Last Saturday I really didn't want to leave my house. The day was cloudy and my mood was to stay between the sheets to rest. However, I have an overzealous group of friends who took the trouble to convince me to go out. However, as my friends are very very healthy, we clearly went to a literary club.

An hour before the event started it had started to rain. I wondered if for the second Saturday in a row the rain would spoil the plans. I waited, because I live near the bookstore where they would do the activity, and five minutes before I called one of my friends to confirm if the space was maintained. He replied that they were sitting there and waiting for me. And it was like that. The drizzle allowed me to arrive on time and a few minutes later the literary gathering "Voices of the Soul" began.

What is Voices of the Soul?

First of all, a space to promote literature. This one especially, is always dedicated to Teresa Melo, a poet from Santiago who recently died, but during her life she devoted herself strongly to creation, to publishing books and to promoting other artists in her field. In fact, the library where this space is made currently has her name. I was lucky enough to meet her and this photo next to her is a little treasure.

In this edition...

This Saturday the special guest was León Estrada, another poet and cultural promoter who shared many years of friendship with the honoree Teresa Melo. To begin, Ericka Castellanos, host of "Voices of the Soul", sang a song by Silvio Rodríguez that León himself likes very much. I've known Ericka for years, but I didn't know she sang so well.

From then on she established a conversation class with León Estrada. He refused to give many statements about Teresa Melo, since the memory and the wound are still recent. He said that it was much better to study the work she left us, and that's why several texts of the deceased were read.

A surprise that few people knew was that León's birthday was being celebrated, and that's why we all took a few minutes to sing congratulations to him.

The hour and a half that all this lasted, passed like a breath. It was so beautiful, so exciting to hear such an important writer speak, and how he considered his friend so deeply... Finally, Ericka sang another Silvio Rodríguez song and that was the end of the space.

Coffee with friends

This bookstore is one of the best services provided in the whole city. Now, in addition to the sale and exchange of books, there is a small cafe inserted with excellent gastronomic offers. My friends and I obviously ordered coffee (as always). When everything was over, Ericka, León Estrada and other writers who were there approached us. I was then invited to a poetry reading that will take place next Sunday, and I also found out about several calls to publicize my writings.

Definitely, for me who didn't even have the desire to leave the house, this story had an excellent plot twist. I hope you liked the post. All photos used are my property.

Until next time!

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