Loquat Poems

About the Book

Are you looking for a book that connects children and adults through the magic of words? Loquat Poems [Poemas Níspero] is a small literary gem that invites readers to rediscover the world through the eyes of a child.

Written by the remarkable poet Estela Figueroa, and beautifully illustrated by Virginia Abrigo, this title goes beyond a classic children’s poetry collection. It is a tender and cheerful journey into typical children’s secrets, mischief, and fears.

Through playful, everyday depictions—ranging from treasures hidden in a chest to the comic tragedy of having head lice—the author captures the authentic voice of the little ones.

This visually captivating and exquisitely written book is the perfect way of introducing young readers to poetry, stimulating imagination and sensitivity, while also bringing knowing smiles to adult faces. 

Excerpt: Two Poems

My Treasure Chest

There’s a chest in my room

where a treasure I hold

and I'll show it to no one:

They're my jewels, my gold.

A doll without eyes—

my sister ripped them out

one day when we were fighting

and the doll cried out loud.

Written in red ink,

from Carlitos, a letter.

He sends me lots of kisses

because I am his girlfriend. 

A flower and a leaf, all dry and yellow,

the root of a little tree,

a cake made by my grandma,

and from grandpa a sigh set free. 

And I also have a photo

from the day that I was born.

Mum was a little bit rounder,

and Dad, always kind, even more.

I lock my chest with a key

when I walk out the door,

I want no one to discover

that I’m a poet of sorts.

 

Head Lice

Something is crawling

all over my head

Oh! It’s a head louse

What an itchy guest!

I tell my best friends

(though it's not so nice)

I tell my boyfriend

They all have lice!

I tell my father

who’s watching TV.

“That’s just nonsense,

no louse can I see…”

I tell my grandma.

She looks me in the eye:

“I love you just the same,

even if you have lice.”

“What can I do now?”, 

I tell my mother

who's frying eggs.

She drops the pan

And a bottle she gets

What’s in the bottle?

There's poison in there

that now she’s spreading

all over my hair.

“Let it sit for a while.

make sure it stays there.” 

“I will end up bald!

Mom, I'm so scared!”

With a fine-tooth comb

my mother pulled out

every tiny visitor

“This is over now.”

However I ended up feeling

just a little bit sad. 

They were a great topic

to start a nice chat! 

 

 

Translated by Sandra Botta - Edited by Cecilia Della Croce