Response to Writers Live: Isaac Chavarria

Response to Writers Live: Isaac Chavarria

Isaac Chavarria is a poetry writer born and raised in Alton, Texas. He earned a MFA in creative writing from the University of Texas- Pan American. He wrote his first book poxo which is his collection of his poems that express himself as a pocho. A pocho is an Americanized Mexican, which is commonly used as a negative term. Chavarria however embraces being a pocho and is trying to change it to be used in a positive way. During his reading, Chavarria read several of his poems including “Mi Abuelita” which talk about his memory of his grandmother, “In Alton” and “Safety” that describes living in his hometown, Alton. He wrote 2 personal poems called “Reynosa” and “Lucent” which deals with his feelings toward his father. He wrote several other poems which dealt with his view on the Hispanic culture, its values and his indifferences.

This was my first time in attending a Writers Live and I was a bit skeptical in thinking I would enjoy myself. I thought it would be boring, but in the end I was glad that I went. I found it very interesting and I agree with what Isaac said about being and embracing the term pocho. Many of his poems I was able to connect with them. I especially like the poem “Mi Abuelita” because the way he describes his grandmother reminded me so much of my grandmother. I had never heard of the term pocho, but knowing the meaning of it I come to realize that many of my family members are pochos, even I am a pocho. I am very Americanized, I hardly know Spanish and I’m not connected with my Hispanic culture. Usually people refer me as a “Gringa” but I looked up the word and I’m not at all white. Now when someone calls me a gringa I can now tell them, “I’m not gringa, I'm a pocho”.