Poetry. Latino/Latina Studies. "Cumpián's (poetry) creates a persona merging barrio tough and intellectual. Like his rhythmic bilingual idiom, his representations switch classes and codes, cross borders and colonies of cultural conflict"—Sheldon Silver. "Here are poems of the language leapers and syntax shakers, the bien crazy y muy cool, archangels of desire, forgotten wise and remembered foolish. Blessed are these because here is their gladiator-in-the-desert armed with magic markers and spray paint—neither hoity, ni siquiera toity, in the best tradition of the spoken word. In the beginning was la palabra, and brother, it was good"—Sandra Cisneros.

Author City: CHICAGO, IL USA

Carlos Cumpián, a Chicano writer, examines American realities absent from mainstream poetry. Although he hails from San Antonio, Texas, Cumpián has planted firm roots in the Midwest. Cumpián was named among the Chicago Public Library's "Top Ten" most requested poets and his poetry has been published in small press magazines as well as numerous anthologies. He has taught at Columbia College in Chicago and has offered workshops on poetry and small press management. His books include 14 ABRILES: POEMS (MARCH/Abrazo Press), Latino Rainbow (Children's Press/Scholastic Books), Armadillo Charm (Tia Chucha Press), and COYOTE SUN (MARCH/Abrazo Press).