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<channel><title><![CDATA[IRIS M MORA - Blog]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog]]></link><description><![CDATA[Blog]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:40:55 -0500</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Behind the Poem]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/behind-the-poem]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/behind-the-poem#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2017 19:13:15 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/behind-the-poem</guid><description><![CDATA[I have decided to try something different as a gift to family and friends who support my work. I will be featuring a poem once in a while I have written based on something that has had a big impact on my life. This poem is based on what I have seen, not only in my backyard of Central Florida, but in other parts of the world. Homelessness is real. &nbsp;There are countless people worldwide who need support. In addition to a lack of food and shelter, some of these people have a myriad of health pr [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:justify;">I have decided to try something different as a gift to family and friends who support my work. I will be featuring a poem once in a while I have written based on something that has had a big impact on my life. This poem is based on what I have seen, not only in my backyard of Central Florida, but in other parts of the world. Homelessness is real. &nbsp;There are countless people worldwide who need support. In addition to a lack of food and shelter, some of these people have a myriad of health problems and have to cope with weather conditions that are in many cases too extreme. More needs to be done. Although I admire trying to find a solution for those who live on the streets with temporary shelters, I believe an actual roof and warm daily meals give a better sense of hope and purpose. This poem was originally published in NUIG ROPES magazine supporting Galway Simon Community charity that provides housing, healthcare and support to the homeless. Here is a link to their cause. <a href="https://www.galwaysimon.ie/">https://www.galwaysimon.ie/</a><br /><br /></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:91.817432391676%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:right;"><strong><font size="4">Afraid</font></strong><br /><br />I see him against the railings,<br />his hair is tangled<br />his clothes are ripped.<br />His unbroken stare<br />looks ahead to a current<br />he doesn&rsquo;t know is there.<br />I can&rsquo;t smell him as I pass&#8210;<br />the air in Ireland is always crisp.<br /><em>Is he cold I wonder,<br />has he had anything to eat?</em><br /><br />I want to stop and ask<br />but I&rsquo;m afraid.<br />Afraid,<br />like the time I made balloon animals<br />for the clinically insane<br />and a woman ran after me<br />screaming profanities;<br />I couldn&rsquo;t understand her pain.<br /><br />Or the time I gave food to a disabled man.<br />His friend followed me down the street shouting<br />&ldquo;I am a vet too. I also suffered!&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I wish I could help all of you,&rdquo; I said<br />before my brother<br />whisked me away by the hand.<br /><br />Or the time in Dublin<br />when a man outside a trinket shop<br />extended his left arm,<br />exposing a twisted blue band<br />and showing me the bleeding syringe.<br />Yes, I am afraid.<br />What if the man<br />propped against the railings<br />is afraid too?<br /><br />Afraid to be cold.<br />Afraid to be hungry.<br /><br />Afraid&#8210;<br />to die alone.<br /><br /></div>  <div class="paragraph"><font color="#e0915c"><a href="http://www.irismmora.com" target="_blank">irismmora.com</a></font></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:2.7572802520023%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:50px;"></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:5.4252873563218%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:50px;"></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[I did it!]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/i-did-it]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/i-did-it#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2016 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/i-did-it</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						    I'm an MA graduate. &#8203;Thanks University of Galway!irismmora.com   					 							 		 	  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:43.768996960486%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.irismmora.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17257672/published/img-0506.jpeg?1497380107" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:56.231003039514%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:119px;"></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;">I'm an MA graduate. <br />&#8203;Thanks University of Galway!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.irismmora.com/" target="_blank">irismmora.com</a></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reading of the poem "Afraid" for ROPES]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/reading-of-afraid-for-ropes]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/reading-of-afraid-for-ropes#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2016 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/reading-of-afraid-for-ropes</guid><description><![CDATA[      [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.irismmora.