Alejandro Murguia’s new book of poetry,“Stray Poems,” published by City Lights of San Francisco, is filled with energy from beginning to end.
“These poems are for the community of the Mission District,” Murguia writes in his dedication of the book.
The statement is part of his acceptance speech as Poet Laureate of San Francisco on Jan. 27, 2013, when he told Mayor Ed Lee that he accepts the honor “only in the name of my community.”
At 110 pages, the book is a companion on transit rides around the City and Bay Area. It includes many poems as well as overviews of Latina/o literary history of 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s.
“I come to poetry out of necessity in a way, out of an urgent need to define who I am but also as a way to give voice to my community,” Murguia said. And that voice has punch. A poem that recalls his first reading describes a run-in with the police.
The book is well-written and tight. There’s not one extra word in it. And Murguia’s poetry is accessible. “You don’t need a professor of literary theory to deconstruct for you,” said a friend of Murguia.
“Stray Poems” aims straight at life and all that life is. Murguia’s poetry speaks about love and war, the rich and poor, barrios and foreigners. At times, Murguia is blunt and brazen.
Murguia is San Francisco’s sixth poet laureate and the first Latino to win the honor. City Lights Foundation (San Francisco, $9.95) released Stray Poems in February 2014. The book is No. 6 in San Francisco Poet Laureate Series.
Professor of Latina/Latino studies at San Francisco State University, Murguia is the author of two other books, Southern Front and This War Called Love–both books won the American Book Award. He has written two other books of poetry: Spare Poems and Native Tongue, released this year.