Doña Flor: A Tall-tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart
Before reading the poem or having a student, students or audience members read it, practice having them say “more” when you gesture with your hand and having them say “roar” when you show them your claws (hands curved like cat paws). You can also invite the participants to raise their voices more and more when they repeat a word in a line. Pronumciation guide at the end of the poem.
Once a girl named Flor,
kept growing more—and more.
She grew and grew and GREW, young Flor,
Five feet, six feet—more and more.
Taller than a house was Flor—and more.
Taller than a school was Flor—and more.
Taller than a tree was Flor—and more.
Taller than a montaña was Flor—and MORE.
Neighbors called her Doña Flor.
Doña Flor, Doña Flor, was nice to everyone—more and more.
She grew giant flowers—and more,
She made humungous tortillas sweet Flor.
Neighbors used her tortillas as roofs—and more,
They even used them as small boats en el calor.
“May we have your giant flowers, Doña Flor?”
Kids asked, “May we, por favor?”
Then one day, “R O A R!”
Flor’s pueblo heard a loud, “R O A R!”
Her neighbors said, “Doña Flor, please explore
who’s making that terrible “ROAR.”
Flor and her friends heard, “R O A R!”
and “Roar!” And “R O A R!”
With giant steps she marched, our Flor.
She searched for miles and miles—and more and more.
Taller than a house was Flor—and more.
Taller than a school was Flor—and more.
Taller than a tree was Flor—and more.
Taller than a montaña was Flor—and MORE.
(pause)
Did Flor find the gato with the giant the “ROAR?”
iPor favor! Read the book, not once, not twice,
but more and more.
Pat Mora
January, 2007
Doña DOH nyah title of respect as in Lady Flor
