Jose Rizal's Poems

8/15/2019 Jose Rizal's Poems

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1. TO MY FELLOW CHILDREN

(Sa Aking Mga Kababata, 186!

Whenever people of a country truly love

The language which by heav'n they were taught to use,

That country also surely liberty pursues.

As does the bird which soars to freer space above.

For language is the nal judge and referee

Upon the people in the land where it holds sway

!n truth our hu"an race rese"bles in this way

The other living beings born in liberty.

Whoever #nows not how to live his native tongue

!s worse than any beast or evil s"elling sh.

To "a#e our language richer ought to be our wish

The sa"e as any "other loves to feed her young.

Tagalog and the $atin language are the sa"e

And %nglish and &astilian and the angels tongue,

And (od, whose watchful care o'er all is )ung,

*as given us *is blessing in the speech we clai".

+ur "other tongue, li#e all the highest that we #now

*ad alphabet and letters of its very own

ut these were lost - by furious waves were overthrown

$i#e bancas in the stor"y sea, long years ago



". MY FIRST INS#IRATION

(Mi #$i%&$a In'i$a)i*n, 18+!

Why falls so rich a spray

of fragrance fro" the bowers

of the bal"y )owers

upon this festive day

Why fro" woods and vales

do we hear sweet "easures ringing

that see" to be the singing

of a choir of nightingales

Why in the grass below

do birds start at the wind's noises,

unleashing their honeyed voices

as they hop fro" bough to bough

Why should the spring that glows

its crystalline "ur"ur be tuning

to the /ephyr's "ellow crooning

as a"ong the )owers it )ows

Why see"s to "e "ore endearing,

"ore fair than on other days,

the dawn's enchanting face

a"ong red clouds appearing

The reason, dear "other, is

they feast your day of bloo"0

the rose with its perfu"e,

the bird with its har"onies.

And the spring that rings with laughter

upon this joyful day

with its "ur"ur see"s to say0

'$ive happily ever after1'

And fro" that spring in the grove

now turn to hear the rst note

that fro" "y lute ! e"ote

to the i"pulse of "y love.

-. FELICITATION

(F&i)ita)i*n, 18+/!



!f 2hilo"ela with har"onious tongue

To blond Apollo, who "anifests his face

ehind high hill or overhanging "ountain,

&anticles sends.

3o we as well, full of a sweet content"ent,

3alute you and your very noble saint

With tender "usic and fraternal "easures,

4ear Antonino.

Fro" all your sisters and your other #in

5eceive "ost lovingly the loving accent

That the suave war"th of love dictates to

the"

2lacid and tender.

Fro" a"orous wife and a"iable %"ilio

3weetly receive an unsurpassed a6ection

And "ay its sweetness in disaster soften

The ruder tor"ents.

As the sea pilot, who so bravely fought

Te"pestuous waters in the dar# of night,

(a/es upon his darling vessel safe

And co"e to port.

3o, setting aside all 7worldly8

predilections,

9ow let your eyes be lifted heavenward

To hi" who is the solace of all "en

And loving Father.

And fro" ourselves that in such loving

accents

3alute you everywhere you celebrate,

These cla"orous vivas that fro" the heart

resound

e pleased to accept.

. THE EM0ARKATION, a 2%n t*

F&$3inan3 Mag&an4' 5&&t

(E E%ba$7& Hi%n* a a F*ta 3&

Magaan&', 18+/!



+ne beautiful day when in %ast

The sun had gaily brightened,

At arra"eda with rejoicing great

Activities everywhere reigned.

:Tis cause on the shores the caravels

Would part with their sails a;swelling

And noble warriors with their swords

To con<uer un#nown world are going.

And all is glee and all is joy,

All is valor in the city.

%verywhere the hus#y sounds of dru"s

Are resounding with "ajesty.

With big echoes thousands of salvos

=a#es at the ships a roaring cannon

And the 3panish people proudly greet

The soldiers with a6ection.

Farewell1 They say to the", loved ones,

rave soldiers of the ho"eland

With glories gird our "other 3pain,

!n the ca"paign in the un#nown land1

As they "ove away to the gentle breath

+f the cool wind with e"otion,

They all bless with a pious voice

3o glorious, heroic action.

And nally, the people salute

The standard of =agellan

That he carries on the way to the seas

Where "adly roars the hurricane.

/. AND HE IS S#ANISH ELCANO, THE

FIRST TO CIRC9MNA:I;ATE THE WORLD

(Y E' E'an* E)an*, & #$i%&$* &n 3a$

a :7&ta a M7n3*, D&)&%b&$ 18+/!

Where does that frail ship go



That proudly cruises on

And ploughs the distant seas

To see# the lands un#nown

Who's the brave and invincible,

That fro" far down the West

3ails on the e>pansive world

To yonder roseate %ast

+f 3pain he's a heroic son,

A Titan new of 2irene,

Who with fury ghts against,

!f it holds hi", the hurricane.

*e's %lcano who underta#es

A tas# that enchants the world

To acco"plish it he vows

And its vastness hi" doesn't hold.

And to red;tailed eagle a#in

That soars high in the wind

With an une<ualled )ight

And with a "ove"ent swift,

+f the blowing stor" that roars,

*e scorns the horrible hiss

And "oc#s with #ingly air

The lightning's shattering noise.

And li#e a craggy roc#

9o i"petuous ocean in rage

+r the fury of hurricanes

*i" can change or disengage

3uch is the invincible

%lcano, when cruising through

The waves, with his 3panish ships,

Their rage they "ight'ly subdue.

Triu"phant crosses he

The vast roundness of the globe

With e>ceptional bravery

*e "easured the e>tensive orb.

A thousand laurels crown

4efender of 3pain, your brow

And a brilliant diade"

9ow proudly decorates you.

6.T& 0att&

9$bi<t*n3*, T&$$*$

*= >**

(E C*%bat&

9$bi<t*n3*, T&$$*$

3& >**, D&)&%b&$

18+/!

A hundred war;tried ships

At the "ercy of the gentle

wind,

$eave behind =anila bay



;The ru?ed sea they

plough.

A short while they descry

The =oros of @olo

Who with pride they raise

A thousand waving )ags.

And when the soldiers

strong

*ad alighted on the shores

And pointed all their guns

Against the ene"y's wall,

With "anly accent spo#e

The general 0 3oldiers of

"ine,

Upon your valor depends

The rich glory of victory.

! would prefer to die

5ather than desist fro"

attac#

To thee the country entrusts

*er noble, sacred seals.

3aid he and li#e 9otus

erce

y horrid lightning hedgedin

!n furious te"pests it sows

3ad weeping and "ourning

around

3o Urbi/tondo unsubdued

*is soldiers following hi",

*e spreads deatheverywhere

With cold steel in his hand.

And li#e a lion in the woods

*e roars, engendering fear,

As he loo#s upon the prey

That with havoc he

devours

3o the noted ghting "en

With fury and fren/ied

fright,

Approach the barricades

As they give a headlong

assault.

And the &astiles' lion

sha#es

*is foreloc# wrathfully

And readies his pointed

claws

To spread tearseverywhere.

%ight bastions, do surrender

+f the =oros of @olo

To the furious rattle of =ars

And Urbi/tondo's assault.

