Cenzontle/Mockingbird (YA Edition): Songs of Empowerment (Poetry * Drama)($10.00Value)

Description

Young Adult edition of a code-switching collection of diverse poetic forms, styles, and personas celebrating the dynamics of the human voice & spirit. Age-appropriate language suitable for YA readers--with thought-provoking teacher-created questions for discussion following each piece or paired pieces and occasional writing prompts. Daniel García Ordaz, the Poet Mariachi, the author of You Know What I'm Sayin'?, encourages readers to perform the text aloud, such as his adaptation of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." A polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through performance. Influenced by and dedicated to the memories of Maya Angelou and Gloria E. Anzaldúa. "I loved every single word. It's empowerment. It's brilliant. 'Famous' needs to be published in school texts. Rich in culture, infused with power, García's collection of poetry is an inspirational anthem for today's youth." ~YA Librarian Margie Longoria(Margie's Must Reads blog) The poems in Cenzontle/Mockingbird sing with wordplay, rhythm, and honesty. Daniel García Ordaz writes edgy, fun, and moving poems that explore the contradictions of life in the borderlands and beyond. Tackling the tough issues such as racial discrimination, poverty, and gender inequality with sharp wit, endearing humor, and grace, these poems ring with empowerment for all. García Ordaz is a vital voice in contemporary poetry at once delightful and always resounding with truth. --Katie HoerthEditor, Lamar University Literary Press For this YA Edition, I give the reader the chance to walk in someone else's shoes by trying on their voices. My collection is a polythetic assortment of poetry, lyrics, and drama that serves as a polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through mimicry. Like a mockingbird, whom the Aztecs call "cenzontle" in their Nahuatl tongue, my writer's voice is polyvoiced. I include in this collection an eclectic variety of voices: personas, languages, forms, styles, and identities--often mixing them, in part to entertain and in part to challenge my boundaries as a writer, to stretch my vocal chords, so to speak, but also in part to challenge the lingering prejudice against such mestizaje--or meeting and mixing of cultures (and also voices)--and help convert our society into one that accepts itself as it is: polyglossic and stronger for it. As Maya Angelou reminded us, indeed "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." The sooner we embrace that truth, the sooner we can all join in the song that is America--the song that includes blues and jazz and conjunto and zydeco and yodeling and rap and bluegrass twang and zapateadas. A code-switching collection of English, Spanish, Spanglish/Tex-Mex, of diverse poetic forms, styles, and personas celebrating the dynamics of the human voice and spirit. Includes teacher-created questions to guide discussions accompanying each piece or paired selection and occasional writing prompts. Daniel García Ordaz is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival and the author of  You Know What I m Sayin'?  (El Zarape Press, 2006),  Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment  (FlowerSong Books, 2018) and  Cenzontle/Mockingbird (YA Edition): Songs of Empowerment  (El Zarape Press, 2018). His focus is on the power of language, which he celebrates in his writings and talks. In April 2017, García Ordaz defended his thesis,  Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Empowerment Through Mimicry , to complete his terminal degree, an MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Over the years, he has edited several books and anthologies, such as  Twenty: In Memoriam.  García is a teacher and writer, and an emerging voice in American, Mexican American, Chicano, and Latino poetry. His poems have appeared in numerous literary journals, academic collections, and anthologies. He was born in Houston in 1971 and raised in Mission, Texas. García also a song-writer, former newspaper journalist, photographicationisticator, and word-maker-upper. He appears in the documentary,  "ALTAR: Cruzando fronteras/Building bridges"  itself an altar offering to the late Chicana scholar and artist Gloria E. Anzaldúa, one of his great influences for this collection. García has been a featured reader and guest at numerous literary events, including the Dallas International Book Fair, McAllen Book Festival, Texas Library Association events, TAIR, TABE, and Border Book Bash, among others. García also served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from The University of Texas-Pan American. He lives in the Rio Grande Valley of deep South Texas with his wife and children and he continues to teach write, sing, and spend time in front of a crowd as often as he can. García Ordaz is listed in Poets & Writers. Find him on YouTube and follow him at @poetmariachi.