The gulf in life between that which is desired and that which is real is the predominant theme in the poetry of Lorna Dee Cervantes. Culture and locale play a primary role in her poetry collection, which presents a young woman in the process of coming...

In the following essay, Seator examines Emplumada as a work that emphasizes the nature of Chicana womanhood through showing the turbulent rites of passage involved in the process.

In the following exceprt, McKenna examines the phenomenon of Chicana poetry and the manner in which Cervantes fits into that role while defying patriarchal tradition.

In the following excerpt, Crawford analyses specific poems from Emplumada, demonstrating the strength of Cervantes's themes of resisting adversity, facing helplessness in the face of tragedy, and recapturing confidence through communication.