Ah 1 They're the ones, noble

3pain,

$i#e $epanto's heroes they

are,

At 2avia they're the ones

Who're the thunderbolt of

war.

The re consu"es and

devours

The castles and palaces

And all the @oloans own

At our soldiers erce attac#

2erdious =ahu"at )ees,

Tyrannical and godless

3ultan,

And the warriors valorous

=arch into @olo as they sing.



+. IN MEMORY OF MY

TOWN

(9n R&)7&$3* A Mi

#7&b*, 18+6!

When ! re"e"ber the days

that saw "y early

childhood

spent on the green shores

of a "ur"urous lagoon

when ! re"e"ber the

coolness,

delicious and refreshing,

that on "y face ! felt

as ! heard Favonius croon

When ! behold the white lily

swell to the winds

i"pulsion,

and that te"pestuous

ele"ent

"ee#ly asleep on the sand

when ! inhale the dear

into>icating essence

the )owers e>ude when

dawn

is s"iling on the land

3adly, sadly ! recall

your visage, precious

childhood,

which an a6ectionate

"other

"ade beautiful and bright

! recall a si"ple town,

"y co"fort, joy and cradle,

beside a bal"y la#e,

the seat of "y delight.

Ah, yes, "y aw#ward foot

e>plored your so"bre

woodlands,

and on the ban#s of your

rivers

in frolic ! too# part.

! prayed in your rustic

te"ple,

a child, with a childs

devotion

and your unsullied bree/e

e>hilarated "y heart.

The &reator ! saw in the

grandeur

of your age;old forests

upon your boso", sorrows

were ever un#nown to "e

while at your a/ure s#ies

! ga/ed, neither love nor

tenderness

failed "e, for in nature

lay "y felicity.

Tender childhood, beautiful

town,

rich fountain of rejoicing

and of har"onious "usic

that drove away all pain0

return to this heart of "ine,

return "y gracious hours,

return as the birds return

when )owers spring again1

ut + goodbye1 =ay the3pirit

of (ood, a loving gift;giver,

#eep watch eternally over

your peace, your joy, your

sleep1

For you, "y fervent pryers

for you, "y constant desire

to learn and ! pray heaven

your innocence to #eep1



8. INTIMATE ALLIANCE 0ETWEEN

RELI;ION AND ;OOD ED9CATION

(Aian<a Inti%a Ent$& a R&igi*n 2 a

07&na E37)a)i*n, 18+6!

As the cli"bing ivy over lefty el"

&reeps tortuously, together the adorn"ent

+f the verdant plain, e"bellishing

%ach other and together growing,

ut should the #indly el" refuse its aid

The ivy would i"potent and friendless wither

3o is %ducation to 5eligion

y spiritual alliance bound.

Through 5eligion, %ducation gains renown,

and

Woe to the i"pious "ind that blindly

spurning

The sapient teachings of 5eligion, this

Unpolluted fountain;head forsa#es.

As the sprout, growing fro" the po"pous

vine,

2roudly o6ers us its honeyed clusters

While the generous and loving gar"ent

Feeds its roots so the freshning waters

+f celestial virtue give new life

To %ducation true, shedding

+n it war"th and light because of the"

The vine s"ells sweet and gives delicious

fruit.

Without 5eligion, *u"an %ducation

!s li#e unto a vessel struc# by winds

Which, sore beset, is of its hel" deprived

y the roaring blows and bu6ets of the dread

Te"pestuous oreas, who ercely wields

*is power until he proudly sends her down

!nto the deep abysses of the angered sea.

As the heavens dew the "eadow feeds and

strengthens

3o that bloo"ing )owers all the earth

%"broider in the days of spring so also

!f 5eligion holy nourishes

%ducation with its doctrines, she

3hall wal# in joy and generosity

Toward the (ood, and everywhere bestrew

The fragrant and lu>uriant fruits of Birtue.



. ED9CATION ;I:ES L9STER TO THE

MOTHERLAND (#*$ a E37)a)i*n R&)ib&

L7't$& a #at$ia, 18+6!

Wise education, vital breath

!nspires an enchanting

virtue

3he puts the &ountry in the

lofty

seat

+f endless glory, of da//ling

glow,

And just as the gentle

aura's pu6

4o brighten the perfu"ed

)ower's hue0

3o education with a wise,

guiding hand,

A benefactress, e>alts the

hu"an band.

=an's placid repose and

earthly life

To education he dedicates

ecause of her, art and

science are born

=an and as fro" the high

"ount above

The pure rivulet )ows,

undulates,

3o education beyond

"easure

(ives the &ountry

tran<uility secure.

Where wise education

raises a throne

3prightly youth are

invigorated,

Who with r" stand error

they subdue

And with noble ideas are

e>alted

!t brea#s i""ortality's

nec#,

&onte"ptible cri"e before

it is halted0

!t hu"bles barbarous

nations

And it "a#es of savages

cha"pions.

And li#e the spring that

nourishes

The plants, the bushes of

the "eads,

3he goes on spilling her

placid wealth,

And with #ind eagerness

she constantly feeds,

The river ban#s through

which she slips,

And to beautiful nature allshe concedes,

3o whoever procures

education wise

Until the height of honor

"ay rise.

Fro" her lips the waters

crystalline

(ush forth without end, of divine virtue,

And prudent doctrines of

her faith

The forces wea# of evil

subdue,

That brea# apart li#e the

whitish waves

That lash upon the

"otionless shoreline0

And to cli"b the heavenly

ways the people

4o learn with her noble

e>a"ple.

!n the wretched hu"an

beings' breast

The living )a"e of good

she lights The hands of cri"inal erce

she ties,

And ll the faithful hearts

with delights,

Which see#s her secrets

benecent

And in the love for the good

her breast she incites,

And it's th' education noble

and pure

+f hu"an life the balsa"

sure.

And li#e a roc# that rises

with pride

!n the "iddle of the

turbulent waves

When hurricane and erce

9otus roar

3he disregards their fury

and raves,

That weary of the horrorgreat

3o frightened cal"ly o6

they stave

3uch is one by wise

education steered

*e holds the &ountry's reins

uncon<uered.

*is achieve"ents on

sapphires are engraved



A"idst the ery tu"ult of

war There did the co""ander

brave die0

!nto pieces bro#en0

hel"ets, spears,

And horses on the ground

lie.

*is soldiers now terried

and tiredFlee before the &hristian

victors

@ust as away the ti"orous

dear

5un as the lion brave roars.

When the Ding, abandoned,

nds hi"self

And seeing escape isn't toosoon,

*e gets down his horses

terried,

And hides in the woods li#e

a poltroon.

Two uncon<uered &hristians

found hi"

And by royal sy"bolsdetected,

!nstantly to 4on 4iego hi"

they too#

$i#e a royal captive

defeated.

There at $ucena the

&hristians' (od

*u"bled down the

arrogant's power

Who wanted to tie with a

heavy chain

The 3paniard as downcast

pris'ner.

11. TRI9M#HANT ENTRY

OF THE CATHOLIC

MONARCHS INTO

;RANADA

(Ent$a3a t$i7n=a 3& *'

R&2&' Cati)*' &n

;$ana3a, D&)&%b&$

18+6!

