Photos from the protests yesterday in Valencia. posted by Lavimilano 

This month is national poetry month.  Today my class was working on found poems.  Only half of my class was able to make it because there are protests going on around the city.  Actually, they have been happening over the past few days.  Yesterday, my salsa practice was canceled because the highway and exits were blocked off.  On Wednesday my local friends were sharing audio and photos from the university protest that resulted in students being hospitalized.  With all of this weighing on my mind, I decided to write a found poem about the news I’ve been reading about the protests.

Poets.org says found poems take, “existing texts and refashion them, reorder them, and present them as poems. The literary equivalent of a collage….”  Here is a more detailed lesson from the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

On to my found poem!

Venezuela Protests

Social and economic collapse

Triple-digit inflation

Shortages of basic foods and medicines

Highest murder rates

Eviscerating Venezuela’s democratic institutions

Protest

Chanting, “No more dictatorship!”

Ignite the country

The people will make their voices heard

Try to ignore the tear gas, gunshots, and water cannons

The people are hungry

Hungry for freedom

Protest!

If you are interested in reading more about what is going on now in Venezuela (and seeing where I “found” my lines) check out the following articles:

Venezuelan opposition, security forces clash in anti-Maduro protests

College student dies during Venezuela protest

Anti-Government Protests in Venezuela Turn Violent

How Does Populism Turn Authoritarian? Venezuela Is a Case in Point

Chavistas and Opposition Forces March on Caracas amid Clashes