María Esquinca delivers a searing collection of poems that traverse borders—both physical and emotional. Set against the backdrop of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, these experimental works weave fragmented verses, striking imagery, and bold typography to confront the brutal realities of immigration and identity. With the precision of a journalist and the heart of a storyteller, Esquinca exposes injustice while celebrating resilience and hope. Her work is shaped by the intersection of cultures, histories, and experiences found in the US-Mexico borderlands. Each poem is a tribute to those who have endured and a call to challenge the systems that oppress. Where Heaven Sinks is a love letter, a memorial for those lost, and a testament to the transformative power of language.
María Esquinca is a Xicana fronteriza and an abolitionist. She was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, and grew up in El Paso, Texas. She received her MFA from the University of Miami. Her poetry has appeared in Waxwing, Michigan Quarterly Review, South Carolina Review, Best New Poets, and more.
“María Esquinca creates poems like a journalist—well researched and properly sourced—revealing and exposing the ills and injustices all around us; but her poems are also testimonies to the way language can give our lives shape, meaning, and hope.”
—Maceo Montoya, professor of Chicano/a studies and English, University of California, Davis, author of Preparatory Notes for Future Masterpieces: A Novel
“Esquinca’s poetry captures raw emotion with striking precision, drawing on lived experiences to create deeply resonant narratives. Through her work, history and identity come alive, giving voice to the struggles of migrants and the memories of communities. Her writing demonstrates the power of language to reveal truths, foster healing, and inspire change, urging readers to confront the spaces where pain meets possibility, and silence transforms into song.”
—León Salvatierra, The New Oeste series editor, author of To the North/Al norte