Alvarez's writing is characterized by her signature warmth, wit, and attention to detail. Her use of vivid imagery and rich historical context brings the painting and its stories to life.
“Amor Divino” is a lyric poem written in free verse, characteristic of Álvarez’s accessible yet image-rich style. The poem is spoken from the perspective of a young Latina woman (likely a stand-in for Álvarez herself during her youth in the Dominican Republic and subsequent immigration to the United States).
: The title (meaning "Divine Love") alludes to a love that transcends the physical realm and time, mirroring how the grandfather's love for his late wife persists through his granddaughter.