Poetry is a sublime gift life has given us. It confronts us with the ordinary reality, it tell us no to settle for less than we deserve, and those who appreciate it shelter in it. We follow poets, minstrels or singers who invite us to think and break paradigms.

Stay still and accept for anything cannot be the answer nowadays. It might have been so in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and, of course, the 2000’s.  Therefore, it is always surprising when someone stands up, faces the situation and tries to do something to improve it. 

Gilberto Mendoza was one of them. He broke paradigm of those people with power, because he made a good use of it.  He did not let his position cheat him and used it to help others. The best examples are Fidel Bassa, Antonio Cervantes, Hilario Zapata, Leo Gamez, Roberto Duran, Luvi Callejas and so many other boxers, who thanks to him had the opportunity to fulfill their dream.

He was always smiling, joking, a hard-working man of strong convictions and great friends. He enjoyed life as much as he could; he watched boxing and even danced a bit. In his youth he practiced boxing and play soccer. In his adolescence as a bachelor and university. In his adult life as a postgraduate, and doctorate student, politician, scout and sports leader.

Gilberto made a poem of this life, with all that entails; he lived to the fullest and faced what he had to. His well thought speeches and writings are proof of this. They are proof of its validity, proof that he was a man ahead of his time.

Today his utmost tribute, his Hall of Fame is those people who remember him, from Venezuela to Germany.  For a man like him there is no better tribute. Antonio Machado, made us sing “Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar” (Walker there is no trail, we make the trail by walking”; and he did make a great trail, and just as a misunderstood poet, he has not been given the place he deserves in Canastota.  

Today we raise our left hand, that of the heart, to thank him so much Mr. Gilberto.