 Alexandra Ostolaza Finds Voice and Flight in Puerto Rico’s Poet’s Passage
By Robert Waddell, July 3, 2009
When Alexandra Ostolaza was 12-years-old, she made a life affirming decision after surviving a car crash and a massive head injury.
“I remember lying on the side of the road,” said Ostolaza of her accident, which left her with a six inch scar on the left side of her forehead.
“I was thinking I could die,” Ostolaza said, “and I haven’t done a single thing with my life. I was determined to change that. I know it sounds cliché and trite but I was going to make something of my life.”
Six years later, Ostolaza is publishing her first book of poems “Ajeno” by Poets Passage Press.
This evening in late June, Ostolaza breezes onto the stage at the Poet’s Passage in El Viejo San Juan wearing a striking shimmering white dress ready to host a weekly Tuesday poetry reading. Her presence typifies the vibrancy of Puerto Rico and her own poetry, which is full of love and longing. The scar is now only modestly visible. Throughout the evening, she weaves her poetry into this night’s performance right before she introduces other poets onto the stage.
These weekly verbal excursions are not hard core poetry slams one finds at the Nuyorican Poets Café but a sedate, relaxing, thought provoking island poetry. At the corner of Calle Cruz, with Plaza Las Armas framed behind her, Ostolaza resembles Anita Ekberg in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita.”
Ostolaza projects confidence, a striking Amazonian figure with big curly hair. She speaks precociously, wise beyond her years and looks mature for 18. Having just graduated from Episcopal Cathedral School this year, in the fall, Ostolaza will enter Wellesley College, near Boston, with aspirations of studying linguistics and economics. She expects to graduate in 2013.
“Ajeno is something that doesn't belong to you, something forbidden,” said Ostolaza of the title to her first book.
When Ostolaza was a child, she said that she hardly ever watched television and read voraciously. She wrote short stories but it wasn't until a friend gave her a copy of “A Light in the Attic” by Shel Silverstein that she wanted to write poetry.
 Last year, while taking a sculpture class, Ostolaza discovered the Poet’s Passage in Old San Juan. It was Lady Lee Andrews, founder of the Poets Passage, who befriended Ostolaza, gave her an unlined sketch book for writing and a chance to host the weekly poetry events.
Using the blank space on the page and her imagination, Ostolaza said that she began composing poetry based on feelings and observations of people she saw while going to work and coming home at night. Soon after, she was hosting the Poet’s Passage’s weekly poetry nights on Tuesday.
“The first time I hosted I was so nervous, the initial panic and terror set in,” Ostolaza said, “After a while it felt natural being on stage and it was a great experience.”
In attendance this June 23rd when Ostolaza hosted, were members of the poetry collective Entre Lineas who, along with Andrews, came to recite their Caribbean flavored is no longing for the mother country. These poets live and grew up in Puerto Rico so their words don’t reflect a nostalgic desire for the past however they do reflect words of power, love, sensitivity, determination and grace. If poetry were perfume, the Nuyorican is Fahrenheit and Puerto Rican, Chanel Number 5.
The lights were dimmed at 7 p.m. on time, sweet tropical air was blown around by ceiling fans and the cozy room was filled with books, big sofas and a soothing Middle Eastern quality. If there’s a comparison to New York, The Poet’s Passage harkens back to New York coffee houses, which weren't as comfortable as this space.
“It was the qualities she possessed as a poet outside of the word,” said Andrews about publishing and trusting Ostolaza with hosting poetry night. “You can have a beautiful face but if your soul is also a poet's then you can't go wrong.”
The Poet’s Passage is the brain child of local San Juan poet and entrepreneur Andrews who wanted to create a home away from home for poets and their linguistic devotees.
As reported in Virtual Boricua. Org, in December, 2008, Andrews said, “ ‘Every poet has the right to be treated like other people. Poets are put on the back burner. The Poet’s Passage allows poets to earn a living.’
 “Andrews has taken on the cause of poetry: to promote, publish and help support struggling poets as much as possible. She uses her gift shop, which sells books, prints and ceramic houses to fund the poets who come through Andrews’s doors. She provides the space and resources for readings, allowing poets to learn or teach their craft. If it has to do with poetry, Andrews is involved.”
On this night, Andrews, who normally hosts, was concerned about the flow of the evening but any fears she may have had were dissuaded when Ostolaza took the stage. And with her customary throaty voice began to speak in a sedate tone, putting the audience members at ease.
“Alexandra has a distinguished style,” said Antonio Mayo of Puerto Rico’s poetry collective Entre Linas. “I like the way she interprets life….Her work is varied. There’s no classification; every time she gets up to read she surprises the audience.”
Ostolaza’s poems are full of metaphorical word play about love and clever what-might-have-been moments of being close to a lover that the narrator desires but sometimes she does not get what she wants. The voice of the poet is full of sensual longing and wanting. In “Closer,” Ostolaza writes, “A charming smile, all at once your lips are planting seeds on the sides of my neck, weaving paths of harvest across expanses of naked brown skin, toasted to match the color of the soil.”
One can read more of Ostolaza’s poetry on her page at www.toomanylegs.blogspot.com.
“Ajeno” will be available in mid-July from the Poet’s Passage in El Viejo San Juan, thepoetspassage.libsyn.com.
“I like playing with words,” said Ostolaza. “I want to leave something behind so when I'm gone people will know that someone thought that and felt that way. As for the future it’s a big gray area but it'll get really bright, it'll get a whole lot better.”
This story was developed through the Education Beat Writing Fellowship at the New York Community Alliance. |
