RIZAL

7:30 - 9:00 AM

GROUP 2
Ancit, Melnar
Deuna, Herlyn Gil
Jurial, Liam
Manano, Maria Luisa
Rico, Hazel Joy
TABLE OF CONTENTS

La Entrada Triunfal
de los Reyes Catolices en Granada ...

El Heroismo de Colon ...

Colon y Juan II ...

Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha ...

Un Dialogo Alusivo la
Despedida de los Colegiales ...

A la Juventud Filipina ...

Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma ...

El Consejo de los Dios ...

A Filipinas ...

Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon ...

A La Senorita C.O.y.P. ...

Mi Piden Versos ...

 ‘La Entrada
Triunfal de los
Reyes Catolics
en Granada’

TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF THE CATHOLIC MONARCHS INTO GRANADA(Entrada

triunfal de los Reyes Católicos en Granada, December 1876)

'Twas a quiet and gloomy night

Whose mem'ry hurts the heart,
A night ago in which the Muslim King
Treads the Alhambra's beautiful floor.
The face pale, loose his hair,
Tired eyes of frigid gaze,
Head low, recumbent his face,
The sad Muslim looks at his palaces.
The Muslim looks at them and abundant tears
Bathe his eyes, a-flowing down his cheeks,
And to the ceiling gilt and arabesque
He turns again his weary gaze.
Sand and tearful he remembers then
The Muslim exploits and the glorious jousts ;
And comparing the present ills
With the combats of past days,
"Goodbye, Alhambra," he says; "Alhambra, goodbye,
Abode of joy and abundant happiness ;
Goodbye, palace full of pleasures,
Inexhaustible fountain of delight.
Sad I leave you and now I'm going
To cruel exile, of hardships full,
In order not to see your towers high,
Your fountains clear and rich abodes."
He said ; and moaning the costly habiliments
Of the gilded apartments he removes ;
And of its beautiful decorations stripped
The huge halls, sad he withdraws,
And in the silence of the night

When the luckless Arabs were asleep,

When only the hissing of the winds
Through the peaceful city could be heard
And crossing the streets
Of that now forsaken realm,
Pale and petrified
Bathed in mortal sweat;
Only lamentations deep
Were heard everywhere,
And some doleful voice
Thrown in its wild complaint.

The king stopped; the towers he saw

He contemplated those walls;
The bottles remembered he
That he waged in happy times;
But he could not control himself
And he lowered his gazed to the ground
And mournfully said
As he bends his head:
"Alas! Granada what happened to you?
What became of your nights?
Alas! Where do your warriors sleep
That your anguish they don't see?
Indeed! I your unhappy King,
To the Libyan desert lands
Hurled and with chains
By fate I also go.
"Today I lose everything, everything,
Kingdom, palace, treasure
And so alone I sadly weep
What cruel grief prepares for me;
There was a time when your tow'rs
Preponderantly ruled
And they were the havoc and dread
Of squadrons in front."
He said and the squadrons he sees
Commanded by Talavera,
As he waves the flag
Of Christian religion;

That by royal order the forts

They were going to occupy
And to take possession of
The Alhambra and its rooms.

And to Fernando Talavera

Who rules the knights
With respect addresses himself
The unfortunate Boabdil ;
And in manner like this speaks to him
With mournful stress,
Into cruel anguish plunged
In a thousand anxieties submerged:

"Go my lord, go immediately

To take hold of those abodes
By the great Almighty reserved
For your powerful King;
Allah chastises the Moors;
Strip them of their property;
From their country he throws them out
For they did not keep his law."

He said no more ; on his way

The Mohammedan proceeds
And behind goes his faithful band
In silence and with grief.
Aback they didn't turn their gaze
To contemplate their ground,
For affliction perhaps would strike
Them with greater vehemence.

And in the distance they see

The Christians' camp did show
Signs of contentment and joy
Upon seeing the celestial Cross
That on the Alhambra is displayed
When the city was overrun ;
And 'twas the primary sign
Of the race that was subdued.

And th' unhappy Monarch hears

The voice of "Long live Castille !"
And he sees on their knees

The Spanish Combatants;

And from the trumpets he hears
Triumphal harmonies.
And the brilliant helmets he sees
The bright sun shining on them.
His footsteps then he turns

Toward King Fernando

Who advances ordering
His troops with majesty;
And as he nears the King,
The Moor gives to him the keys,
The only treasure and sign
Of the Mohammedan pow'r.

"See there," Boabdil says to him,

What I can offer you,
And the only thing left to me,
Of the Arabic domain
My kingdom, trophies, men,
Fields, houses, victories,
Exalted honors, tow'rs
And gardens all, now are yours."

Boabdil thus did speak

And having paid his respect
From that place he withdraws
A thousand ills he saw
Continuing his slow pace
His warriors sending forth
A thousand doleful groans
As they leave the fair Genil.

Now, the warlike clarion

Of Fernando sounds th' entry
In Granada lovely and fair,
Now Christian with no infidel;
The captives of the defeated Moor,
Who sadly were dragging chains
And suff'ring torments and pains
With joy came to Isabel.
Like long-suff'ring warriors brave
The clement King greets them,
His gladness showing on his face
'Cause from evil he saw them freed;
And the Queen abundant alms
Distributes with benevolent hand
That Queen who's always of God
Ought to wear immortal crown.

And as the Muslims hear

The cries of festivity,
Sonorous beating of drums,
And the singing of delight,
They lamented their fate,
The glory they have lost,
Their race that was subdued,
Their country without peer.

Their mournful groans

They carefully hide,
Their tearful pray'rs,
To be heard they fear
Would augment the pride
Of that victory
That causes their woe.

Now the flag of Spain

Proudly waves o'er the walls
Of noble Granada now secure !
Now the Catholic Kings
From their seat opulent
Will decree wise laws
For the children of Genil.

Now delightful Granada, proud

Is Christians' dwelling place
And Granada belongs
To the faithful populace.

Now from Heaven God looks down

With joy the beautiful tow'rs
And merlons all full
Of Trophies and laurel.

The above poem of Jose rizal relates the triumphant entry of Ferdinand and Isabella, Spain's
"Most Catholic Kings," into the city of Granada in 1492. This entry is one of the most powerful
symbolic moments in Spanish history.
http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation
no.12
 ‘El Heroismo
de Colon’

THE HEROISM OF COLUMBUS (El Heroismo de Colon, 1877)

Oh tell me, celestial Muse, who in the mind

Of Columbus infused a breath sublime,
Invested with noble courage and faith,
To plough the seas of the West?
Who gave him brav’ry whem imposing
The sea was angered. The wind roared,
That in his rage the bad angel called
Against the son of faithful Spain?

In the midst of solemn tranquility

When languid earth was asleep,
And the moon its trembling disc
Through the diaphanous sky did steer,
A man contemplates the wavy sea…
Seen painted on his smiling face
So magnificent clemency’s pow’r
Exuding kindness and intelligence.

The curly whitish waves of the sea

That bathe the spreading shore,
Like silver reflect the white light
To the soft breath of perfumed breeze;
And while from the shadows strange
Around danced winged multitude,
An old man, furious, fierce and grave
Fantastic rose from the sea profound.

He hold firm in his strong right hand

A heavy trident aflame…

“And your audacious heart hopes to subdue

The fierce sea’s terrible rage
That when the fiery tempest roars
In mass it rises gloomy and grave?
Oh! Who could calmly contemplate
The iron cold of bloody fate,
That the roar of the wind which resounds
In the abyss a sad tomb opes?

“What lies beyond? Only death,

The dark sea that dreadfully terrifies
And infuses fear in the stoutest heart,
Where at each instant darkly appears
The tempest, with the mariner in doubt
How to guide his ship in such calamity;
And the waters bury him in the depth
Where a thousand horrible monsters hide.

“But, alas, poor you! Alas, unhappy Spain

If you run in search of land remote!
I will excite the north wind’s rage
And the hatred cruel of all that the ocean holds. . .
And ere you step on the foreign shores,
War and discord I’ll put within your ship;
And I’ll not rest until I see your ruin,
If divine protection saves you not…

“Hush, deceitful monster, with son’rous voice

Christopher answers him, ignorance….”

Jose Rizal wrote this epic poem in December 1877 during his academic years in Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. This poem praises Columbus, the discoverer of America.

http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.13
 ‘Colon y Juan
II’

Columbus and John II (Colon y Juan II)

"Christopher, to you, fame,

And immortal crown and great renown
Homage history pays !
Your august name reaches
Posterity and is amazed.

"Blesses you the world

In canticles of love and contentment
All that Lusitania
Holds proclaim instantly
Your faith's noble valor.
"Who, like you, is gentle,
Constant, resigned, and gen'rous?
Conquered thou the dreadful
Fury of the wavy sea
And the cowardly, treach'rous mariner.

"Hail, illustrious Adm'ral,

Firm of heart, fiery in the fight ;
To your constant valor
Kindly today I offer
Castles and honors together.
"I, your voice I shall be
To proclaim before my standards
Viceroy of good graces
And above the towers
I shall put your name in royal flags."

Thus did speak the sov'reign,

Portugal's Juan the enlightened.
Glory great beforehand
And the highest post in his palace
Offers he the veteran.

But . . . hurriedly he flees

Columbus from the treach'rous deceiver
Of the palace ambitious;
Runs he, flies to where dwells
Isabel the Christian, his benefactress.

This poem relates how King John II of Portugal missed fame and riches by his failure to finance
the projected expedition of Columbus to the new world.

http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.14
 ‘Gran
Consuelo en la
Mayor
Desdicha’

Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in the Greatest Misfortune) is one of the
poems written by Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. It is an epic poem written in octaves
sometime around 1877, as it bore no specific date on the manuscript. It was written during his
scholastic years in Ateneo Municipal

“Great Solace in the Greatest Misfortune”

(Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha)
Hardly the shining Phoebus
Dyed the clouds scarlet
Morning now is peeping
With delightful freshness;
When the bicolored standard
Of Castilla shows up
Upright in the matutinal air
On a fragile floating craft.

The great Admiral Columbus

Of the Spanish nation,
It is he who waves the flag
In the wind on the high sea,
And, the ship goes a-gliding
Over the waters crystalline
His subalterns did want to reach
Very quickly the mines of gold.

On his way he visits

The great Cacique courteous and kind,
Th’ Admiral contemplates
To return it with love,
And th’ arrogant Cacique
Offers him from his treasure
A colossal bar of gold,
Gift of infinite value.

It was night and to common repose

Thinking not of the days’ hardships,
The ship’s brave men gave themselves.
Only one youth did keep watch.

Thrice the frightening silence

Calls him to a soft pleasant sleep;
And three times the fleet with skill
Through the wide sea directed he…
Yielded he at last…. In sorry abandon
Alas, he leaves the ship! …. Cruel mishap!....
To inexpert hands and entrusting
Castille’s name and greatness.

And in the meantime, and the ship to the

Breakers, shoal
Impetuous, Wild
Sounded, Ran.

At the repeated blow of breakers,

Rises instantly Columbus,
Knows he the trouble: shouts he disturbed….
Come to him his men and seeing him are shocked:
What confusion!... what voices!!! Grating noise
Heard everywhere!.... The fleet is advancing
To the sandbank; all persist in fighting,
If asleep they’re dreaming, some are in doubt.

Only Columbus, like resounding thunder,

In the midst of the frightful night,
Raises his voice, serenely he throws
To the water a boat, with majestic words
Gives he the order…. But soon the shop
Full of men who’re fleeing shamefully:
He alone is animated, firmly hopes;
Fights he and fights again with cruel death.

Vain were the efforts, and science

‘Gainst the furious liquid element
Offers weak resistance in vain
To the violent, deathly push,
And Columbus already knows the impotence….
“Here you have us!” sounds at the moment,
More harmonious than the cry of vict’ry
And the trumpet of acclaiming glory.

This is Vicente Yañez, who, condemning

The repugnant perfidy of the rest,
Places all the men at his command
On the side of Columbus with gallantry.
While the water keeps on coming
Into the ship that weak already is sinking….
And while the boat is torn to pieces,
Heartless death is threatening them.

Columbus tried.
To save his men
And with the sadness sees
His ship being lost;
To leave her he doesn’t want
And, exhales a moan
Like the bee that has lost
Its pleasure sweet.

Now sadly he looks

At his ship without men…
And suff’ring, alone
He found himself…

His tender gaze

Around does turn
With grief he sweeps
At his ill luck, exclaimed:
“Goodbye, dear ship;
Goodbye, you who ploughed through oceans wide
From Iberia divine
With valor you met
Obedient to my command,
Alas, mitigate the woes of my soul!...
“With sadness I look at you
And seeing your remains
Afflicted I heave a sigh!
Like the lamentable fates
They spoiled your handsomeness!
Are you, may I surmise
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=164158410628763&id=16077086096751
8

‘Un Dialogo
Alusivo a la
 Despedida de
los Colegiales’

A FAREWELL DIALOGUE OF THE STUDENTS (Un Dialogo Alusive a la Despedida de

los Colegiales)

This was the last poem written by Rizal in Ateneo which again amazed his teachers. It is
a poignant poem of farewell to his classmates, written just before he graduated from the Ateneo
Muncipal de Manila.
http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.16
 ‘A La
Juventud
Filipina’

To The Philippine Youth

English version:

Unfold, oh timid flower!

Lift up your radiant brow,

This day, Youth of my native strand!
Your abounding talents show
Resplendently and grand,
Fair hope of my Motherland!

Soar high, oh genius great,

And with noble thoughts fill their mind;
The honor's glorious seat,
May their virgin mind fly and find
More rapidly than the wind.

The first line, "unfold, oh timid flower," implies that the youth is silent, maybe daunted, and
consequently has not yet gone into full bloom for whatever reason there is that may have
silenced them. In the beginning stanza, Rizal encourages the youth, by telling them to hold their
heads high for they possess talents and skills and abilities that would make their country proud.

The second verse can be rearranged in contemporary English to say: "Oh genius great, soar high;
and fill their mind with noble thoughts. May their virgin mind fly and find the honor's glorious
seat more rapidly than the wind." Here, Rizal calls to genious to fill young minds with noble
thoughts and hopes that as they release their thinking from the chains that bind, they may be able
to soar swiftly high where the joy of honor is.

Descend with the pleasing light

Of the arts and sciences to the plain,
Oh Youth, and break forthright
The links of the heavy chain
That your poetic genius enchain.

Contrary to the second verse, which talked about ascending and soaring to the heights, this third
stanza now talks about descent, and a downward motion of the great genius to fill the earthly
strokes of art and science with their magnificent ideas. Again, Rizal calls them to break the
chains that bind their intellect. "Poetic genius" here does not necessarily pertain to the talent of
writing poetry. Instead, the term "poetic" is simply an adjective to describe genius, meaning that
it is deep and mystifying and heavy with meaning.

See that in the ardent zone,

The Spaniard, where shadows stand,
Doth offer a shining crown,
With wise and merciful hand
To the son of this Indian land.

Rizal challenges the youth, that in their pursuit of knowledge and wisdom they may humble the
hand of Spain, whose proud chin did not look kindly upon the people whom they labelled as
"Indios" and whom they treated with contempt. He dreams that in their journey to intellectual
greatness they may humble even the proudest nations that look down on them and rightfully
deserve "a crown that shines, even where shadows stand."
You, who heavenward rise
On wings of your rich fantasy,
Seek in the Olympian skies
The tenderest poesy,
More sweet than divine honey;

You of heavenly harmony,

On a calm unperturbed night,
Philomel's match in melody,
That in varied symphony
Dissipate man's sorrow's blight;

In these two stanzas, Rizal calls the youth to seek the beauty of poetry and music, which he
himself values greatly as essentials in every manner of life. He claims that poetry is "more sweet
than divine honey," and that music can "dissipate man's sorrow's blight."

You at th' impulse of your mind

The hard rock animate
And your mind with great pow'r consigned
Transformed into immortal state
The pure mem'ry of genius great;

Speaking to the youth, Rizal says that by the very impulse of their mind, they are capable of
bringing to life or animating even someting as lifeless and unmoving as a hard rock. He
continues to say that the youth is able, to immortalize their thoughts and their words through the
help of great genius (as he has done himself. This stanza can be arranged in a more
contemporary English structure as follows: "You can animate the hard rock at the impulse of
your mind; and transform, with the great power of your mind, the pure memory of great genius
into immortality."

And you, who with magic brush

On canvas plain capture
The varied charm of Phoebus,
Loved by the divine Apelles,
And the mantle of Nature;

Rizal here addresses the youth, comparing their abilities to a magic brush that can capture even
the most majestic views and the most glorious charms on a blank canvas.

Run ! For genius' sacred flame

Awaits the artist's crowning
Spreading far and wide the fame
Throughout the sphere proclaiming
With trumpet the mortal's name
Oh, joyful, joyful day,
The Almighty blessed be
Who, with loving eagerness
Sends you luck and happiness.

The last stanza is a charge, urging the youth to run, for a glorious crown awaits them. The
"sphere" here pertains to the world, showing that Rizal believed the Filipino youth is as brilliant
as those in any other nation, and is able to contend with even the strongest powers if they only
set their mind to making most of what they already have.

The Artistic-Literary Lyceum of Manila in 1879 held a literary contest that offered a prize for the
best poem. When this event happened, Rizal was only eighteen years old. He submitted his poem
entitled A La Juventud Filipina.

The Board of Judges, composed of Spaniards, was astounded by Rizal’s poem and awarded him
first prize which consisted of:

- a silver pen (feather-shaped and decorated with gold)

- diploma
Rizal was congratulated by the Jesuits especially his former professors in Ateneo, friends and
family. It is a classic Philippine literature because it was the first Spanish poem written by a
Filipino and was recognized by Spanish literary authority. Another reason is that it expresses that
the Filipinos were the “fair hope of the Fatherland” and not the Spaniards.

http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2013/06/interpretation-to-filipino-youth.html
http://writingsofrizal.weebly.com/a-la-juventud-filipina.html
 ‘Abd-el-Azis y
Mahoma’

ABD-EL-AZIS AND MOHAMMED (ABD-EL-AZIS Y MAHOMA, December 1879)

It was night: the moaning wind

Sighs as it kisses the towers tall
And on its wings carries mournfully
Thousands of confused noises agitating the space.

Aweful clouds bedim the peace

Of the dark night's beautiful star,
And a soft tint like a mantle of snow
Covers the fields that the Spaniard treads.

There, from the tall Moorish tow'r

Sings the owl on th' imposing peak,
Numberless evils and bloody fights
With fatidical accent foretells.

In the meanwhile on the soft bed

That the luxurious Moor makes of ivory,
Rest doth seek the weary, brave Abd-El-Azis,
Pleasant relief from the bygone" day.

Th' incense mild in silver tripods

That th' Arabian bark distills,
Burns and spreads intoxicating scent,
Of the sumptuous chamber soft delight.

Everything is silent : everyone sleeps ;

Only the sorrowful Moor keeps guard,
Contemplates the light that sadly
Penetrates through th' elegant arch.

But so sudden he beholds outlined

Dubious shadow that in the gentle light
Agitates him for a time, and his sullen face
Masculine contour acquires.

With a white turban covered in his head,

Animates his countenance a lengthy beard,
From his belt a curved cutlass hangs
Horribly dripping with ardent blood.

Like the mournful sound of hollow bronze

That deplores the agony of man,
Thus the sepulchral silence his voice
Ruffles, and the fatidical vision the Moor.

"Alas ! Alas ! It tells him, and resounded profound

Th' echo of his voice calm and cold,
Terrible echo that touches the soul,
Like the remembrance of a friendly voice.

"Alas, poor me ! Pity the nation brave

That the sandy Lybia saw on her breast !
Alas, poor Koran, sacred patrimony
That to the Muslim Allah once bequeathed !

Vainly did you conquer the flags

Of the Pow'rful Christian of Guadalete
On the green banks, for again
Raises he rebellious his captive head.

Pelayo, the great Pelayo, the noble Goth,

The illustrious son of fierce Favila,
On the hard rocks of Covadonga
Fights the forces of the Moor.
The Cross, the Cross, insignia idolized,
Follows its army that to conquer aspires:
Mary goes with them with her cloak
Shelters she with love the bodies weak.

But don't fear, for triumphant ever be

Will the Muslim in the combat crude,
And of no avail her protection would be
For only God helps the faithful with his arm.

But alas! If you sleep in the arms of delight

And my heavenly precepts you ignore
The throne that sustained Tarif will fall
To the rough blow of the sword profane

Like the overflowing river your blood

Will inundate the vales and fields
And the flourishing Iberia's ground
Th' Arab's cold tomb will become ;

And in numberless battles in eternal war,

Into your breasts will plunge
The proud Spaniard's knife, and the vile dust
Like the accursed .serpent you'll bite ;

And you'll yield the ground inch by inch

Fertilized by your blessed blood ;
The weak women and children slaves will be
In their sad affliction ;

Hurled again to the desert cruel,

Bitter tears for peace that was lost
You will shed, and in shameful torment
You will count the days of your return.

And rejoicing proudly at your distress

In their perfidy A thousand ships will arm,
And the beautiful ground where I rest in peace
They will threaten with fury never seen.

Arm yourself ! Run ! Quickly fly !

Cast your veteran army with the fight
And to the wind let the son'rous trumpet release
Warlike accent, to glory a toast.

Trembles the ground beneath the saddle light

Of the fiery steed that Arabia breeds
And like showy murex in burning red
Infidel blood tints your scimitar.

Before the Moon that my insignia displays

Make the Cross its fortress yield,
And forever victorious may they shine
The beneficent doctrines of the Koran."

Said he ; and like a lightly rising smoke

That a strong wind rapidly dissipates,
Thus disappeared the terrible fright
That the vision divine caused the Moor.

This epic poem was written by Jose Rizal in 1879 and declaimed by Manuel Fernandez on the
night of December 8, 1879 in honor of the Ateneo’s Patroness.
It recalls the struggle between the Spaniards and the Moors in Spain.

http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.20
‘El Consejo de
los Dios’
 ‘A Filipinas’

To The Philippines, February 1880

A Translation from the Spanish by Nick Joaquin

Warm and beautiful like a houri of yore,

as gracious and as pure as the break of dawn
when darling clouds take on a sapphire tone,
sleeps a goddess on the Indian shore.
The small waves of the sonorous sea assail

her feet with ardent, amorous kisses, while

the intellectual West adores her smile;

and the old hoary Pole, her flower veil.

My Muse, most enthusiastic and elate,

sings to her among naiads and undines;

I offer her my fortune and my fate.

With myrtle, purple roses, and flowering greens

and lilies, crown her brow immaculate,

O artists, and exalt the Philippines!

This poem was written by Jose Rizal to serve as a reminder for Filipinos to love their
motherland.

http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.21
 ‘Al M.R.P.
Pablo Ramon’

Al M.R.P. PABLO RAMON, 1881

Sweet is the breeze that at the break of dawn

The calyx of fragrant flowers shakes,
Alluring odors soft they spread
O'er the countryside ;

The placid murmur is sweet and soft

Of the gentle rivulet that with joy
Throws silv'ry foam on sands of gold
And drops of water white ;

Sweet are the trills of musical birds

Soft is th' aroma of motley flow'rs
And the perfumes of th' aurora white
Mellow and sweet;

But your name, oh, Father idolized,

Instills the purest joy in our breast,
Whence it diffuses most mellow rays
Of eternal glow.

The Almighty's hand affectionate

You show us, Father, whose love sincere
Throughout the bitter road of life
Does guide us with love.

Alas! What will become of youthful toil

That restlessly burns in our breast,
Without the guidance or your kind hand,
Your love, your zeal?

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

To the homes of eternal happiness.
The mind will not be disturbed by fright
With a pilot like you.

The great Apostle whose name you bear,

Whose footsteps with enthusiasm you trail,
With heavenly favor shower you,
A sacred treasure.
Jose Rizal truly loved his alma mater Ateneo as well as his professors. He wrote a poem for one
of them, Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon, a lovely tribute to the Very Reverend Pablo Ramon, Rector of
the Ateneo. The poem was written on the occasion of that good Father’s birthday. Reverend
Father Pablo Ramon had been so kind and helpful to the national hero.

http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.22
 ‘A La Senorita
C.O.y.P.’

