We Had Our Reasons by Ricardo Ruiz

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Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum is delighted to welcome Washington author Ricardo Ruiz for an evening of poetry celebrating his debut poetry collection We Had Our Reasons.

We Had Our Reasons is a collection of poems created by Ricardo Ruiz in collaboration with other members of his Mexican farm community in Eastern Washington. The poems, vivid and pointed, guide the reader through the thoughts and struggles that come with the decision to leave one’s home in Mexico, and travel to this remote, rural community of the United States. Through the book access is provided to readers; stories that have gone untold for generations are now shared, evoking conversation at home and within the community due to the commonality of experiences. A glimpse into the multi-generational effects of migration is seen through the recounting of the stories of both parents and their children - both documented and undocumented. Ricardo’s raw and unapologetic style cuts right into the emotions of each moment divulged in short, punching, powerful pieces.

Biographies and transcripts follow the poems, showcasing the origins of the stories and the people in the book. The book, from Pulley Press, is created with a documentary method, a poetry “pulley.” A pulley can assist in shifting and moving objects. It allows a clothesline to spin across its wheel and shuttle clothes into the sun. A "poetry pulley” is the mechanism that a publisher might use to reel in the poems made by rural poets with their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family, and then glide these poems into the hands of readers.

Ricardo Ruiz is a multi-dimensional writer of poetry and prose. The son of potato factory workers, Ricardo hails from Othello, Washington. His work draws from his experience as a first-generation Mexican-American, and from his military service. Ricardo holds an Associate Degree in Business and Accounting from Big Bend Community College, where he was recognized as Student of the Year in both Business and Economics, and English Composition. He also holds a Bachelor of Art in Creative Writing from the University of Washington. While in the military, Ricardo earned the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving on four deployments, two to Afghanistan. His debut collection of poetry reached #1 on Amazon’s Hispanic-American Poetry Chart and was selected as a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. He is passionate about elevating marginalized voices from rural communities and takes pride in being a conduit for cultural connection.