Mariano Zaro on Poets Cafe
The following interview of Mariano Zaro by Lois P. Jones originally aired on KPFK Los Angeles on August 29th, 2009 (reproduced with permission and thanks to producer Marlena Bond).
Biographical Information—Mariano Zaro
Mariano Zaro (www.marianozaro.com) is the author of three poetry books: Where From/Desde Donde (Bay Books, Santa Monica), Poems of Erosion/Poemas de la erosión and The House of Mae Rim/La casa de Mae Rim (both with Carayan Press, San Francisco). His poems have been included in the anthologies Al Aire Nuevo (San Luis Potosí, Mexico), New Baroque (Los Angeles), LA Melange (Los Angeles), River’s Voice (Los Angeles), The Seattle Muse (Seattle) and Luces y Sombras (Tafalla, Spain). As a fiction writer, his short stories have appeared in several literary journals in Spain and the United States: Menos 15, El signo del gorrión, Caracola, The Louisville Review, Poeticdiversity, The Baltimore Review, Pinyon and The Portland Review. In 2004 he received the Roanoke Review Short Fiction Prize. He has translated American poets Philomene Long, Alicia Vogl Sáenz, Sarah Maclay, Michelle Mitchell-Foust and Marie Lecrivain. This translation has been published under the title Seis Californianas. He earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Granada (Spain) and a Master´s in Literature from the University of Zaragoza (Spain). He conducts poetry workshops and he currently teaches Spanish and Spanish Literature at Whittier College, Rio Hondo College and Pasadena City College.
NOTA BIOGRÁFICA
Mariano Zaro ha publicado tres libros de poesía: Where From/Desde Donde (Bay Books, Santa Mónica), Poems of Erosion/Poemas de la erosión y The House of Mae Rim/La casa de Mae Rim (esto dos últimos con Carayan Press, San Francisco). Sus poemas han sido incluidos en las antologías Al Aire Nuevo (San Luis Potosí, México), New Baroque (LosÁngeles), LA Melange (Los Ángeles), River’s Voice (Los Ángeles), The Seattle Muse (Seattle) y Luces y Sombras (Tafalla, Spain). También ha escrito narrativa; su obra en prosa ha aparecido en varias revistas de España y de Estados Unidos: Menos 15, El signo del gorrión, Caracola, The Louisville Review, Poeticdiversity, The Baltimore Review, Pinyon y The Portland Review. En 2004 ganó el premio de relato breve Roanoke Review. Ha traducido a las poetas norteamericanas Philomene Long, Alicia Vogl Sáenz, Sarah Maclay, Michelle Mitchell-Foust y Marie Lecrivain. Esta traducción se ha publicado con el título Seis californianas. Tiene un Doctorado en Lingüística por la Unversidad de Granada (Spain) y una Licenciatura en Filosofía y Letras por la Universidad de Zaragaoza (Spain). En la actualidad lleva a cabo talleres de creación literaria y da clases de español y de literatura española en Whittier College, Rio Hondo College y Pasadena City College.
Dear Lois,
This is an illuminating interview with an interesting poet. Of course I’m biased, readily admitting that the Latin life style in most of its forms is my soft spot having spent so much time & lived next or amidst Spanish culture.
What interests me in addition is whether Mariano Zaro represents the modern/contemporary state of poetry in Spain & how much his stay in the USA altered the expressions of his thoughts. After so many years in the USA it undeniably has altered mine, therefore my interest in Mr. Zaro’s view on this… but maybe it’s a question for the future.
Thanks for a pleasant half hour.
Alex
Lois, your insight to other talented people’s mind and soul fascinates me.
Listening to your interviews gives me an opportunity to learn so much about poetry and helps me to getting to a higher awareness level. You are fortunate to interview a unique poet like Marino Zaro.