My Own True Name by Pat Mora

My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults

by Pat Mora

Image Credit: My Own True Name at https://www.patmora.com

1. Bibliography

Mora, Pat. Illustrator Anthony Accardo. My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults, 1984-1999. Houston: Pinata Books, 2000. ISBN 9781558852921

2. Plot Summary

In this anthology, Pat Mora has gathered the best of her poems with young-adult readers in mind and has added to them several new poems published here for the first time. Using the cactus plant as her guiding metaphor for our existence, she presents more than sixty lyrics grouped variously into "Blooms," "Thorns," and "Roots." Each section opens with a line drawing by artist Anthony Accardo, and the whole is prefaced by a brief introduction, "Dear Fellow Writer," in the poet's uniquely warm and informal voice. Much like a blossoming young man or woman, My Own True Name has been fifteen years in the making. And lovers of poetry will find it - like a lovingly tended garden - an eye-opening and delightful place to enjoy and explore. (Summary Credit: My Own True Name at patmora.com)

3. Critical Analysis

There is no one central character in this book of poems however, there are poems about different people like Georgia O’Keefe, The Young Sor Juana (Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz) or more general like teenagers, mothers and daughters, Peruvian Child, Immigrants, To My Son, and Strong Women.  Each of these poems then goes on to describe the title character(s). The author does a good job of relating these characters experiences without being stereotypical.  For instance, in the poem Elena, the author tells the struggle of a mother who struggles to understand her children who speak English at home when Elena says she “stands by the stove and feel dumb, alone” “embarrassed by her mispronounced words.”  It is a very defined portrayal of a woman who is afraid she will be “deaf when her children need her help.”

The setting of the poems gives a clear depiction of place.  The author describes the desert plant life; cactus, creosote bushes, Spanish Dagger, red prickly pear, palm trees, mesquite and desert grass. And, further defines the setting with the animals (coyote and scorpions) and other environmental inclusions (Rio Grande river, adobe buildings, and dirt paths).  She paints a picture you can visualize.

The poems are rich with cultural details that enhance the visualization of word picture the author is painting.  The people are described as brown-eyed, with brown bony hugs, long brown braids, and brown hugs.  The characters wear a straw hat, shawls, and bangles. And, they have names like Lucero, Dona Luz, Esperanza and her abuelita (Grandmother who refused to learn English). Several Spanish words are used within the body of the poems (mama, el desierto es mi madre, hierbabuena, abrazzos, cuentos, en espanol, mercado, plaza, manta, Corazon).  And, even though the meaning of the word can be derived from the context, they are defined in footnotes at the bottom of the page. The foods that they eat are descriptive of the culture such as tortillas, mangoes, garlic, onion, chiles, bean and coconut.  In addition, there are Hispanic celebrations with pinatas and cascarones.  They celebrate with guitars, violins, trumpets, drums, and flutes.

The simple drawings for each chapter (Blooms, Thorns, and Roots) add to the telling by illustrating the various parts of the cactus.  Some of the most appeal parts of Ms. Mora’s poems come from learning new things like Spanish words, what it must feel like to live in the desert, the oral traditions of the culture, or using ochre and yucca brushes to paint.  But most appealing to me was the way the poems paint the image in your head like describing a poinsettia as ‘that stained your green leaves red’.

4. Review Experts

~ From Booklist: “Interlaced with Mexican phrases and cultural symbols, these powerful selections, representing more than 15 years of work, address bicultural life and the meaning of family...The rich, symbolic imagery, raw emotion, and honesty will appeal to mature teens, and young writers will find inspiration in the warm introduction addressed to ‘Dear Fellow Writer,’ and its challenge to ‘Listen to your inside self, your private voice … explore the wonder of being alive.’”

~From School Library Journal: “Mora...has chosen poems with themes that are accessible to, yet challenging for teens, a few of which appear in both English and Spanish. Occasional footnotes explain historical references or Spanish phrases. The introduction encourages young writers, as do the poems themselves. This anthology speaks to a young adult audience, and it should find many readers.”

5. Connections

~This book could be used in an introductory Spanish class.  The poems with Spanish words included have the English translation at the bottom.  And, there are some side-by-side English/Spanish poems.

~The book could be used in a text set on migrant workers with:

Stanley, Jerry. Children of the Dust Bowl. ISBN 9780517880944

Jimenz, Francisco. The Circuit. ISBN 0826317979

Herrera, Juan Felipe. Calling the Doves. ISBN 9780892391660

Franklin, Kristine. Out of the Dump. ISBN 068813923X

~ This book could be used in a social studies unit, exploring the geographical and historical references.

~ Could explore more about the author at the website www.patmora.com.