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17257672/published/13047738-1561945087438362-7644178444573241768-o.jpg?1497379050" alt="Picture" style="width:352;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[BOOK REVIEW]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/book-review]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/book-review#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2016 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/book-review</guid><description><![CDATA[This is my first poetry collection review. Check it out!   	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						    Evidence of FreewheelingBy Trevor ConwayConway&rsquo;s PoemsEmbrace Diversity In All Facets Of LifeReview by Iris M MoraPublished in The Galway ReviewJanuary 30, 2016&#8203;irismmora.com   					 							 		 	  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;">This is my first poetry collection review. Check it out!<br /></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a href='http://salmonpoetry.com/details.php?ID=374&a=278' target='_blank'> <img src="https://www.irismmora.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17257672/published/2718225-1-orig.jpg?1497376692" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:50px;"></div>  <div class="paragraph">Evidence of Freewheeling<br />By Trevor Conway<br /><br /><strong><strong><font size="3">Conway&rsquo;s Poems<br />Embrace Diversity In All Facets Of Life</font></strong><br /></strong>Review by Iris M Mora<br /><br />Published in <a target="_blank" href="https://thegalwayreview.com/2016/01/30/iris-m-mora-conways-poems-embrace-diversity-in-all-facets-of-life/">The Galway Review</a><br />January 30, 2016<br /><br /><br />&#8203;<a href="http://www.irismmora.com/" target="_blank">irismmora.com</a><br /></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How UCF Prepared Me for a Graduate Degree Abroad and How to Decide If It Is Right for You]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/how-ucf-prepared-me-for-a-graduate-degree-abroad-and-how-to-decide-if-it-is-right-for-you]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/how-ucf-prepared-me-for-a-graduate-degree-abroad-and-how-to-decide-if-it-is-right-for-you#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/how-ucf-prepared-me-for-a-graduate-degree-abroad-and-how-to-decide-if-it-is-right-for-you</guid><description><![CDATA[Published at The University of Central Florida Creative Writing MFA blog [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph">Published at <a href="https://ucfcreativewritingmfa.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/726/" target="_blank">The University of Central Florida Creative Writing MFA</a> blog<br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA["WRITE WORK THAT LEAVES THE READER SEARCHING FOR THEIR OWN MEANING"]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/write-work-that-leaves-the-reader-searching-for-their-own-meaning]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/write-work-that-leaves-the-reader-searching-for-their-own-meaning#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2015 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/write-work-that-leaves-the-reader-searching-for-their-own-meaning</guid><description><![CDATA[Blog published in The Galway Review [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph">Blog published in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=594907633999612&amp;id=108747869282260&amp;fref=nf">The Galway Review</a><br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reading a poem at Over The Edge]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/reading-a-poem-at-over-the-edge]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/reading-a-poem-at-over-the-edge#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2015 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/reading-a-poem-at-over-the-edge</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						   	 		 			 				 					 						    This was my first experience at the Over The Edge Literary gathering run by poet Kevin Higgins and his wife Susan Millar Dumars'. Check out the very hungry caterpillar sizing me up behind me.irismmora.com   					 								 					 						     					 							 		 	    					 							 		 	  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.irismmora.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17257672/published/img-4205.jpeg?1497378526" alt="Picture" style="width:222;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:89.226519337017%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:50px;"></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">This was my first experience at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Over-The-Edge-Literary-Events-100025591006864/" target="_blank">Over The Edge Literary</a> gathering run by poet Kevin Higgins and his wife Susan Millar Dumars'. Check out the very hungry caterpillar sizing me up behind me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.irismmora.com/" target="_blank">irismmora.com</a><br /></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:10.773480662983%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:50px;"></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[WRITING AS A SPORT]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/september-15th-2015]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/september-15th-2015#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/september-15th-2015</guid><description><![CDATA[       On many occasions, I meet people that become motivated when I tell them I&rsquo;m doing an MA in writing. They share their experiences and reveal why they think their idea or life story will make a good book. A large percentage of them want to write a manuscript but unfortunately, they want to write only when they feel like writing.The first writing class I took at the University of Central Florida while pursuing a BA in creative writing, taught me that writing is like playing a sport. Yo [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:10px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.irismmora.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17257672/editor/writer-hands_1.jpg?1497373627" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">On many occasions, I meet people that become motivated when I tell them I&rsquo;m doing an MA in writing. They share their experiences and reveal why they think their idea or life story will make a good book. A large percentage of them want to write a manuscript but unfortunately, they want to write only when they feel like writing.<br /><br />The first writing class I took at the University of Central Florida while pursuing a BA in creative writing, taught me that writing is like playing a sport. You have to practice every day, or as much as you can to become good at it. Like sports, you also need the right equipment in order to better yourself. <span>&nbsp;</span><br /><br />With this discovery I decided that Bruce Lee, would become my mentor. Bruce Lee? What can he teach about writing? What he has taught me, is how he approached his craft. Bruce Lee read and researched different styles of combat practices. He lived and breathed martial arts. He practiced religiously and found his own &ldquo;style.&rdquo; What I&rsquo;m trying to say is that to be a writer, you must write and do so every day. <span>&nbsp;</span><br /><br />&#8203;<a href="http://www.irismmora.com/" target="_blank">irismmora.com</a><br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[WINE OR CHAMPAGNE]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/march-24th-2015]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/march-24th-2015#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/march-24th-2015</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						            					 								 					 						  I often thought about how I would celebrate my first acceptance letter. On numerous occasions, a bottle of Dom Perignon would come up reminding my taste buds of the first time I drank this delicious sparkling wine. So, I decided that Dom and I would have a "date" if I was lucky enough to be published. When I received an email from The Cypress Dome on February 16, I did not have Dom as a date but a cheaper version. Instead of cel [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:29.939209726444%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:89px;"></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:left"> <a> <img src="https://www.irismmora.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17257672/editor/img-0041.jpg?1497372878" alt="Picture" style="width:232;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:70.060790273556%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">I often thought about how I would celebrate my first acceptance letter. On numerous occasions, a bottle of Dom Perignon would come up reminding my taste buds of the first time I drank this delicious sparkling wine. So, I decided that Dom and I would have a "date" if I was lucky enough to be published. When I received an email from The Cypress Dome on February 16, I did not have Dom as a date but a cheaper version. Instead of celebrating with champagne, I celebrated with the leftovers of an old, almost to the point of vinegar Cabernet Sauvignon I had left in the fridge. It didn't matter because the salty flavor from the tears of joy that ran down my blushed cheeks, was better than any cheap wine or fancy champagne I had ever tasted. My friend Dom will just have to wait for another day.<br /><br />&#8203;<a href="http://www.irismmora.com/" target="_blank">irismmora.com</a></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[AWP PANEL SPEAKER]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/march-09th-2015]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.irismmora.com/blog/march-09th-2015#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2015 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.irismmora.com/blog/march-09th-2015</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						            					 								 					 						  Earlier this year, I took part in Cecilia Rodr&iacute;guez Milan&eacute;s's panel Composing and Critiquing in Color at the Association of Writers and Writing programs held in Minneapolis. This was the first time I attended an AWP conference and the first time I was part of a panel. While at the conference, I also attended a multitude of workshops, gathered information from various presses, journals and publishing houses, and met [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:40.495867768595%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:50px;"></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.irismmora.com/uploads/1/7/2/5/17257672/editor/two-2-orig.jpg?1497372695" alt="Picture" style="width:266;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:59.504132231405%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Earlier this year, I took part in Cecilia Rodr&iacute;guez Milan&eacute;s's panel <em>Composing and Critiquing in Color </em>at the Association of Writers and Writing programs held in Minneapolis. This was the first time I attended an <a href="https://www.awpwriter.org/" target="_blank">AWP</a> conference and the first time I was part of a panel. While at the conference, I also attended a multitude of workshops, gathered information from various presses, journals and publishing houses, and met one of my favorite authors, Lu&iacute;s Alberto Urrea. If you have never been to this conference, its worth taking a look. &nbsp;<br />&#8203;<br /><a href="http://www.irismmora.com/" target="_blank">irismmora.com</a><br /></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>