Marianela Medrano Launches Book of Poetry at the Children’s Library of the Dominican Republic

Marianela Medrano Launches Book of Poetry at the Children’s Library of the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1/14/2012

Dominican writer and poet, Marianela Medrano, will launch her fifth book of poetry, Diosas de la Yuca, at the Children’s Library of the Dominican Republic (BIJRD in Spanish) on January 18^th at 6 pm.

Dominican writer and poet, Marianela Medrano, will launch her fifth book of poetry, Diosas de la Yuca, at the Children’s Library of the Dominican Republic (BIJRD in Spanish) on January 18^th at 6 pm.

The book will be presented by Dominican writer and archeologist Marcio Veloz Maggiolo, well known for his contributions in research on the Taínas. Diosas de la Yuca was published by Torremozas Publishing, Madrid, 2011.

“In Diosas de la Yuca, the author recreates and questions what has been written and said about the identity of the Tainos whose representation continues to guide and conform with the popular concept of ‘the Dominican’ such as in tourism pamphlets that tend to promote Dominicans as cheerful and simple people. In a dialogue with the Relación of Fray Ramón Pané and the Cristóbal Colón Newspaper, the poet questions the journalistic style used to portray the history of the arrival of the Europeans. She tells her own version which varies with that found in the colonial archives,” said Dominican professor Zaida Corniel at the book´s launch in New York.

“This is the first major opus that delves into the historic past of the Dominicans, of which there is still very much to be revealed,¨ said  Franklin Gutiérrez, Dominican writer and professor.

About the Author

Marienela Medrano has resided in the United States since 1990. She holds a Ph. D in psychology and incorporates therapeutic writing as a way of healing in her work with patients. In 2008, she won an award from the National Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy (NFPT) for her unique therapy work in this area.

Julia Álvarez and Rhina Espaillat discuss “Diosas de la yuca”

“Marianela Medrano’s poems are captivating as they evoke rhythms and voices in the landscape as well as deep in our own spirits. They are rhythms and voices that transport us, force us to be aware and call our attention to what is real; they become us. Her poetry creates bridges within oneself but then reunites us through her magical words. In her poetry, all is imminent and illuminated. She gives a voice to the firefly and to the goddess. She shows us where to find the drums in the deepest recesses of ourselves and then, with her music, she teaches us to play those drums,” said Julia Álvarez.

“I have read this poetry book with great pleasure, thanks to its harmonious mix of nostalgia, ethnic consciousness, subtle feminism and pure poetry. The topic she covers has a strong significance for those of us who are immigrants and children of immigrants, that is to say, the sensation that pursues us of having left behind a part of ourselves, not so much in terms of space or place but rather another time,” said Rhina Espaillat.