Elaine Nadal is Poet Laureate of Milford, Connecticut. She is the author of When and Sweat, Dance, Sing, Cut, published by Finishing Line Press. A Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net-nominee, her work has appeared in several journals. She holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from Wesleyan University, as well as degrees in Spanish secondary education and fine arts (music). She has studied in Spain and Puerto Rico and delivered a TEDx talk on hope, poetry, and music. Nadal enjoys singing, translating, and traveling. For her, writing is a way of making sofrito out of the experiences and varied truths of life. It is also a way of honoring the memory of her Abuela Flor, from whom she learned about struggle, determination, compassion, and love.