To Miss C.O. y R., 1883

A Translation from the Spanish by Nick Joaquin

Why ask for those unintellectual verses

that once, insane with grief, I sang aghast?
Or are you maybe throwing in my face
my rank ingratitude, my bitter past?

Why resurrect unhappy memories

now when the heart awaits from love a sign,
or call the night when day begins to smile,
not knowing if another day will shine?

You wish to learn the cause of this dejection

delirium of despair that anguish wove?
You wish to know the wherefore of such sorrows,
and why, a young soul, I sing not of love?

Oh, may you never know why! For the reason

brings melancholy but may set you laughing.
Down with my corpse into the grave shall go
another corpse that's buried in my stuffing!

Something impossible, ambition, madness,

dreams of the soul, a passion and its throes
Oh, drink the nectar that life has to offer
and let the bitter dregs in peace repose!

Again I feel the impenetrable shadows

shrouding the soul with the thick veils of night:
a mere bud only, not a lovely flower,
because it's destitute of air and light

Behold them: my poor verses, my damned brood

and sorrow suckled each and every brat!
Oh, they know well to what they owe their being,
and maybe they themselves will tell you what.

Jose Rizal, though not really a handsome man in today’s perspective, attracts ladies easily.
Perhaps his exceptional talents and charisma made him attractive to women. Furthermore, his
gift of poetry made him even more likable. He composed a poem entitled “To Miss C.O. y R” to
express his admiration to Consuelo Ortiga y Perez, the beautiful daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga y
Rey. Nevertheless, he did not pursue his feelings for her due to the fact that he was still engaged
to Leonor Rivera then and his friend, Eduardo de Lete also had feelings for Consuelo.

http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.25
 ‘Mi Piden
Versos’

They Ask Me for Verses (Me Piden Versos, October 1882) A Translation from the Spanish by
Nick Joaquin

I
They bid me strike the lyre
so long now mute and broken,
but not a note can I waken
nor will my muse inspire!
She stammers coldly and babbles
when tortured by my mind;
she lies when she laughs and thrills
as she lies in her lamentation,
for in my sad isolation
my soul nor frolics nor feels.
II
There was a time, 'tis true,
but now that time has vanished
when indulgent love or friendship
called me a poet too.
Now of that time there lingers
hardly a memory,
as from a celebration
some mysterious refrain
that haunts the ears will remain
of the orchestra's actuation.

III
A scarce-grown plant I seem,
uprooted from the Orient,
where perfume is the atmosphere
and where life is a dream.
O land that is never forgotten!
And these have taught me to sing:
the birds with their melody,
the cataracts with their force
and, on the swollen shores,
the murmuring of the sea.

IV
While in my childhood days
I could smile upon her sunshine,
I felt in my bosom, seething,
a fierce volcano ablaze.
A poet was I, for I wanted
with my verses, with my breath,
to say to the swift wind: "Fly
and propagate her renown!
Praise her from zone to zone,
from the earth up to the sky!"

V
I left her! My native hearth,
a tree despoiled and shriveled,
no longer repeats the echo
of my old songs of mirth.
I sailed across the vast ocean,
craving to change my fate,
not noting, in my madness,
that, instead of the weal I sought,
the sea around me wrought
the spectre of death and sadness.

VI
The dreams of younger hours,
love, enthusiasm, desire,
have been left there under the skies
of that fair land of flowers.
Oh, do not ask of my heart
that languishes, songs of love!
For, as without peace I tread
this desert of no surprises,
I feel that my soul agonizes
and that my spirit is dead.

Rizal had been a member of Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle), a society of

Spaniards and Filipinos in Madrid. In the New Year’s Eve reception of the Madrid Filipinos
held in 1882, he declaimed his written “Me Piden Versos”, a poem he wrote due to the request
of the society’s members. In March 31, 1889, this poem was published in the La Solidaridad.

http://ourhappyschool.com/philippine-studies/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-poems-compilation no.24