Reviews
The Reading Poet: Receta by Mario José Pagán Morales
Poetry like this will have you gritting your teeth and unwashed memories of your youth splattered on the hardened streets of NY. Mario knows this feeling intimately, as he takes his readers on a 6 line train ride through old haunts and hauntings that seem to linger from childhood.
Though he shows us raw emotions in broken phrases and left-off words, there is a central theme that seems to sprinkle urban magic on the scene. The beloved Abuela with her intense love and tender affection shown in the mundane. From a warm meal to a clean shirt, she is there to bring back the hope that can be lost in times. In between gut punches and knock-out poetry, the dreamscape created in pieces like, “Babá” and “Bronks River Dreams”, takes an extra breath from the reader in a way that few can do.
While poetry is central in the book, the titles bear a second look. From, “Facebook Likes to Ask What’s on Your Mind”, “I Saw El Maestro Dancing” and “Guayanilla Will Ask My Feet If They Remember”, these thought-provoking titles are sure to set the scene for some conversation of immigrational backgrounds.
Overall, I am left with a warm belly of Abuela’s Farina, as I lay on her lap and listen to my native songs in her throat. The best Receta for this poet’s blues.
Pen of the People - Jennifer Nuesi
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A Review - Receta by Mario José Pagán Morales
Nuyorican poet and a master of Spanglish haikus and jargon Mario José Pagán Morales, makes spoken word history with his powerful literary debut titled Receta. As an aspiring artist and writer, Morales is a pillar in the spoken word community, a wordsmith pioneer that seeks to preserve the legacy of poets of Puerto Rican decent and the Boriken etiquette that this illustrious and seemingly practical tradition encompasses.
Receta is a metaphorical journey about the life of Morales and many of his experiences that are relatable to people from all walks of life. In fact, the title Receta, which loosely translate to recipe in English, but also denotes a flavorful vibe and culture. The reader is immediately drawn into the text with the opening poem Elsa. This is a stirring poem inspired by the memory of Morales’ grandmother and how he remembers her in the kitchen of esotericism.
The amazing thing about Receta is Morales’ cinematic ability to paint concepts with words and impressionable experience. Published on April 4th, 2022, Receta by Mario José Pagán Morales is a perfect example of classical literature.