July 22, 2004
Happens every time
Every time I read something from or about Jose Marti, I am reminded of a red haired Irish girl. This morning, when I lifted that quote by Jose Marti posted below I immediately went back to my december archives to one of my favorite posts ever on this here blog.
I didnt write it. The redheaded Irish girl did. Sheila took on the subject of Cuban poetry when I asked her to submit an entry for my BlogCuba project back in December. Her post brought - and still brings - tears to my eyes. I can't count the number of times I've read that post and the poems therein.
Click here to see what I mean.
So, since I'm feeling a bit literary right now, I thought I'd offer up two poems from that particular post from the redheaded Irish girl.
From Jose Marti:
If you see a hill of foam
It is my poetry that you see:
My poetry is a mountain
And is also a feather fan.
My poems are like a dagger
Sprouting flowers from the hilt:
My poetry is like a fountain
Sprinkling streams of coral water.
My poems are light green
And flaming red;
My poetry is a wounded deer
Looking for the forest's sanctuary.
My poems please the brave:
My poems, short and sincere,
Have the force of steel
Which forges swords.
And this one from Cuban poet Nicolas Guillen:
You, who have forgotten your language,
Tell me,
And chew in all your tongue,
The guel and the yu,
How can you live in silence?
Tell me.
You, who left behind the land,
Tell me,
Where your father lies
Beneath a cross,
Where will you leave your bones?
Tell me.
Oh, poor wretch, answer,
Tell me,
Where will you find green after green,
Blue after blue,
Palm after palm under the sky?
Tell me.
Thank you Sheila. You have no idea how much that post of yours touched me.
Posted by Val Prieto at July 22, 2004 09:35 AM
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Comments
I am so glad, Val. So glad! I am just sorry I couldn't read the poems in their original form, as opposed to translations ... I'm sure I missed much.
And I still love this line above all others, perhaps:
My poems are light green
And flaming red
Damn. That is so good!!
Posted by: red at July 22, 2004 11:03 AM
What would that line be in Spanish?
Posted by: red at July 22, 2004 11:03 AM
Sheila,
In Spanish they are musical. Some of the feeling is lost in the translations.
My poems are light green
And flaming red
Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmin encendido.
Posted by: Val Prieto at July 22, 2004 01:04 PM
Verde and carmin ... green and red, right? Just lovely.
Posted by: red at July 22, 2004 01:39 PM
Verso de un carmin encendido. Reminds me of someone else here, Red.
C'mon, Val. Tell the folks that Marti's Numero Cinco was the basis for the song "Guantanamera".
The title song of a 1967 album of music by The Sandpipers.
Most anglos know the song, just not where it originated.
Song lyrics at: http://www.casacuba.org/fun_guantanamera.html
Posted by: homebru at July 22, 2004 01:54 PM
En Costa Rica. Venga, Val......
Posted by: Bill at July 22, 2004 09:39 PM
