Every Friday, Virago Rising will be featuring a new artist, ranging from poets to visual artists, and everything in-between. Whether they are established years into their career, or at the beginning of their journey, we hope you enjoy their work as much as we do.
Adrian Ernesto (he/him) is the author of Flashes & Verses… Becoming Attractions from Unsolicited Press, Between the Spine from Picture Show Press, Speaking con su Sombra with Alegría Publishing and La Belle Ajar & We Are the Ones Possessed from CLASH Books. Adrian lives with his wife in Los Angeles with their adorably spoiled cat Woody Gold.
In true our ancestors live through us sense comes Adrian’s work memorializing his mother, their relationship, and the love he holds for her. “Mi Mami was my number one supporter of my poetry and I wanted to honor her by writing and publishing this book in her honor” shares Adrian. Speaking con Su Sombra captures grief in all its facets, and is most timely as the world continues to mourn loved ones lost to COVID. The pandemic served as a time of stillness and opportunity to face his own grief after losing his mother in 2017. Encouraged to seek help, Adrian learned that the mind and body mourn in different ways; however, he saw that grief while personal is very universal.
Adrian hopes, “I want this collection to help the reader mourn and heal within the confines of mis poemas.” While non-poetry readers may not necessarily gravitate towards poetry, Adrian wanted his poems to be accessible with pop culture references, such as Billie Holiday, and his merging of Spanish and English. While accessibility and realness are what Adrian aimed for readers to have with his work, it was not that easy for him at first. It took writing letters to his mother, being patient with himself, and a supportive mentor in Davina Ferreira to complete and publish the book. Even then, he finds himself still writing, and still processing.
There is a bittersweetness as his own mother did not live to see his work published, but Adrian holds her memory in his words and heart every day. For anyone who may be on a similar journey as him, Adrian advises, “…cherish your loved ones while they are alive. And the mourning process is not linear, take your time to mourn in your own way.” It is this honesty that leaps from the pages as well, with Adrian including candid moments between his mother and himself, reminding readers that to honor our loved ones is to remember every part of them.
As you, reader, honor your own healing journey, please enjoy the poem, “Mi Mami Talks to Her Plantas” from Adrian.
Adrian’s 6th book, La Lengua Inside Me will be published with FlowerSong Press in 2023! Adrian describes this book as “rediscovering [his] bilingual voice.”
For more on Adrian’s work, visit his website www.adrianernestocepeda.com, or follow on Instagram @thepoetnotarockstar and Twitter @PoetNotRockStar. For a personalized copy of Speaking con su Sombra, click here. Readers can apply SombraAmiga for a discount at checkout.