Here is another beautiful poem, I Cultivate a White Rose, by Jose Marti.
I Cultivate a White Rose
I cultivate a white rose
In July as in January
For the sincere friend
Who gives me his hand frankly.
And for the cruel person who tears out
the heart with which I live,
I cultivate neither nettles nor thorns:
I cultivate a white rose.
Below is the Spanish Translation:
Cultivo Una Rosa Blanca
Cultivo una rosa blanca,
en julio como en enero,
para el amigo sincero
que me da su mano franca.
Y para el cruel que me arranca
el corazón con que vivo,
cardo ni oruga cultivo:
cultivo la rosa blanca.
Simply beautiful! Hope you have been enjoying Marti's poems.
9 comments:
There is no "Spanish" translation as you put it. There is an English translation and the "original" Spanish text.
You are absolutely correct that the poem was originally written in Spanish. Thanks for pointing that out. Glad that there are English translations so that non-Spanish speakers can enjoy the poem.
i thank you for the translation
and thanks for Jose Marti for these beautiful words
Yasmin,
I think that the last sentence in the English version should I cultivate "the" white rose
because it seems to refer to the same rose in the first sentence.
Last sentence in Spanish is Cultivo "la" rosa blanca while the first sentence says Cultivo "una" rosa blanca.
What do you think?
Thanks for your comment. I agree that the last sentence seems to be referring to the same rose mentioned earlier. The "la" in Spanish translates as"the". I appreciate your taking the time to check out the blog, as well as leaving a comment. It is a lovely poem.
Yes, I agree that Martí definitely meant a distinction between the "una rosa blanca" of the first line and the reference to "la rosa blanca" in the last line. "A white rose" (generic) has become (more specificallly) "the white rose" of peace.
Neil, thanks for your comment. I agree about the distinction between the "una" and the "la", with the "la" (the) being the more specific. Such a beautiful poem!
I am positive that the last reference to "rosa" is "la", not "una". Such a rendering supports the meaning of the poem. Plus, the "oruga" is a caterpillar, not a thorn. The word should be "ortiga."
Thanks for pposting this
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