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Carmen Tafolla Reflects Ahead Of Her Final Performance As Poet Laureate

Chris Eudaily
/
TPR News
Carmen Tafolla in the TPR studios.

Carmen Tafolla, San Antonio’s first poet laureate, is nearing the end of her time in the position, and as I found from talking to her, there’s no rest for the weary.

“Right now I’m still working away, scripting on a fantastic performance piece that is actually the last of the poet laureate signature series, and it’s March 29,” Tafolla said.

She will be joined onstage at the event by several other San Antonio poets and musicians.

"It’s going to be at the Guadalupe Theater at 7 p.m., the last Saturday of the month" Tafolla said.  “We have original music that’s being composed for it by George Cisneros."

This will be her final event as poet laureate as the city gets ready to usher in the next one, whose name will be revealed on April 1. Does Tafolla have any advice for her successor?

“It’s a wonderful, fast-paced and delightful experience. Savor every moment of it and welcome every aspect of it," she said.

She said she was surprised to be called on at times to mend fences and be a peacemaker, a role she felt honored to attempt.  

“The ability to communicate with opposite ends of this community is a gift," said Tafolla. "It is a blessing and a unique opportunity.”

And she has words of praise for a city which conveyed the poet laureate position to her.

"I’m very, very proud of the City of San Antonio for just inviting the arts in with open arms, and making it a place where life is very rich with artistic interpretations,” she said.

"Thank you," she said. "Viva San Antonio!"

Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii