Salem Poetry Project Featuring Nitza M. Hernández-López

Nitza M. Hernández-López, also known as Nitza Hernandez, is a distinguished bilingual Puerto Rican poet and visual artist living in Salem, Oregon, for the past eleven years. Holding a Ph.D. in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and retired from the University of Puerto Rico, Nitza boasts a successful career as an educator. Nitza’s poetry has graced the pages of various printed and online anthologies and journals in English and Spanish. Adding a unique dimension to her literary expression, she takes on the role of translator for her work. This skill enhances the depth and breadth of her creative endeavors. In a recent milestone, Nitza celebrated the publication of her inaugural book of poetry in Spanish, titled Travesía en espiral por la Tierra, en el amor y el universo (‘Spiral Journey through the Earth, in Love and the Universe’). This collection of poems is divided into five parts and invites readers to reflect on profound themes such as life and death, nature, love, social and environmental injustice, and the transcendence of our existence. Nitza’s verses are authentic, emanating from deep-seated emotions and a vision replete with hope, peace, and a commitment to social justice. Travesía en espiral is a poetry book that flows from the author’s heart and is enriched by her art.

The Salem Poetry Project continues at the Bush Barn Annex, 600 Mission St SE, Salem. Parking for the Bush Barn and Bush House is located off of High Street and the Annex entrance is just to the left of the main entrance. Each week will present a featured reader followed by the Infamous Open Mic: 3 poems or five minutes whichever is first. Featured reader begins at 7:00 and the open mic will directly follow. For more information contact Marc Janssen at [email protected].