Since we've just celebrated Cinco de Mayo, this week I've chosen a poem that's in both Spanish and English from a great book I have in the library called Cool Salsa, Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States! This poem is by Pedro Pietri. Disfruten!
Love Poem for My People
Do not let
Artificial lamps
Make strange shadows
Out of you
Do not dream
If you want your dreams
To come true
You knew how to sing
Before you was
Issued a birth certificate
Turn off the stereo
This country gave you
It is out of order
Your breath
Is your promiseland
If you want
To feel very rich
Look at your hands
That is where
The definition of magic
Is located at
Poema de amor para mi gente
(Translated from the English by Alexandra Lopez)
No dejes que
Lámparas artificiales
Hagan de ti
Sombras extrañas
No sueñes
Si quieres que tus sueños
Se hagan realidad
Tú sabías cantar
Antes de que fuiste
Dado un certificado de nacimiento
Apaga la radio
Que este país te dio
Está fuera de servicio
Tu aliento
Es tu tierra prometida
Si quieres
Sentirte bien rico
Mírate las manos
Es ahí donde
La definición de magia
Se encuentra
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment