Half of the World in Light: New and Selected Poems

poetry by Herrera

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July 20, 2026

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"Half of the World in Light: New and Selected Poems" is a collection by Juan Felipe Herrera, the first Hispanic American U.S. poet laureate. His poetry often explores themes of immigration, Chicano identity, and life in California, frequently in both English and Spanish.1

Herrera's work is inspired by his upbringing as the son of migrant farmworkers and his involvement in the Chicano civil rights movement. The collection "Half of the World in Light" was recognized with the PEN Beyond Margins Award in 2009 for its contribution by a writer of color. The title itself, "half-light," refers to a dim, grayish light.12

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Juan Felipe Herrera
Poetry and career
…Border: Undocuments 1971–2007 (2007) and Half of the World in Light: New and Selected Poems (2008) were particularly well received. The former—a compilation of text, illustrations, and photographs spanning nearly four decades that document life on the road in and between California and Mexico—won the PEN West Poetry Award and…
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…Border: Undocuments 1971–2007 (2007) and Half of the World in Light: New and Selected Poems (2008) were particularly well received. The former—a compilation of text, illustrations, and photographs spanning nearly four decades that document life on the road in and between California and Mexico—won the PEN West Poetry Award and…
Read More