If I can only be known as one thing, then, well, I guess it would be poet and performer and teacher. Juan Felipe Herrera guessperformerpoet Change image and share on social
My mother was a washerwoman - or a woman that cleaned houses in Texas... in Plano, Texas - who always loved poetry and always loved stories. Juan Felipe Herrera cleanhouselove Change image and share on social
First grade was - I spoke only Spanish, and second grade - probably a bit more English. And by the time I hit third grade, I was learning, of course, much, much more English. Juan Felipe Herrera biteenglishgrade Change image and share on social
All voices are important, and yet it seems that people of color have a lot to say, particularly if you look through the poetry of young people - a lot of questions and a lot of concerns about immigration and security issues, you name it - big questions. Juan Felipe Herrera bigcolorconcern share on social
The more we engage in society, the more firsts we have, then there will be a moment when we have no more firsts. Or maybe there will always be new firsts. Juan Felipe Herrera engagefirstmoment Change image and share on social
I want to take everything I have in me, weave it, merge it with the beauty that is in the Library of Congress, all the resources, the guidance of the staff and departments, and launch it with the heart-shaped dreams of the people. Juan Felipe Herrera beautycongressdepartment share on social
Poetry, as odd as it is, and as hard to figure out as it is, many times, it's almost something that we're used to. It's kind of like a dream language that we had centuries ago, so that when we speak poetically or write a poem about what's going on, a real difficult issue that's facing our communities, people listen. Juan Felipe Herrera agocenturycommunity share on social
Diversity really means becoming complete as human beings - all of us. We learn from each other. If you're missing on that stage, we learn less. We all need to be on that stage. Juan Felipe Herrera beingcompletediversity Change image and share on social
Do not wait for a poem; a poem is too fast for you. Do not wait for the poem; run with the poem and then write the poem. Juan Felipe Herrera fastpoemrun Change image and share on social