raul r salinas - poeta of Austin

Here's the latest communique . . . on raulrsalinas' health (11 Jul 2006). [Thanks to Rene Valdez, raul's assistant at the bookstore, and fellow activista, for sending us this update.]


Saludos desde South Austin,
 
Greetings to all our comrades, friends, family, and supporters,
 
I am not sure if you have heard, but raulrsalinas, our elder, teacher, & brother, was in a Houston hospital this past weekend.  
 
He is suffering from an ulcerated esophagus.  While visiting Houston last week, he started to cough up/vomit blood.  An ambulance picked him up and took him to a nearby hospital.  Unfortunately, the doctors had problems stopping the bleeding and they told us it was very serious.  So they immediately put him in a helicopter and flew him to St. Luke's Hospital in downtown Houston.
 
Thanks to Great Spirit, the doctors & nurses managed to stabilize him by stopping the bleeding.  He remained there until Tuesday July 4.  We had quite a scare!
 
raul is doing better now.  He is now at home resting and slowly recovering.  However, raul is not entirely out of the red.  He visited the doctor today, and he was told that besides the ulcerated esophagus he also suffers from cirrhosis of the liver.  And because of the cirrhosis, the liver is not working like it should, which is causing a back up of blood flow in the esophagus area.  
 
We would like to thank all our comrades, family, friends, & supporters for the good strong healing energy & prayers sent to our elder raul.  We also want to thank everyone for their messages, cards, and gifts.
 
raul is on the slow road to recovery & is resting at home.  As each day goes by, he is gaining strength & clarity, but he is still limited in mobility & energy.    
 
He went to see his doctor today for a check up on his condition.  His doctor gave him a "thumbs up"/approval to go ahead & conduct class tomorrow at St. Edward's University.  But he warned raul not to overdo it.   He also give him permission to slowly & to cautiously (at turtle speed) start going back to work at the bookstore with limited travel around the surrounding area.  
 
So despite the good news about getting back into the swing of things, raul will not return to the office until sometime next week.  He is being very cautious & conscious of getting energy and strength before getting back to work.  After this coming Wednesday, he will gradually begin to return everyone's phone calls, e-mails, and messages.
 
Also, raul will be going in for his first "banding" of the esophagus veins procedure on August 3.  For the time being, family & close friends will closely moniter raul's health; i.e. make sure he eats well, drinks lots of water, & gets some excercise to keep the blood circulating.
 
Once again, if you would like to leave a message for raul, you can e-mail them to this address &/or call me (Rene Valdez) at 512-416-8885.  I will relay any messages to him.  Or if you want to send him a card/letter, please send them to:
 
raulrsalinas
1801-A South First St.
Austin, Tex.  78704

We thank everyone for their support, energy, & prayers in this time of struggle!
 
Con Respeto y En Lucha,
 
Rene Valdez
Resistencia Bookstore
Red Salmon Arts

______________________________________________

And now, here is raul's poetic tribute to Keith Ferguson, former bassplayer for the Fabulous Thunderbirds. A fine example of raul's Xicanindio Beat style, which has often the feel and rhythm of the music of the moment--be it bebop, blues, or drumbeats from the rez.


Bass in Yo' Face

by Raul R. Salinas

pa' las scattered ashes de
mi camarada, Keith Ferguson

We Remember You, Ese!
in some South Town saloon
beyond soap creek
where Lobos howled
at the moon
while gonzo goons
fakirs in turbans
thunderbird wine/os
drinking native blood
racism floods the stage
rage at joo harpies
harping like so many
culture vultures
pillaging ancestral
music grounds

We Remember You, Ese!
in pink cadillac
cruisin' 6th. St.
East of the Freeway
on the "wrong side" of the wall
calling forth that morpheus
muse in hues of blues
up
'n'
down
alleyways
beyond Chief Bar
sweatin' ol' 14
(or whatever connection man)
to bring de mud/
puddles of poison
black tar
scars and abscesses
mar the bodyscape.

We Remember You, Ese!
exchanging fifties fotos
of pachuco poets
& seventies snapshots
of boss bassist
tocando al revez.
2 cats con tattoos
comparison en calo.