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Cenzontle/Mockingbird (YA Edition): Songs of Empowerment
Young Adult edition of a code-switching collection of diverse poetic forms, styles, and personas celebrating the dynamics of the human voice & spirit. Age-appropriate language suitable for YA readers--with thought-provoking questions for discussion following each piece or paired pieces and occasional writing prompts Daniel Garc�a Ordaz, the Poet Mariachi, the author of You Know What I'm Sayin'?, encourages readers to perform the text aloud, such as his adaptation of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." A polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through performance. Influenced by and dedicated to the memories of Maya Angelou and Gloria E. Anzald�a.
102 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2018
4 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Daniel García Ordaz
19 books28 followersTEDx Speaker Daniel García Ordaz, a.k.a. The Poet Mariachi, is a dual enrollment college instructor and high school English teacher. He serves as the 2023 and 2024/2025 McAllen Poet Laureate. His work has been taught and written about by academics across the U.S. and abroad and he is a 2018 Pushcart Prize nominee. García has an MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is also a singer/songwriter, former journalist, photographicationisticator, and word-maker-upper. García appears in the documentary, "ALTAR: Cruzando fronteras/Building bridges." He is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley Int'l. Poetry Festival. García served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. His individual book titles include the #1 bestseller books and ebook You Know What I'm Sayin'? and Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment (and its YA version), as well as the #1 bestseller ebook Pet Names. His new middle grades collection, Read Until You Bleed: Funny and Thoughtful Poems For Funny and Thoughtful Children, is now in print. García's work has appeared in several journals and anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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March 6, 2021You'll find the voices of Maya Angelou and Gloria Anzaldua and Langston Hughes and early hip-hop MCs and Whitman and Dickinson and Neruda and Tennyson all up in here! I hope you enjoy my book!
My collection is a polythetic assortment of poetry, lyrics, and drama that serves as a polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through mimicry. Like a mockingbird, whom the Aztecs call "cenzontle" in their Nahuatl tongue, my writer's voice is polyvoiced. I include in this collection an eclectic variety of voices: personas, languages, forms, styles, and identities--often mixing them, in part to entertain and in part to challenge my boundaries as a writer, to stretch my vocal chords, so to speak, but also in part to challenge the lingering prejudice against such mestizaje--or meeting and mixing of cultures (and also voices)--and help convert our society into one that accepts itself as it is: polyglossic and stronger for it. As Maya Angelou reminded us, indeed "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." The sooner we embrace that truth, the sooner we can all join in the song that is America--the song that includes blues and jazz and conjunto and zydeco and yodeling and rap and bluegrass twang and zapateadas.
My collection is a polythetic assortment of poetry, lyrics, and drama that serves as a polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through mimicry. Like a mockingbird, whom the Aztecs call "cenzontle" in their Nahuatl tongue, my writer's voice is polyvoiced. I include in this collection an eclectic variety of voices: personas, languages, forms, styles, and identities--often mixing them, in part to entertain and in part to challenge my boundaries as a writer, to stretch my vocal chords, so to speak, but also in part to challenge the lingering prejudice against such mestizaje--or meeting and mixing of cultures (and also voices)--and help convert our society into one that accepts itself as it is: polyglossic and stronger for it. As Maya Angelou reminded us, indeed "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." The sooner we embrace that truth, the sooner we can all join in the song that is America--the song that includes blues and jazz and conjunto and zydeco and yodeling and rap and bluegrass twang and zapateadas.
October 13, 2018
“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.”Maya Angelou
Texas author Daniel García Ordaz earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from The University of Texas-Pan American, his MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival, a teacher and writer, song-writer, former newspaper journalist and an emerging voice in American, Mexican American, Chicano, and Latino poetry. His books to date – “You Know What I'm Sayin'?”, (Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment, as well as the Young Adult Cenzontle/Mockingbird (YA Edition): Songs of Empowerment. His writing focuses are on celebrating the power of language. His poems have appeared in numerous literary journals, academic collections, and anthologies.
