Jesús Papoleto Meléndez

Jesús Papoleto Meléndez (June 13, 1950) is a New York-born Puerto Rican poet, playwright, teacher, and activist that is closely associated with the Nuyorican Movement.

Quotes

• Poetry belongs everywhere, of course — but especially in the classroom…
  • On poetry becoming an after school activity rather than a part of the curriculum in “A Legend Speaks: An Interview with Nuyorican Poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez” in Medium (2019 Oct 27)

• …Poetry is not a stepping-stone to fortune and fame, or Hollywood for that matter — where, if the poet where [sic] to seek that, he or she would trade their voice for that of Hollywood, or fortune and fame, and lose their use of poetry. Poetry does not compromise itself for such mundane material.
  • On the non-commercial quality of true poetry in “A Legend Speaks: An Interview with Nuyorican Poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez” in Medium (2019 Oct 27)

• …There is no such a thing as an old poet. People are younger and older, chronologically, because of math of calendars, but spirits are young and old simultaneously. Poetry as a professional, life-long pursuit is one that offers wisdom with age, and that’s to be respected…
  • On what he hopes to see from future Puerto Rican poets in “A Legend Speaks: An Interview with Nuyorican Poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez” in Medium (2019 Oct 27)

• …All of my poems, to me, have always had an intonation to them, and I think that’s really part and parcel to the nature of writing poetry anyway. My poetry is different from the typical iambic pentameter. It’s not linear because it cascades and goes down the page like an escalator.
  • On his poetry style (as quoted in the book Hey Yo ! Yo Soy! 40 Years Of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition)