The University of Arizona Press
October 3, 2025
Please join us in celebrating the news that Leo Romero’s Trees Dream of Water: Selected and New Poems has been chosen as one of two winners for the New Mexico Writers’ 2025 New Mexico Book Award for Poetry!
Romero’s book is traversed by memory, myth, and observation of the natural world. These poems explore family, community belonging and conflict, life as an artist, and the cycles of life and death. This lyrical anthology includes accompanying essays to illuminate Romero’s life and work for longtime admirers and new readers alike.
With six books of poetry and a book of short fiction to his name, Romero’s contribution to the literary canon is profound and enduring. Leo Romero stands as a foundational figure in Latino letters. Read an interview with Leo Romero where Romero answers five questions about his work as well as discusses what he’s working on next.
Trees Dream of Water is part of the University of Arizona Press’ Camino Del Sol Series, which spotlights poetry, fiction, and essays from both emerging and established voices in Latinx literature, providing a literary home for distinguished writers such as Juan Felipe Herrera, Carmen Giménez Smith, Luis Alberto Urrea, Richard Blanco, Alberto Ríos, Pat Mora, Tim Z. Hernandez, Emmy Pérez, and Francisco X. Alarcón.
Congratulations to Leo on this incredible achievement!