Daniel’s Author’s statement defines the purpose (and the success) of this fine book – ‘For this YA Edition, I give the reader the chance to walk in someone else's shoes by trying on their voices. My collection is a polythetic assortment of poetry, lyrics, and drama that serves as a polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through mimicry. Like a mockingbird, whom the Aztecs call "cenzontle" in their Nahuatl tongue, my writer's voice is polyvoiced. I include in this collection an eclectic variety of voices: personas, languages, forms, styles, and identities--often mixing them, in part to entertain and in part to challenge my boundaries as a writer, to stretch my vocal chords, so to speak, but also in part to challenge the lingering prejudice against such mestizaje--or meeting and mixing of cultures (and also voices)--and help convert our society into one that accepts itself as it is: polyglossic and stronger for it. As Maya Angelou reminded us, indeed "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." The sooner we embrace that truth, the sooner we can all join in the song that is America--the song that includes blues and jazz and conjunto and zydeco and yodeling and rap and bluegrass twang and zapateadas.’
Daniel is a gifted artist who cares deeply about the power of communication, of words, as a bridge to join all people of all ages. His presentation includes hi sown poetry followed by questions for the reader and writing prompts: the marriage of poetry and teaching. And example follows:
Unforbitten Love
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
Star-crossed lovers often never meet.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
The Fates told Cupid I was overdue.
I placed the Golden Apple at your feet.
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
The bell struck twelve. I never found your shoe.
I stared at stairs and my heart lost a beat.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
Love at first bite did change my point of view.
True love’s first taste, they say, is bloody sweet.
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
In Paradise our love was bare and true.
You let me taste your fruit that brought the heat.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
My tresses locked the secret that I kept.
Your loving beauty cut them as I slept.
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
Then come the QUESTIONS - 1. Describe the characteristics of a villanelle, such as this and the next. 2. What allusions do you recognize in this and the next poem? 3. What is the likely gender of the multiple speakers in either poem?
These are followed by a second version:
Love Forbitten
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
I begged for Night to come and bring my meat.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
I launched a-thousand ships as our love grew.
The horse, my groom, (our doom) the Fates did mete.
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
The bell struck twelve. I’d hoped you’d found my shoe.
The heart of man is easy to defeat.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
Life’s blood’s a sweet bouquet when stakes are few.
In love, entombed in darkness, death we cheat.
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
When Eden’s serpent truth with lies imbued,
The blame you laid, like thorns, upon my feet.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
My beauty learned the secret that you fibbed.
You tore asunder pillars as you lived.
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
And another series of Questions - 1. How are these two villanelles connected? 2. Who (specifically) are the speakers in the corresponding stanzas? 3. Discuss archetype, motif, and theme. 4. What is empowering about these two poems?
Daniel’s Young Adult edition of a code-switching collection of diverse poetic forms, styles, and personas celebrating the dynamics of the human voice & spirit. - A polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through performance. It works splendidly!
Texas author Daniel García Ordaz earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from The University of Texas-Pan American, his MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival, a teacher and writer, song-writer, former newspaper journalist and an emerging voice in American, Mexican American, Chicano, and Latino poetry. His books to date – “You Know What I'm Sayin'?”, (Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment, as well as the Young Adult Cenzontle/Mockingbird (YA Edition): Songs of Empowerment. His writing focuses are on celebrating the power of language. His poems have appeared in numerous literary journals, academic collections, and anthologies.
Daniel’s Author’s statement defines the purpose (and the success) of this fine book – ‘For this YA Edition, I give the reader the chance to walk in someone else's shoes by trying on their voices. My collection is a polythetic assortment of poetry, lyrics, and drama that serves as a polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through mimicry. Like a mockingbird, whom the Aztecs call "cenzontle" in their Nahuatl tongue, my writer's voice is polyvoiced. I include in this collection an eclectic variety of voices: personas, languages, forms, styles, and identities--often mixing them, in part to entertain and in part to challenge my boundaries as a writer, to stretch my vocal chords, so to speak, but also in part to challenge the lingering prejudice against such mestizaje--or meeting and mixing of cultures (and also voices)--and help convert our society into one that accepts itself as it is: polyglossic and stronger for it. As Maya Angelou reminded us, indeed "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." The sooner we embrace that truth, the sooner we can all join in the song that is America--the song that includes blues and jazz and conjunto and zydeco and yodeling and rap and bluegrass twang and zapateadas.’
Daniel is a gifted artist who cares deeply about the power of communication, of words, as a bridge to join all people of all ages. His presentation includes hi sown poetry followed by questions for the reader and writing prompts: the marriage of poetry and teaching. And example follows:
Unforbitten Love
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
Star-crossed lovers often never meet.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
The Fates told Cupid I was overdue.
I placed the Golden Apple at your feet.
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
The bell struck twelve. I never found your shoe.
