Today a writing prompt at the Creative Bloomings blog inspired me, enough so that I wanted to share the results with book lovers who read my blog. The prompt was to write a poem in tribute to a writer who inspires me. I chose to write about Luis Alberto Urrea, the author of one of my favorite novels, The Hummingbird’s Daughter. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. He has also written several other terrific works, and I’ve had a chance to hear him speak twice – another experience I recommend. He’s a fun oral storyteller, sure to move any audience to belly laughter or heartfelt tears. As I work on my own historical novel, I keep in mind his dedication to the true artistry it takes to reveal the inner heart of a story. Here are some of my feelings about this inspirational author and the masterpiece he created:

A Tribute to Luis Alberto Urrea

He spent 20 years unearthing her past,
A true family myth whom he had not met.
A wellspring of faith, of magic, of war.
A column of fire before Mexico’s poor.
The saint-girl healed with curandera secrets,
History revived and laughing with life.
Tortillas and desert, coffee and cactus.
Thick salty pages where heroes still live.
Imagined rancheros and memories of mountains.
The author spreads his feast for the dead,
Not for fame or glory or name softly spoken.
Words of Mexican, Woman, and reason for pride,
In tales that light sparks once quiescent inside.