'Twas a <uiet and gloo"y

night

Whose "e"'ry hurts the

heart,

A night ago in which the

=usli" Ding

Treads the Alha"bra's

beautiful )oor.

The face pale, loose his

hair,

Tired eyes of frigid ga/e,

*ead low, recu"bent his

face,

The sad =usli" loo#s at hispalaces.

The =usli" loo#s at the"

and abundant tears

athe his eyes, a;)owing

down his chee#s,

And to the ceiling gilt and

arabes<ue

*e turns again his weary

ga/e.

3and and tearful he

re"e"bers then

The =usli" e>ploits and the

glorious jousts

And co"paring the present

ills

With the co"bats of past

days,

(oodbye, Alha"bra, he

says Alha"bra, goodbye,

Abode of joy and abundant

happiness

(oodbye, palace full of

pleasures,

!ne>haustible fountain of

delight.

3ad ! leave you and now !'"

going

To cruel e>ile, of hardshipsfull,

!n order not to see your

towers high,

Eour fountains clear and

rich abodes.

*e said and "oaning the

costly habili"ents

+f the gilded apart"ents he

re"oves

And of its beautifuldecorations stripped

The huge halls, sad he

withdraws,

And in the silence of the

night

When the luc#less Arabs

were asleep,

When only the hissing of the winds

Through the peaceful city

could be heard

And crossing the streets

+f that now forsa#en real",

2ale and petried

athed in "ortal sweat

+nly la"entations deep

Were heard everywhere,



And so"e doleful voice

Thrown in its wild

co"plaint.

The #ing stopped the

towers he saw

*e conte"plated thosewalls

The bottles re"e"bered he

That he waged in happy

ti"es

ut he could not control

hi"self

And he lowered his ga/ed

to the ground

And "ournfully said

As he bends his head0

Alas1 (ranada what

happened to you

What beca"e of your

nights

Alas1 Where do your

warriors sleep

That your anguish they

don't see

!ndeed1 ! your unhappy

Ding,

To the $ibyan desert lands*urled and with chains

y fate ! also go.

Today ! lose everything,

everything,

Dingdo", palace, treasure

And so alone ! sadly weep

What cruel grief prepares

for "e

There was a ti"e when

your tow'rs2reponderantly ruled

And they were the havoc

and dread

+f s<uadrons in front.

*e said and the s<uadrons

he sees

&o""anded by Talavera,

As he waves the )ag

+f &hristian religion

That by royal order the forts

They were going to occupy

And to ta#e possession of

The Alha"bra and its

roo"s.

And to Fernando Talavera

Who rules the #nights

With respect addresses

hi"self

The unfortunate oabdil

And in "anner li#e this

spea#s to hi"

With "ournful stress,

!nto cruel anguish plunged

!n a thousand an>ietiessub"erged0

(o "y lord, go

i""ediately

To ta#e hold of those

abodes

y the great Al"ighty

reserved

For your powerful DingAllah chastises the =oors

3trip the" of their property

Fro" their country he

throws the" out

For they did not #eep his

law.

*e said no "ore on his

way

The =oha""edan

proceeds

And behind goes his faithful

band

!n silence and with grief.

Abac# they didn't turn their

ga/e

To conte"plate their

ground,

For a?iction perhaps would

stri#e

The" with greater

vehe"ence.

And in the distance they

see

The &hristians' ca"p did

show

3igns of content"ent and

joy

Upon seeing the celestial

&ross

That on the Alha"bra is

displayed

When the city was overrun

And 'twas the pri"ary sign

+f the race that was

subdued.

And th' unhappy =onarch

hears

The voice of $ong live

&astille 1

And he sees on their #nees

The 3panish &o"batants

And fro" the tru"pets he

hears

Triu"phal har"onies.

And the brilliant hel"ets he

sees

The bright sun shining on

the".

*is footsteps then he turns

Toward Ding Fernando

Who advances ordering

*is troops with "ajesty

And as he nears the Ding,

The =oor gives to hi" the



#eys,

The only treasure and sign

+f the =oha""edan pow'r.

3ee there, oabdil says to

hi",

What ! can o6er you,And the only thing left to

"e,

+f the Arabic do"ain

=y #ingdo", trophies, "en,

Fields, houses, victories,

%>alted honors, tow'rs

And gardens all, now are

yours.

oabdil thus did spea#

And having paid his respect

Fro" that place he

withdraws

A thousand ills he saw

&ontinuing his slow pace

*is warriors sending forth

A thousand doleful groans

As they leave the fair (enil.

9ow, the warli#e clarion

+f Fernando sounds th'

entry

!n (ranada lovely and fair,

9ow &hristian with no

indel

The captives of the

defeated =oor,

Who sadly were dragging

chains

And su6'ring tor"ents and

pains

With joy ca"e to !sabel.

$i#e long;su6'ring warriors

brave

The cle"ent Ding greets

the",

*is gladness showing on his

face

'&ause fro" evil he saw

the" freed

And the ueen abundant

al"s

4istributes with benevolent

hand

That ueen who's always of

(od

+ught to wear i""ortal

crown.

And as the =usli"s hear

The cries of festivity,

3onorous beating of dru"s,

And the singing of delight,

They la"ented their fate,

The glory they have lost,

Their race that was

subdued,

Their country without peer.

Their "ournful groans

They carefully hide,

Their tearful pray'rs,

To be heard they fear

Would aug"ent the pride

+f that victory

That causes their woe.

9ow the )ag of 3pain

2roudly waves o'er the

walls

+f noble (ranada now

secure 1

9ow the &atholic Dings

Fro" their seat opulent

Will decree wise laws

For the children of (enil.

9ow delightful (ranada,

proud

!s &hristians' dwelling place

And (ranada belongs

To the faithful populace.

9ow fro" *eaven (odloo#s down

With joy the beautiful tow'rs

And "erlons all full

+f Trophies and laurel.

1". THE HEROISM OF

COL9M09S (E H&$*i'%*

3& C**n, 18++!

+h tell "e, celestial =use,

who in the "ind

+f &olu"bus infused a

breath subli"e,

!nvested with noble

courage and faith,

To plough the seas of the

West

Who gave hi" bravry

whe" i"posing

The sea was angered. The

wind roared,

That in his rage the bad

angel called

Against the son of faithful

3pain



!n the "idst of sole"n

tran<uility

When languid earth was

asleep,

And the "oon its tre"bling

disc

Through the diaphanous

s#y did steer,

A "an conte"plates the

wavy seaG

3een painted on his s"iling

face

3o "agnicent cle"encys

powr

%>uding #indness and

intelligence.

The curly whitish waves of

the sea

That bathe the spreading

shore,

$i#e silver re)ect the white

light

To the soft breath of

perfu"ed bree/e

And while fro" the shadows

strange

Around danced winged"ultitude,

An old "an, furious, erce

and grave

Fantastic rose fro" the sea

profound.

*e hold r" in his strong

right hand

A heavy trident a)a"eG

HAnd your audacious heart

hopes to subdue

The erce seas terrible

rage

That when the ery

te"pest roars

!n "ass it rises gloo"y and

grave

+h1 Who could cal"ly

conte"plate

The iron cold of bloody fate,

That the roar of the wind

which resounds

!n the abyss a sad to"b

opes

HWhat lies beyond +nly

death,

The dar# sea that dreadfully

terries

And infuses fear in the

stoutest heart,

Where at each instant

dar#ly appears

The te"pest, with the

"ariner in doubt

*ow to guide his ship in

such cala"ity

And the waters bury hi" in

the depth

Where a thousand horrible"onsters hide.

Hut, alas, poor you1 Alas,

unhappy 3pain

!f you run in search of land

re"ote1

! will e>cite the north winds

rage

And the hatred cruel of allthat the ocean holds. . .

And ere you step on the

foreign shores,

War and discord !ll put

within your ship

And !ll not rest until ! see

your ruin,

!f divine protection saves

you notG

H*ush, deceitful "onster,

with sonrous voice&hristopher answers hi",

ignoranceG.I

1-. C*7%b7' an3 >*n II

(C**n 2 >7an II!&hristopher, to you, fa"e,



And i""ortal crown and great renown

*o"age history pays 1

Eour august na"e reaches

2osterity and is a"a/ed.

lesses you the world

!n canticles of love and content"ent

All that $usitania

*olds proclai" instantly

Eour faith's noble valor.

Who, li#e you, is gentle,

&onstant, resigned, and gen'rous

&on<uered thou the dreadful

Fury of the wavy sea

And the cowardly, treach'rous "ariner.

*ail, illustrious Ad"'ral,

Fir" of heart, ery in the ght

To your constant valor

Dindly today ! o6er

&astles and honors together.

!, your voice ! shall be

To proclai" before "y standards

Biceroy of good graces

And above the towers

! shall put your na"e in royal )ags.

Thus did spea# the sov'reign,

2ortugal's @uan the enlightened.

(lory great beforehand

And the highest post in his palace

+6ers he the veteran.

ut . . . hurriedly he )ees

&olu"busfro" the treach'rous deceiver

+f the palace a"bitious

5uns he, )ies to where dwells

!sabel the &hristian, his benefactress.



1. CHILD >ES9S

(A Nin* >&'7', N*@&%b&$ 18+/!

Why have you co"e to earth,

&hild;(od, in a poor "anger

4oes Fortune nd you a stranger

fro" the "o"ent of your birth

Alas, of heavenly stoc#

now turned an earthly resident1

4o you not wish to be president

but the shepherd of your )oc#

1/. :IR;IN MARY

(A La :i$g&n Ma$ia, t* O7$ La32 *= #&a)& an3 ;**3 :*2ag&!



=ary, sweet peace and dearest consolation

of su6ering "ortal0 you are the fount whence springs

the current of solicitude that brings

unto our soil unceasing fecundation.

Fro" your abode, enthroned on heaven's height,

in "ercy deign to hear "y cry of woe

and to the radiance of your "antle draw

"y voice that rises with so swift a )ight.

Eou are "y "other, =ary, and shall be

"y life, "y stronghold, "y defense "ost thorough

and you shall be "y guide on this wild sea.

!f vice pursues "e "adly on the "orrow,

if death harasses "e with agony0

co"e to "y aid and dissipate "y sorrow1

16. TO THE #HILI##INE YO9TH

(A a >7@&nt73 Fiiina,

N*@&%b&$ 18+!

*old high the brow serene,

+ youth, where now you

stand

$et the bright sheen



+f your grace be seen,

Fair hope of "y fatherland1

&o"e now, thou genius

grand,

And bring down inspiration

With thy "ighty hand,3wifter than the wind's

violation,

5aise the eager "ind to

higher station.

&o"e down with pleasing

light

+f art and science to the

ght,+ youth, and there untie

The chains that heavy lie,

Eour spirit free to blight.

3ee how in )a"ing /one

A"id the shadows thrown,

The 3paniard's holy hand

A crown's resplendent band

2ro6ers to this !ndian land.

Thou, who now wouldst rise

+n wings of rich e"prise,

3ee#ing fro" +ly"pian

s#ies

3ongs of sweetest strain,

3ofter than a"brosial rain

Thou, whose voice divine

5ivals 2hilo"el's refrain

And with varied line

Through the night benign

Frees "ortality fro" pain

Thou, who by sharp strife

Wa#est thy "ind to life

And the "e"ory bright

+f thy genius' light

=a#est i""ortal in its

strength

And thou, in accents clear

+f 2hoebus, to Apelles dear

+r by the brush's "agic art

Ta#est fro" nature's store a

part,

To g it on the si"ple

canvas' length

(o forth, and then the

sacred re

+f thy genius to the laurel

"ay aspire

To spread around the fa"e,

And in victory acclai",

Through wider spheres the

hu"an na"e.

4ay, + happy day,

Fair Filipinas, for thy land1

3o bless the 2ower to;day

That places in thy way

This favor and this fortune

grand 1

To the 2hilippine Eouth

Unfold, oh ti"id )ower1

$ift up your radiant brow,

This day, Eouth of "y

native strand1

Eour abounding talents

show

5esplendently and grand,

Fair hope of "y =otherland1

3oar high, oh genius great,

And with noble thoughts ll

their "ind

The honor's glorious seat,

=ay their virgin "ind )y

and nd

=ore rapidly than the wind.

4escend with the pleasing

light

+f the arts and sciences to

the plain,

+h Eouth, and brea#

forthright

The lin#s of the heavy chain

That your poetic geniusenchain.

3ee that in the ardent /one,

The 3paniard, where

shadows stand,

4oth o6er a shining crown,

With wise and "erciful

hand

To the son of this !ndianland.

Eou, who heavenward rise

+n wings of your rich

fantasy,

3ee# in the +ly"pian s#ies

The tenderest poesy,

=ore sweet than divine

honey

Eou of heavenly har"ony,

+n a cal" unperturbed

night,

2hilo"el's "atch in "elody,

That in varied sy"phony



4issipate "an's sorrow's

blight

Eou at th' i"pulse of your "ind

The hard roc# ani"ate

And your "ind with great pow'r consigned

Transfor"ed into i""ortal state

The pure "e"'ry of genius great

And you, who with "agic brush

+n canvas plain capture

The varied char" of 2hoebus,

$oved by the divine Apelles,

And the "antle of 9ature

5un1 For genius' sacred )a"e

Awaits the artist's crowning

3preading far and wide the fa"e

Throughout the sphere proclai"ing

With tru"pet the "ortal's na"e

+h, joyful, joyful day,

The Al"ighty blessed be

Who, with loving eagerness

3ends you luc# and happiness.



1+. A0DBELBAIS AND

MOHAMMED

(A0DBELBAIS Y

MAHOMA, D&)&%b&$

18+!

!t was night0 the "oaning

wind

3ighs as it #isses the towers

tall

And on its wings carries

"ournfully

Thousands of confused

noises agitating the space.

Aweful clouds bedi" the

peace

+f the dar# night's beautiful

star,

And a soft tint li#e a "antle

of snow

&overs the elds that the

3paniard treads.

There, fro" the tall =oorish

tow'r

3ings the owl on th'

i"posing pea#,

9u"berless evils and

bloody ghts

With fatidical accent

foretells.

!n the "eanwhile on the

soft bed

That the lu>urious =oor

"a#es of ivory,

5est doth see# the weary,

brave Abd;%l;A/is,

2leasant relief fro" the

bygone day.

Th' incense "ild in silver

tripods

That th' Arabian bar#

distills,

urns and spreadsinto>icating scent,

+f the su"ptuous cha"ber

soft delight.

%verything is silent0

everyone sleeps

+nly the sorrowful =oor

#eeps guard,

&onte"plates the light that

sadly

2enetrates through th'elegant arch.

ut so sudden he beholds

outlined

4ubious shadow that in the

gentle light

Agitates hi" for a ti"e, and

his sullen face

=asculine contour ac<uires.

With a white turban

covered in his head,

Ani"ates his countenance

a lengthy beard,

Fro" his belt a curved

cutlass hangs

*orribly dripping with

ardent blood.

$i#e the "ournful sound of

hollow bron/e

That deplores the agony of

"an,

Thus the sepulchral silence

his voice

5u?es, and the fatidical

vision the =oor.

Alas1 Alas1 !t tells hi", and

resounded profound

Th' echo of his voice cal"

and cold,

Terrible echo that touches

the soul,

$i#e the re"e"brance of a

friendly voice.

Alas, poor "e1 2ity the

nation brave

That the sandy $ybia saw

on her breast1

Alas, poor Doran, sacred

patri"ony

That to the =usli" Allah

once be<ueathed1

Bainly did you con<uer the

)ags

+f the 2ow'rful &hristian of

(uadalete

+n the green ban#s, for

again

5aises he rebellious his

captive head.

2elayo, the great 2elayo,

the noble (oth,

The illustrious son of erce

Favila,

+n the hard roc#s of

&ovadonga

Fights the forces of the

=oor.



The &ross, the &ross,

insignia idoli/ed,

Follows its ar"y that to

con<uer aspires0

=ary goes with the" with

her cloa#

3helters she with love the

bodies wea#.

ut don't fear, for

triu"phant ever be

Will the =usli" in the

co"bat crude,

And of no avail her

protection would be

For only (od helps the

faithful with his ar".

ut alas1 !f you sleep in the ar"s of delight

And "y heavenly precepts you ignore

The throne that sustained Tarif will fall

To the rough blow of the sword profane

$i#e the over)owing river your blood

Will inundate the vales and elds

And the )ourishing !beria's ground

Th' Arab's cold to"b will beco"e

And in nu"berless battles in eternal war,

!nto your breasts will plunge

The proud 3paniard's #nife, and the vile dust

$i#e the accursed serpent you'll bite

And you'll yield the ground inch by inch

Fertili/ed by your blessed blood The wea# wo"en and children slaves will be

!n their sad a?iction

*urled again to the desert cruel,

itter tears for peace that was lost

Eou will shed, and in sha"eful tor"ent

Eou will count the days of your return.

And rejoicing proudly at your distress

!n their perdy A thousand ships will ar",

And the beautiful ground where ! rest in

peace

They will threaten with fury never seen.

Ar" yourself1 5un1 uic#ly )y1

&ast your veteran ar"y with the ght

And to the wind let the son'rous tru"pet

release

Warli#e accent, to glory a toast.

Tre"bles the ground beneath the saddle light

+f the ery steed that Arabia breeds

And li#e showy "ure> in burning red

!ndel blood tints your sci"itar.

efore the =oon that "y insignia displays

=a#e the &ross its fortress yield,

And forever victorious "ay they shine

The benecent doctrines of the Doran.

3aid he and li#e a lightly rising s"o#e

That a strong wind rapidly dissipates,

Thus disappeared the terrible fright

That the vision divine caused the =oor.



18. T* T& #iiin&', F&b$7a$2 188?

War" and beautiful li#e a houri of yore,

as gracious and as pure as the brea# of dawn

when darling clouds ta#e on a sapphire tone,

sleeps a goddess on the !ndian shore.

The s"all waves of the sonorous sea assail

her feet with ardent, a"orous #isses, while

the intellectual West adores her s"ile

and the old hoary 2ole, her )ower veil.

=y =use, "ost enthusiastic and elate,

sings to her a"ong naiads and undines

! o6er her "y fortune and "y fate.

With "yrtle, purple roses, and )owering greens

and lilies, crown her brow i""aculate,

+ artists, and e>alt the 2hilippines1



1. A M.R.#. #A0LO RAMON, 1881

3weet is the bree/e that at the brea# of

dawn

The caly> of fragrant )owers sha#es,

Alluring odors soft they spread

+'er the countryside

The placid "ur"ur is sweet and soft

+f the gentle rivulet that with joy

Throws silv'ry foa" on sands of gold

And drops of water white

3weet are the trills of "usical birds

3oft is th' aro"a of "otley )ow'rs

And the perfu"es of th' aurora white

=ellow and sweet

ut your na"e, oh, Father idoli/ed,

!nstills the purest joy in our breast,

Whence it di6uses "ost "ellow rays

+f eternal glow.

The Al"ighty's hand a6ectionate

Eou show us, Father, whose love sincere

Throughout the bitter road of life

4oes guide us with love.

Alas1 What will beco"e of youthful toil

That restlessly burns in our breast,

Without the guidance or your #ind hand,

Eour love, your /eal

We're, Father, your sons you do guide us

To the ho"es of eternal happiness.

The "ind will not be disturbed by fright

With a pilot li#e you.

The great Apostle whose na"e you bear,

Whose footsteps with enthusias" you trail,

With heavenly favor shower you,

A sacred treasure.



"?. ;OOD0YE TO LEONOR, 188"

And so it has arrived ;; the fatal instant,

the dis"al injunction of "y cruel fate

so it has co"e at last ;; the "o"ent, the date,

when ! "ust separate "yself fro" you.

(oodbye, $eonor, goodbye1 ! ta#e "y leave,

leaving behind with you "y lover's heart1

(oodbye, $eonor0 fro" here ! now depart.

+ =elancholy absence1 Ah, what pain1



"1. T&2 A'k M& =*$

:&$'&'(M& #i3&n :&$'*',

O)t*b&$ 188"!

!

They bid "e stri#e the lyre

so long now "ute and

bro#en,

but not a note can ! wa#en

nor will "y "use inspire1

3he sta""ers coldly and

babbles

when tortured by "y "ind

she lies when she laughs

and thrills

as she lies in her

la"entation,

for in "y sad isolation

"y soul nor frolics nor

feels.

!!

There was a ti"e, 'tis true,

but now that ti"e has

vanished

when indulgent love or

friendship

called "e a poet too.

9ow of that ti"e there

lingers

hardly a "e"ory,

as fro" a celebration

so"e "ysterious refrain

that haunts the ears willre"ain

of the orchestra's actuation.

!!!

A scarce;grown plant !

see",

uprooted fro" the +rient,

where perfu"e is the

at"osphere

and where life is a drea".

+ land that is never

forgotten1

And these have taught "e

to sing0

the birds with their "elody,

the cataracts with their

force

and, on the swollen shores,

the "ur"uring of the sea.

!B

While in "y childhood days

! could s"ile upon her

sunshine,

! felt in "y boso",

seething,

a erce volcano abla/e.

A poet was !, for ! wanted

with "y verses, with "y

breath,

to say to the swift wind0

Fly

and propagate her renown1

2raise her fro" /one to

/one,

fro" the earth up to the

s#y1

B

! left her1 =y native hearth,

a tree despoiled and

shriveled,

no longer repeats the echo

of "y old songs of "irth.

! sailed across the vast

ocean,

craving to change "y fate,

not noting, in "y "adness,

that, instead of the weal !

sought,

the sea around "e wrought

the spectre of death and

sadness.

B!



The drea"s of younger

hours,

love, enthusias", desire,

have been left there under

the s#ies

of that fair land of )owers.

+h, do not as# of "y heart

that languishes, songs of

love1

For, as without peace !

tread

this desert of no surprises,

! feel that "y soul agoni/es

and that "y spirit is dead.

"". T* Mi'' C.O. 2 R., 188-

Why as# for those unintellectual verses

that once, insane with grief, ! sang aghast

+r are you "aybe throwing in "y face

"y ran# ingratitude, "y bitter past

Why resurrect unhappy "e"ories

now when the heart awaits fro" love a sign,

or call the night when day begins to s"ile,

not #nowing if another day will shine

Eou wish to learn the cause of this dejection

deliriu" of despair that anguish wove

Eou wish to #now the wherefore of such sorrows,

and why, a young soul, ! sing not of love

+h, "ay you never #now why1 For the reason

brings "elancholy but "ay set you laughing.

4own with "y corpse into the grave shall go

another corpse that's buried in "y stuJng1

3o"ething i"possible, a"bition, "adness,drea"s of the soul, a passion and its throes

+h, drin# the nectar that life has to o6er

and let the bitter dregs in peace repose1

Again ! feel the i"penetrable shadows

shrouding the soul with the thic# veils of night0

a "ere bud only, not a lovely )ower,

because it's destitute of air and light



ehold the"0 "y poor verses, "y da"ned brood

and sorrow suc#led each and every brat1

+h, they #now well to what they owe their being,

and "aybe they the"selves will tell you what.

"-. THE FLOWERS OF HEIDEL0ER;

(A *' F*$&' 3& H&i3&b&$g, A$i 1886!

(o to "y country, go, + foreign )owers,

sown by the traveler along the road,

and under that blue heaven

that watches over "y loved ones,

recount the devotion

the pilgri" nurses for his native sod1

(o and say say that when dawn

opened your chalices for the rst ti"e

beside the icy 9ec#ar,

you saw hi" silent beside you,

thin#ing of her constant vernal cli"e.

3ay that when dawn

which steals your aro"a

was whispering playful love songs to your

young

sweet petals, he, too, "ur"ured

canticles of love in his native tongue

that in the "orning when the sun rst traces

the top"ost pea# of Doenigssthul in gold

and with a "ild war"th raises

to life again the valley, the glade, the forest,

he hails that sun, still in its dawning,

that in his country in full /enith bla/es.

And tell of that day

when he collected you along the way

a"ong the ruins of a feudal castle,

on the ban#s of the 9ec#ar, or in a forest

noo#.

5ecount the words he said

as, with great care,

between the pages of a worn;out boo#

he pressed the )e>ible petals that he too#.

&arry, carry, + )owers,

"y love to "y loved ones,

peace to "y country and its fecund loa",

faith to its "en and virtue to its wo"en,

health to the gracious beings

that dwell within the sacred paternal ho"e.

When you reach that shore,

deposit the #iss ! gave you

on the wings of the wind above

that with the wind it "ay rove

and ! "ay #iss all that ! worship, honor and

love1



ut + you will arrive there, )owers,

and you will #eep perhaps your vivid hues

but far fro" your native heroic earth

to which you owe your life and worth,

your fragrances you will lose1

For fragrance is a spirit that never can

forsa#e

and never forgets the s#y that saw its birth.

". THE SON; OF MARIA CLARA, 188+

3weet the hours in the native country,

where friendly shines the sun above1

$ife is the bree/e that sweeps the "eadows

tran<uil is death "ost tender, love.

War" #isses on the lips are playing

as we awa#e to "other's face0

the ar"s are see#ing to e"brace her,

the eyes are s"iling as they ga/e.

*ow sweet to die for the native country,

where friendly shines the sun above1

4eath is the bree/e for hi" who has

no country, no "other, and no love1



"/. H2%n t* Lab*$, 1888

&*+5U30

For the =otherland in war,

For the =otherland in peace,

Will the Filipino #eep watch,

*e will live until life will cease1

=%909ow the %ast is glowing with light,

(o1 To the eld to till the land,

For the labour of "an sustains

Fa"'ly, ho"e and =otherland.

*ard the land "ay turn to be,

3corching the rays of the sun above...

For the country, wife and children

All will be easy to our love.

K&horusL

W!B%30

(o to wor# with spirits high,

For the wife #eeps ho"e faithfully,

!nculcates love in her children

For virtue, #nowledge and country.

When the evening brings repose,

+n returning joy awaits you,

And if fate is adverse, the wife,

3hall #now the tas# to continue.

K&horusL

=A!4%930

*ail1 *ail1 2raise to labour,

+f the country wealth and vigor1

For it brow serene's e>alted,

!t's her blood, life, and ardor.

!f so"e youth would show his love

$abor his faith will sustain 0

+nly a "an who struggles and wor#s

Will his o6spring #now to "aintain.

K&horusL

&*!$45%90

Teach, us ye the laborious wor#

To pursue your footsteps we wish,

For to"orrow when country calls us

We "ay be able your tas# to nish.

And on seeing us the elders will say 0

$oo#, they're worthy 'f their sires of yore1

!ncense does not honor the dead

As does a son with glory and valor.



"6. TO MY M9SE

(A Mi, 18?, in). in La

S*i3a$i3a3!

9o "ore is the "use

invo#ed

the lyre is out of fashion

no poet cares to use it

by other things are the

drea"y

young inspired to passion.

9ow if i"agination

de"ands so"e poesies,

no *elicon is invo#ed

one si"ply as#s the garMon

for a cup of co6ee please.

!nstead of tender stan/as

that "ove the hearts

sy"pathy,

one now writes a poe"

with a pen of steel,

a jo#e and an irony.

=use that in the past

inspired "e to sing of the

throes

of love0 go and repose.

What ! need is a sword,

rivers of gold, and acrid

prose.

! have a need to reason,

to "editate, to o6er

co"bat, so"eti"es to

weep

for he who would love "uch

has also "uch to su6er.

(one are the days of peace,

the days of loves gay

chorus,

when the )owers were

enough

to alleviate the soul

of its su6erings and

sorrows.

+ne by one fro" "y side

go those ! loved so "uch0

this one dead, that one

"arried

for fate seals with disaster

everything that ! touch.

Flee also, "use1 (o forth

and see# a region "ore

ne,

for "y country vows to give

you

fetters for your laurels,

a dar# jail for your shrine.

!f to suppress the truth

be a sha"e, an i"piety,

would it not then be

"adness

to #eep you by "y side

deprived of liberty

Why sing when destiny calls

to serious "editation,

when a hurricane is roaring,

when to her sons co"plains

the Filipino nation

And why sing if "y song

will "erely resound with a

"oaning

that will arouse no one,

the world being sic# andtired

of so"eone elses

groaning

For what, when a"ong the

people



who critici/e and "altreat

"e,

arid the soul, the lips frigid,

theres not a heart that

beats

with "ine, no heart to "eet

"e

$et sleep in the depths of

oblivion

all that ! feel, for there

it well should be, where the

breath

cannot "i> it with a rhy"e

that evaporates in the air.

As sleep in the deep abyss

the "onsters of the sea,

so let "y tribulations,

"y fancies and "y lyrics

slu"ber, buried in "e.

! #now well that your favors

you lavish without "easure

only during that ti"e

of )owers and rst loves

unclouded by displeasure.

=any years have passed

since with the ardent heat

of a #iss you burned "y

brow

That #iss has now turned

cold,

! have even forgotten it1

ut, before departing, say

that to your subli"eaddress

ever responded in "e

a song for those who grieve

and a challenge for those

who oppress.

ut, sacred i"agination,once again

to war" "y fantasy you will

co"e nigh

when, faith being faded,

bro#en the sword,

! cannot for "y country die.

Eoull give "e the "ourning

/ither whose

chords vibrate with elegiac

strains

to sweeten the sorrows of

"y nation

and "u?e the clan#ing of

her chains.

ut if with laurel triu"ph

crowns

our e6orts, and "y country,

united,

li#e a <ueen of the %ast

arises,

a white pearl rescued fro"

the sty0

return then and intone with

vigor

the sacred hy"n of a new

e>istence,

and we shall sing that strain

in chorus H

though in the sepulcher we

lie.



"+. K9NDIMAN, 181

9ow "ute indeed are tongue and heart0

love shies away, joy stands apart.

9eglected by its leaders and defeated,

the country was subdued and it sub"itted.

ut + the sun will shine again1

!tself the land shall disenchain

and once "ore round the world with growing praise

shall sound the na"e of the Tagalog race.

We shall pour out our blood in a great )ood

to liberate the parent sod

but till that day arrives for which we weep,

love shall be "ute, desire shall sleep.



"8. WATER AND FIRE (EL A;9A Y EL F9E;O, 181!

Water are we, you say, and yourselves re,

so let us be what we are

and co;e>ist without ire,

and "ay no con)agration ever nd us at war.

but, rather, fused together by cunning science

within the cauldrons of the ardent breast,

without rage, without deance,

do we for" stea", fth ele"ent indeed0

progress, life, enlighten"ent, and speed1



". SON; OF THE WANDERERTRA:ELER

(EL CANTO DEL :IA>ERO, 18/!

4ry leaf that )ies at rando"

till it's sei/ed by a wind fro" above0

so lives on earth the wanderer,

without north, without soul, without country

or love1

An>ious, he see#s joy everywhere

and joy eludes hi" and )ees,

a vain shadow that "oc#s his yearning

and for which he sails the seas.

!"pelled by a hand invisible,

he shall wander fro" place to place

"e"ories shall #eep hi" co"pany

of loved ones, of happy days.

A to"b perhaps in the desert,a sweet refuge, he shall discover,

by his country and the world forgotten

5est <uiet0 the tor"ent is over.

And they envy the hapless wanderer

as across the earth he persists1

Ah, they #now not of the e"ptiness

in his soul, where no love e>ists.

The pilgri" shall return to his country,

shall return perhaps to his shore

and shall nd only ice and ruin,

perished loves, and gravesnothing "ore.

egone, wanderer1 !n your own country,

a stranger now and alone1

$et the others sing of loving,

who are happybut you, begone1

egone, wanderer1 $oo# not behind you

nor grieve as you leave again.

egone, wanderer0 sti)e your sorrows1

the world laughs at another's pain.



-?. TO >OSE#HINE, 18/

@osephine, @osephine

Who to these shores have co"e

$oo#ing for a nest, a ho"e,

$i#e a wandering swallow

!f your fate is ta#ing you

To @apan, &hina or 3hanghai,

4on't forget that on these shores

A heart for you beats high.



!n the struggles that await the grown "an,

subject to pain and sorrow,

your "e"ory shall be his a"ulet

-". MY RETREAT (Mi R&ti$*, 18/!

eside a spacious beach of ne and delicate

sand

and at the foot of a "ountain greener than a

leaf,

! planted "y hu"ble hut beneath a pleasant

orchard,

see#ing in the still serenity of the woods

repose to "y intellect and silence to "y

grief.

!ts roof is fragile nipa its )oor is brittle

ba"boo

its bea"s and posts are rough as rough;

hewn wood can be

of no worth, it is certain, is "y rustic cabin

but on the lap of the eternal "ount it

slu"bers

and night and day is lulled by the crooning of

the sea.

The over)owing broo#, that fro" the

shadowy jungle

descends between huge bowlders, washes it

with its spray,

donating a current of water through

"a#eshift ba"boo pipes

that in the silent night is "elody and "usic

and crystalline nectar in the noon heat of the

day.

!f the s#y is serene, "ee#ly )ows the spring,

stru""ing on its invisible /ither unceasingly

but co"e the ti"e of the rains, and an

i"petuous torrent

spills over roc#s and chas"s hoarse, foa"ing

and aboil

to hurl itself with a fren/ied roaring towardthe sea.

The bar#ing of the dog, the twittering of the

birds,

the hoarse voice of the #alaw are all that !

hear

there is no boastful "an, no nuisance of a

neighbor

to i"pose hi"self on "y "ind or to disturb"y passage

only the forests and the sea do ! have near.

The sea, the sea is everything1 !ts sovereign"ass

brings to "e ato"s of a "yriad faraway

lands

its bright s"ile ani"ates "e in the li"pid

"ornings

and when at the end of day "y faith has

proven futile,

"y heart echoes the sound of its sorrow on

the sands.

At night it is a "ystery1 !ts diaphanous

ele"ent

is carpeted with thousands and thousands of

lights that cli"b

the wandering bree/e is cool, the r"a"ent

is brilliant,

the waves narrate with "any a sigh to the

"ild wind



histories that were lost in the dar# night of

ti"e.

:Tis said they tell of the rst "orning on the

earth,

of the rst #iss with which the sun in)a"ed

her breast,when "ultitudes of beings "ateriali/ed fro"

nothing

to populate the abyss and the overhanging

su""its

and all the places where that <uic#ening #iss

was pressed.

ut when the winds rage in the dar#ness of

the nightand the un<uiet waves co""ence their

agony,

across the air "ove cries that terrify the

spirit,

a chorus of voices praying, a la"entation

that see"s

to co"e fro" those who, long ago, drowned

in the sea.

Then do the "ountain ranges on high

reverberate

the trees stir far and wide, by a t of

tre"bling sei/ed

the cattle "oan the dar# depths of the

forest resound

their spirits say that they are on their way to

the plain,

su""oned by the dead to a "ortuary feast.

The wild night hisses, hisses, confused and

terrifying

one sees the sea are with )a"es of green

and blue

but cal" is re;established with the approach

of dawning

and forthwith an intrepid little shing vessel

begins to navigate the weary waves anew.

3o pass the days of "y life in "y obscure

retreat

cast out of the world where once ! dwelt0

such is "y rare

good fortune and 2rovidence be praised for

"y condition0

a disregarded pebble that craves nothing but"oss

to hide fro" all the treasure that in "yself !

bear.

! live with the re"e"brance of those that !

have loved

and hear their na"es still spo#en, who haunt

"y "e"ory

so"e already are dead, others have longforgotten

but what does it "atter ! live re"e"bering

the past

and no one can ever ta#e the past away fro"

"e.

!t is "y faithful friend that never turns

against "e,

that cheers "y spirit when "y spirits aloneso"e wraith,

that in "y sleepless nights #eeps watch with

"e and prays

with "e, and shares with "e "y e>ile and

"y cabin,

and, when all doubt, alone infuses "e with

faith.

Faith do ! have, and ! believe the day willshine

when the !dea shall defeat brute force as

well

and after the struggle and the lingering

agony

a voice "ore elo<uent and happier than "y

own

will then #now how to utter victorys canticle



! see the heavens shining, as )awless and

refulgent

as in the days that saw "y rst illusions

start

! feel the sa"e bree/e #issing "y autu"nal

brow,

the sa"e that once en#indled "y fervententhusias"

and turned the blood ebullient within "y

youthful heart.

Across the elds and rivers of "y native

town

perhaps has travelled the bree/e that now !

breathe by chance

perhaps it will give bac# to "e what once !gave it0

the sighs and #isses of a person idoli/ed

and the sweet secrets of a virginal ro"ance.

+n seeing the sa"e "oon, as silvery as

before,

! feel within "e the ancient "elancholy

revive

a thousand "e"ories of love and vowsawa#en0

a patio, an a/otea, a beach, a leafy bower

silences and sighs, and blushes of delight

A butter)y athirst for radiances and colors,

drea"ing of other s#ies and of a larger strife,

! left, scarcely a youth, "y land and "y

a6ections,

and vagrant eveywhere, with no <ual"s,

with no terrors,

s<uandered in foreign lands the April of "y

life.

And afterwards, when ! desired, a weary

swallow,to go bac# to the nest of those for who" !

care,

suddenly ercely roared a violent hurricane

and ! found "y wings bro#en, "y dwelling

place de"olished,

faith now sold to others, and ruins

everywhere.

*urled upon a roc# of the country ! adorethe future ruined no ho"e, no health to

bring "e cheer

you co"e to "e anew, drea"s of rose and

gold,

of "y entire e>istence the solitary treasure,

convictions of a youth that was healthy and

sincere.

9o "ore are you, li#e once, full of re andlife,

o6ering a thousand crowns to i""ortality

so"ewhat serious ! nd you and yet your

face beloved,

if now no longer as "erry, if now no longer

as vivid,

now bear the superscription of delity.

Eou o6er "e, + illusions, the cup of consolation

you co"e to reawa#en the years of youthful "irth

hurricane, ! than# you winds of heaven, ! than# you

that in good hour suspended by uncertain )ight

to bring "e down to the boso" of "y native earth.



eside a spacious beach of ne and delicate sand

and at the foot of a "ountain greener than a leaf,

! found in "y land a refuge under a pleasant orchard,

and in its shadowy forests, serene tran<uility,

repose to "y intellect and silence to "y grief.

--. MY LAST FAREWELL

(Mi 9ti%* A3i*',

D&)&%b&$ 186!

Farewell, beloved &ountry,

treasured region of the sun,

2earl of the sea of the

+rient, our van<uished

%den1

To you ! gladly surrender

this "elancholy life

And were it brighter,fresher, gaudier,

%ven then !d give it to you,

to you alone would then !

give.

!n elds of battle,

deliriously ghting,

+thers give you their lives,

without doubt, without

regret

Where theres cypress,

laurel or lily,

+n a plan# or open eld, in

co"bat or cruel "artyrdo"

!f the ho"e or country as#s,

it's all the sa"e;;it "atters

not.



! die when ! see the s#y

unfurls its colors

And at last after a cloa# of

dar#ness announces the

day

!f you need scarlet to tint

your dawn,

2aint with "y blood, pour it

as the "o"ent co"es,

And "ay it be gilded by a

re)ection of the heavens

new;born light.

=y drea"s, even as a child,

=y drea"s, when a young

"an in the pri"e of life,

Were to see you one day,

jewel of the eastern seas,

4ry those dar# eyes, raise

that forehead high,

Without frown, withoutwrin#le, without stain of

sha"e.

=y lifelong drea", "y deep

burning desire,

!s for this soul that will soon

depart to cry out0 3alud1

To your health1 +h how

beautiful to fall to give you

)ight,

To die to give you life, to

rest under your s#y,

And in your enchanted land

forever sleep.

!f upon "y grave one day

you "ay behold,

A"idst the dense grass, a

si"ple lowly )ower,

2lace it upon your lips, and

"y soul youll #iss,

And on "y brow "ay ! feel,

under the cold to"b,

The tenderness of your

touch, the war"th of your

breath.

$et the "oon see "e in softand tran<uil light,

$et the dawn burst forth its

)eeting radiance,

$et the wind "oan with its

gentle "ur"ur,

And should a bird descend

and rest on "y cross,

$et it sing its canticle of peace.

$et the burning sun

evaporate the rain,

And with the struggle

behind, towards the s#y

"ay they turn pure

$et a friend "ourn "y early

de"ise,

And in the serene

afternoon, when so"eone

prays for "e,

+ &ountry, pray that (od

will also grant "e rest1

2ray for all the unfortunate

ones who died,

For all who su6ered tor"ent

une<ualed,

For grieving "others who in

bitterness cry,

For orphans and widows, for

prisoners in torture,

And for yourself to see your

rede"ption at last.

And when the burial ground

is shrouded in dar# night,

And there alone, only the

departed re"ain in vigil,

4isturb not their rest, nor

their secrets,

And should you hear chords

fro" a /ither or harp,

'Tis !, + land beloved, 'tis !,

to you ! sing 1

And when "y grave, then

by all forgotten,

has not a cross nor stone to

"ar# its place,

$et "en plow and with a

spade disperse it,

And before "y ashes return

to nothing,

=ay they be the dust that

carpets your elds.

Then nothing "atters, cast

"e in oblivion.



Eour air, your space, your

valleys ! will cross.

! will be vibrant "usic to

your ears,

Aro"a, light, colors,

"ur"ur, "oan, and song,

%ver echoing the essence of

"y faith.

$and that ! love, sorrow of

"y sorrows,

Adored Filipinas, hear "y

last good;bye.

There ! leave you all, "y

parents, "y beloved.

! go where there are no

slaves, hang"en nor

oppressors,

Where faith does not #ill,

where the one who reigns is

(od.

(oodbye, dear parents,

brother and sisters,

frag"ents of "y soul,

&hildhood friends in the

ho"e now gone,

(ive than#s that ! rest fro"

this weariso"e day

(oodbye, sweet stranger,

"y friend, "y joy

Farewell, loved ones. To die

is to rest.

Jose Rizal's Poems

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