the canon, and self consideration, the poem is able to love itself for the "reflections" of people found within it.

North America is shifting, English has shifted to make room for Spanish as a language, through force and necessity. This is why Laviera's twist on the word America rings so true, so salient. Within this convoluted name comes a cry of identity; American becomes I-Am-Rican.

A good read from an Puerto Rican/ Afro-Latino poet.