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Alexis Díaz Pimienta

The VIII International Congress of the Spanish Language was held in the beautiful city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. This year edition was devoted to creativity, and it was very just that the “décima” and the improvisation were present.

My involvement was as a poet writer. The Congress had begun and ended with “décimas” because of my improvisations. And we, the improvisers and “decimistas” of an entire continent, were very happy. Language scholars rediscovered the validity and strength of these traditions, faithful redoubts of the good work of the language when we speak of creativity.

The VII International Language Congress was very useful for giving the “décimas” and the improvisation the visibility and respect they deserve as poetic and musical expression; so that the Language Academies of all our countries use them as an educational ally and a methodological complement to the teaching of language and poetry. This was my paper: "The poetic improvisation is a very serious game. Teaching improvising, improvising when learning.” It also served for children and young improvisers of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the rest of Latin America to see and recognize in their work much more than the defense of folk musical traditions. They can see it as a bulwark in defense of the Spanish language, something so important in Puerto Rico and its relentless fight to defend their country linguistic identity.

To see how an entire population, from its politicians and academics to its merchants, farmers and artists defend their language with the same force others defend their flags and trenches was a unique experience. Puerto Ricans have made their language both their flag and trench.

The presence of the King and Queen of Spain is customary on the opening day of the Congress of the Spanish Language. Now it has been the turn of King Felipe and Queen Leticia.

The congress ended with a concert of dancing music. We could enjoy the performance of La Sonora Ponceña, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and a musical genius named Oscar de León.

I came to feel like what I was, a peasant in the court of King Cervantes surrounded by academics, a happy apprentice of many things.