Poetry
Poet Laureate
Miguel Santistevan has a Bachelors of Science in biology from the University of New Mexico and a Masters of Science in Ecology from the University of California, Davis. His research interests are food systems of the upper Rio Grande and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Santistevan is certified in permaculture and xeriscape design and has directed youth in agriculture programs. He has dozens of publications in local papers like Green Fire Times and has delivered professional presentations to meetings of the Bioneers, the Green Festival, and the International Ethno-Biology Congress. He produced a public radio program called “Que vivan las acequias!” with the NM Acequia Association and KCEI-FM Radio, Taos County. He is a parciante and has served both as a mayordomo and president. Santistevan is a teacher, storyteller, musician and an amazing poet. For the 2024-25 theme of “Poetry with Youth,” he will use his position as a guest lecturer in the public schools and other venues to recruit young people to submit poetry, artwork, and photographs for a project called “Home: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly.” This project will result in a DIY publication of a zine that will be something that can be shared in print or digitally. When the zine is completed, there will be a reception with reading and projection of the featured poems, art, and photos of the young people who are willing to perform their pieces.
Poet Laureate:
Miguel Santistevan
Poetry Month
SOMOS began its month-long celebration of poetry in April 2013 to coincide with National Poetry Month. This annually curated SOMOS celebration highlights poets of local, regional and national/international standing through readings, workshops, projects and collaborations. Some poets who have participated in SOMOS Poetry Month over the years include Catherine Strisik (Taos), Demetria Martinez (Santa Fe), Olivia Romo (Taos/Pojoaque), Veronica Golos (Taos), Max Early (Laguna Pueblo), Pat McCabe (Taos), Hakim Bellamy (Albuquerque), Will Barnes (Santa Fe), Cyrus Cassells (Texas), Aaron A. Abeyta (Colorado), John Biscello (Taos), Sawnie Morris (Taos), Coral Dawn Bernal (Taos Pueblo), Lise Goett (Taos), Juan Morales (Colorado), Carolyn Forché (Maryland), Roberto Tejada (Texas), Fiona Sze-Lorrain (Paris, France) and Ada Limón (Kentucky). Poetry Month has included creative collaborations with musicians, actors, artists and readers in projects ranging from Poetry & Art in Public Places, (a collaboration with Taos Arts Council that paired visual artists with poets to respond to one another’s work through ekphrasis) to a two-day, 12-hour community marathon reading of Emily Wilson’s new translation of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, to a jazz-infused poetry reading with Pulitzer prize-winning Detroit poet Tyehimba Jess and the John Rangel Trio produced in collaboration with the Taos Jazz Bebop Society.
2021 NMSPS Convention Keynote by Catherine Strisik
Open Tues-Sat 12pm-4pm 575.758.0081 108 Civic Plaza Drive
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3225, Taos, NM 87571
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS
SOMOS programs are made possible in part by these organizations: New Mexico Arts, a Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts • Taos Community Foundation • The McCune Foundation • The National Endowment For The Arts • The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation • Taos County Lodgers Tax • TaosNetLLC for high speed internet service • LANL (Los Alamos National Labs) • New Mexico Humanities Council • Nusenda Foundation • Witter Bynner Foundation • Amazon Literary Partnership • Literary Emergency Fund