I stared at stairs and my heart lost a beat.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
Love at first bite did change my point of view.
True love’s first taste, they say, is bloody sweet.
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
In Paradise our love was bare and true.
You let me taste your fruit that brought the heat.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
My tresses locked the secret that I kept.
Your loving beauty cut them as I slept.
I never dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
Alas, I know that’s why our love was blue.
Then come the QUESTIONS - 1. Describe the characteristics of a villanelle, such as this and the next. 2. What allusions do you recognize in this and the next poem? 3. What is the likely gender of the multiple speakers in either poem?
These are followed by a second version:
Love Forbitten
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
I begged for Night to come and bring my meat.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
I launched a-thousand ships as our love grew.
The horse, my groom, (our doom) the Fates did mete.
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
The bell struck twelve. I’d hoped you’d found my shoe.
The heart of man is easy to defeat.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
Life’s blood’s a sweet bouquet when stakes are few.
In love, entombed in darkness, death we cheat.
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
When Eden’s serpent truth with lies imbued,
The blame you laid, like thorns, upon my feet.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
My beauty learned the secret that you fibbed.
You tore asunder pillars as you lived.
I always dreamed that I’d be kissing you.
I’ll never know just why our love turned blue.
And another series of Questions - 1. How are these two villanelles connected? 2. Who (specifically) are the speakers in the corresponding stanzas? 3. Discuss archetype, motif, and theme. 4. What is empowering about these two poems?
Daniel’s Young Adult edition of a code-switching collection of diverse poetic forms, styles, and personas celebrating the dynamics of the human voice & spirit. - A polyglottic exhibition of empowerment through performance. It works splendidly!
August 3, 2022
Our book club read this together and everyone really enjoyed it. Reading the poems and seeing the author’s performances of the poems as “the Poet Mariachi” made the poems come to life even more.
I particularly appreciate the mixed languages the author uses because he is representing what our Mexican American culture is like, a beautiful blend of language and worlds.
I particularly appreciate the mixed languages the author uses because he is representing what our Mexican American culture is like, a beautiful blend of language and worlds.
October 14, 2018
Cenzontle/Mockingbird (YA Edition): Songs of Empowerment (Poetry * Drama) by Daniel García Ordaz is a great collection of poetry for the YA audience that espouses and capitalizes on the need for linguistic diversity. As indicated in the title, the Mockingbird is the background theme, the mockingbird singing every other bird's song relentlessly, never quitting, and giving us listeners such great beauty. These poems resonate in that way, covering many different, fluid styles,and juxtaposing the verse across many different genres. With an ample amount of questions throughout, these poems not only spark the imagination, but the questions are great discussion starters for students and teachers alike. Love Forbitten is a fantastic example of bending the scope and layout of a poem to capture similar meaning with different verbiage. Overall, a fantastic collection, thought provoking and exploratory. Highly recommend, but it may help to have a familiarity with the Spanish language.
May 3, 2021
This book is full of rhythm, music, and power! I love the way the author weaves together multiple languages and voices in a beautiful tapestry. The young adult version has fantastic discussion questions and prompts throughout. This would be a great book for teachers or creative writing groups to use with young writers - introducing a variety of styles, poets, and inspiration to find their own poetic voice!
March 5, 2020
I know the author and he gave me this book, signed, personally.
All that aside, part of the reason I love his poetry is that his poetry reminds me of home. I'm also from the Rio Grande Valley and, although I'm a few years older than he, we grew up under many of the same influences.
I've been reading this book of poetry and figuring out which poems I'll use during Hispanic Heritage Month (September). I'm hoping some of my students will connect with his poetry as much as I have.
All that aside, part of the reason I love his poetry is that his poetry reminds me of home. I'm also from the Rio Grande Valley and, although I'm a few years older than he, we grew up under many of the same influences.
I've been reading this book of poetry and figuring out which poems I'll use during Hispanic Heritage Month (September). I'm hoping some of my students will connect with his poetry as much as I have.
December 29, 2022
One of my favorites! This mixes Spanish and English poetry, with a dash of hip hop to the “songs.” Amazing, compelling, enjoyable!
July 28, 2022
Daniel's poems swing with rhythm and tenacity. From love notes to reflections on tragedy to religious rhapsodies, this collection finds the extraordinary in the ordinary. These poems are meant to be read aloud, and it's in their recitation their cleverness and ingenuity come to life.
November 29, 2019
Love to read your poetry, Daniel. It pulls at my heartstrings!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews