I'm very grateful to all the people of Fresno, to Philip Levine and all the poets before me, and all the farmworkers. I didn't get here by myself. Juan Felipe Herrera farmworkerfresnograteful Change image and share on social
Perhaps, like the way these leaves spread out and the way they curl in many directions and how they have many features, I think that's how my road has been. Juan Felipe Herrera curldirectionfeature Change image and share on social
My mother was a great storyteller and a great historian in her own way. She only made it to third grade. She came from Mexico City at the tail end of the Mexican Revolution and that kind of turmoil and chaos and frenzy and also excitement. Juan Felipe Herrera chaoscityend 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
In my writing, I want to address all communities, you know. I've spent many years talking about Chicano culture, Chicano history, and at the same time, I've also been in many communities and presented my work in many communities, in many classrooms, and that's where my vision is and my delight is and my heart is. Juan Felipe Herrera addresschicanoclassroom share on social
I used to stand on the corner in San Diego with poems sticking out of my hip pocket, asking people if there was a place where I could read poems. The audience is half of the poem. Juan Felipe Herrera audiencecornerdiego Change image and share on social
Yes, I am the first Latino poet laureate in the United States. But I'm also here for everyone and from everyone. My voice is made by everyone's voices. Juan Felipe Herrera latinolaureatemake Change image and share on social
I am representing California, and all of California, definitely as a Mexicano, a Chicano, a Latino. Juan Felipe Herrera californiachicanolatino Change image and share on social
I remember looking at James Joyce's journals. It was just amazing - it looked like ants had written on the page. So much writing on one page, every corner of the page was filled. Some of the lines were underlined in yellow or blue or red. A lot of color, intense writing. Juan Felipe Herrera amazeantblue share on social
Marvin Bell always looked very closely at how lines could break, how you could put over one line into the second line. How you could stop the line two or three times within the line: You could make it stop. Juan Felipe Herrera bellbreakclosely share on social