Elena

“Curandera” (1984) by Pat Mora

In this poem published in the same collection as “Elena,” Mora describes a curandera, which is Spanish for a female folk healer who mixes medicinal plants and uses spiritualism to treat illnesses. It is a good example of Mora’s interest in people who remain strongly connected with indigenous traditions and beliefs.

“Ode to Teachers” (2010) by Pat Mora

The speaker in this poem recalls the encouragement and support they received from a teacher who helped them gain confidence in themselves and their writing. The poem reflects Mora’s belief that children’s creativity should be encouraged.

“My Rock” (2021) by Pat Mora

This poem is about the connection between human beings and the natural world, an important indigenous belief and a frequent theme in Mora’s poetry.

Pat Mora’s Personal Website

This well-developed and colorful website contains a great deal of information about the poet and her multifaceted work. It also includes a bibliography of articles and scholarly studies for more in-depth study of Mora’s writing.

“Pat Mora (Listen to the Desert/Oye al Desierto)” (2014)

In this video interview for ¡Colorín Colorado! Pat Mora talks about how important it is for readers, especially children, to see in literary works people who look like them and names similar to theirs.