Palabra a Palabra
I was born a writer, a storyteller.
I began to put pencil to paper in earnest in the second grade. I placed second in a writing contest that year.
I was a journalist in a previous version of me, writing others’ stories.
Now, I write speeches and quotes professionally, but that’s for another time, definitely another place ...
I write poetry, short stories and essays. I have even taken a stab at a novel, or two, but my heart speaks in poems.
I write, every day, the poetry that I see, that I feel that I need to come out, in whatever language comes first.
I am never finished.
BIO
Mayra Flores is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants de Zacatecas y Durango, of her East San José community and mother to her daughter and her words. She is a San José State University graduate and continuous student de las plantitas magicas de su abuelita Sofía. Mayra’s poetry has been previously published in East Side Magazine and Love Letters to San Jose. She stands on the shoulders of luchistas and mujeres indomables. Mayra carries with her the power to protect our collective joy and stories, with the daily asistencia de sus antepasados y su bolígrafo favorito. Her first book - “Flores - A collection of poetry and stories connecting generations of family across borders and time” - was self published in December 2024. www.mayrafloreswrites.com
A conversation with Rosanna Alvarez | 2021