When I first met Jesús Papoleto Meléndez (affectionately known as “Papo”) thirteen years ago, it didn’t take long for me to realize that Papo is an old soul who is a kid at heart. The same man who was inspired to write from Mickey Mouse is also the same guy who takes politics and social issues to heart. Papo’s forth righteousness is refreshing and disarming in the midst of the pretentious politics one often finds in the writing community. What makes him a standout is that he has a sense of humor, both in conversation and on the page, yet he manages to unleash life’s ironies that are often ignored, sparing the reader from drowning in self-righteous sentimentality. As a gifted storyteller, Papo’s poetry sparkles with intensity and his stories are valued in tone, forging an enchanting amalgam of memory and imagination. >>READ MORE

To read Papo’s poems, check out the Poet’s Corner.

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