I was so pleased to receive the invitation from MARTA L. SÁNCHEZ from "poetryandart.org", to participate, to come together, to give efforts, TO BE A PART OF the Collective Wisdom, nothing more and nothing less than standing in front and by the side of the OPEN MIC.

On Thursday January 27, NEW YORK BAGELS CAFÉ became full, little by little of the young-at-heart, rappers, poets, urban artists, English Speakers, Spanish Speakers, the True "melting pot" Panama IS.

Each one poured their poetry, their improvisation and thus the atmosphere was created, it was growing, wrapping us, it nourished from us, among coffee, bagels, DJ`s mixes, incidental music, and color, heat, Souls came out, the True Colors, of Spirit danced, we embraced ourselves in a primal, ageless Bonfire.

I`m positive that every artist will hold very dear in his/her heart this experience and longs, yearns to repeat it.

MARTA, CLIFF, and all the COLLECTIVE WISDOM!!! Keep on keeping on!!! An acknowledgement to you.-

EDILBERTO GONZÁLEZ-TREJOS
February 3, 2009