The Concrete River: Poems

by Luis J. Rodríguez

1991 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award for Literary Excellence

The Concrete River is a collection of poems by poet laureate of Los Angeles Luis Rodríguez. They illuminate the gritty idiosyncrasies of immigrant life in urban barrios spanning Los Angeles to Chicago to Harlem. Rodríguez lends powerful voices to those struggling to keep the gas on, to find work, and to keep love.  Populated by a vibrant cast of characters, ranging from the drugged, to the eccentric, to the heartbroken, Rodríguez’s poems protest capitalism, violence, and exploitation while reveling in the potential of compassion.

Genres: Poetry

125 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Luis J. Rodríguez (b. 1954) is a poet, journalist, memoirist, and author of children’s books, short stories, and novels. His documentation of urban and Mexican immigrant life has made him one of the most prominent Chicano literary voices in the United States. Born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican immigrant parents, Rodríguez grew up in Los Angeles, where in his teen years he joined a gang, lived on the streets, and became addicted to heroin. In his twenties, after turning his back on gang violence and drugs, Rodríguez began his career as a journalist and then award-winning poet, writing such books as the memoir Always Running (1993), and the poetry collections The Concrete River (1991), Poems Across the Pavement (1989), and Trochemoche (1998). He has also written the short story collection The Republic of East L.A. (2002). Rodríguez maintains an arts center, bookstore, and poetry press in L.A., where he continues writing and working to mediate gang violence.

Reviews

[A. Razor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets passed around in the California Department of Corrections quite a bit. It is one of the most popular books for inmates to read. It is true Chicano poetry at its roots that outlines the struggle of living in the Greater part of L.A. that doesn't have much to do with movie stars and tourist filled beaches. It is words that depict the life blood of the city pumped along the concrete arteries by the beating heart of its most overlooked peoples. This book of poems has touched a lot of lives in and out of the joint, but I picked it up inside first and now I read it outside the walls and the meaning of the imagery just gets stronger for me everytime my eyes eat up the words again.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

TIME: i could be better with reading more of this book. I usualy open it when i need inspiration or feel like reading poetry. But i plan on reading it more everynight at home before i go to bed. Today i just read about four pages. I read it in class while i waited for it to end. I remembered how much i love Luis Rodriguez's poetry.

GOAL SETTING: My goal for this week is to read daily. I need to make time. My goal was also to try to figure out how to update for my journal, and i am doing t now so i am pretty successful in doing what i say i will do.


META-COGNITIVE REFLECTION: On a rainy day i picked this book up and it hit the spot. Luis explains his life in a poem.. I think that is whats so amazing about this book. Luis explains a part of his life when he was married with a woman that worked at a bar. She asked him to come along with her and sit in the corner so if any man tries to touch or offend her then he would stand up and take care of the situation. The frustration flowing out of his poem was amazing. It was like a territorial dog chained up in a cage, watching an intruder break into his house. Luis had to watch other men look and hit on his wife as he sat in a dark corner helpless.. This showed how much he loved his wife, i had no iddea that he was married and i read his book. Everything he sais has so much feeling and explanation there are no questions asked. i love it.

[Susana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought back so many memories of growing up in WATTS. He does a wonderful job of putting into words how hard life is in the ghetto. For those of you who ever wondered what it is to live in such a place, you must read it.

My favorite poem is WATTS BLEEDS line after line brought back the images of so long ago, the sadness as well as the despair.

[AmaliaLuz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always have fond memories of this books as the first book of poetry that ever touched my soul.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of poetry's strengths is the ability to carry an emotion. While literature may do this too, poetry distills it down to a single feeling or a single thought that gets muddied in the long form of prose. I find it can also break through my barriers knife-quick, striking sharp pangs of empathy.

All this to say that I know nothing of the 1980s milieu of down-and-out Californians, but Rodriguez gets me closer to feeling for them. It's a rare mood to feel for a spray-paint junkie, and not-common enough to feel for the POC or poverty stricken, particularly if they've had a hand in their plight.

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of poems. Real Real Real . Real life Real grit Real Tears REAL POETRY!

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable collection of poetry. My favorites include the title poem as well as "Soundtrack," "Always Running," and "The Rooster who Thought It was a Dog."

[Alberto Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping. Every poem left me wanting to read and reread over and over again.

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant collection of poems. This book has been on my shelf for six or seven years. I only wish I'd gotten to it sooner. Sad, dark, inspiring, and full of love.