To the Flowers of Heidelberg
By Dr. José Rizal
(“A las flores de Heidelberg”)
Go to my native land, go, foreign flowers,
Sown by the traveler on his way,
And there, beneath its azure sky,
Where all my afflictions lie;
There from the weary pilgrim say
What faith is his in that land of ours!
Go there and tell how when the dawn,
Her early light diffusing,
Your petals first flung open wide;
His steps beside chill Neckar drawn,
You see him silent by your side
Upon its Spring perennial musing,
Say how when morning's light,
All your fragrance stealing,
Whispers to you as in mirth,
Playful songs of Love's delight,
He, too, murmurs his love's feeling
In the tongue he learned at birth.
That when the sun of Koenigsthul's height
Pours out its golden flood,
And with its slowly warming light
Gives life to vale and grove and wood,
He greets that sun, here only appraising,
Which in his native land is at its zenith
blazing.
And tell there of that day he stood,
Near to a ruin'd castle gray,
By Neckar's banks, or shady wood,
And pluck'd you beside the way
Tell, too, the tale to you addressed,
And how with tender care,
Your bending leaves he pressed
Twist pages of some volume rare.
Bear then, O flowers, love's message bear;
My love to all the love'd one's there,
Peace to my country - faithful land -
Faith whereon its sons may stand,
And virtue for its daughters's care;
All those beloved creatures greet,
That still around home's altar meet.
And when you come home unto its shore,
This kiss I now on you bestow,
Fling where the winged breezes blow;
That borne on them it may hover o'er
All that I love, esteem, and adore.
But though, O flowers, you come unto that
land,
And still perchance your colors hold;
So far from this heroic strand,
Whose soil frist bade your life unfold
Still here your fragrance will expand;
Your soul that never quits the earth
Whose light smiled on you at your birth.
INTERPRETATION:

In this poem Jose Rizal poetically speaks of how much he misses his motherland, he
wants the flowers of Heidelberg to Speak of him in the Philippines, he misses the places and
sights on his hometown, the things he usually do, and the things he loved to do with his loved
ones, he pointed out that he is concerned for his country, he beautifully asked the flowers to bear
witness to his undying concern for his motherland when at dawn he sings to the flowers native
songs in exchange of their gift of natural perfume, he used the flowers of Heidelberg as his
symbol of his love for his motherland. The beauty of flowers is comparable to the way he looks
at our country that anyone who will see the flower may get in touch in Rizal’s concern for his
motherland. Back when he was in Germany, he was respected, and he realized what good will
this respect do to his country, for he is serving a foreign country instead of his own, which is
why he decided to return to the Philippines despite the warnings of his family and friends telling
him not to go back, this poem basically discusses how much he loves his country, that he would
never forsake his homeland, that he’d rather die in his home than die working for the good of a
foreign country and his homesickness, this poem shows how much me wanted to go home.
 ruins,
The Song of the Ashes of love and the tomb of his friends,

Traveller Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more

By Jose Rizal
Like to a leaf that is fallen and withered,
Tossed by the tempest from pole unto pole ;
thus roams the pilgrim abroad without
purpose,
Roams without love, without country or
soul.
Following anxiously treacherous fortune,
Fortune which e 'en as he grasps at it flees ;
Vain though the hopes that his yearning is
seeking,
Yet does the pilgrim embark on the seas !
hereafter,
Stranger thou art in the land of thy birth ;
Others may sing of their love while
rejoicing,
Thou once again must roam o'er the earth.
Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more
hereafter,
Dry are the tears that a while for thee ran ;
Pilgrim, begone ! And forget thine affliction,
Loud laughs the world at the sorrows of
man.

Ever impelled by the invisible power,

Destined to roam from the East to the West ;
Oft he remembers the faces of loved ones,
Dreams of the day when he, too, was at rest.

Chance may assign him a tomb on the

desert,
Grant him a final asylum of peace ;
Soon by the world and his country forgotten,
God rest his soul when his wanderings cease

Often the sorrowing pilgrim is envied,

Circling the globe like a sea-gull above ;
Little, ah, little they know what a void
Saddens his soul by the absence of love.

Home may the pilgrim return in the future,

Back to his loved ones his footsteps he
bends ;
Naught wìll he find but the snow and the
INTERPRETATION:

In this poem he shows how he feels being away from home, he feels like a lone traveler, a
traveller filled with emptiness, a person who roams without love, soul, he worked in many
places, like Germany, France, he felt alone in those times where he was writing his novels which
he used to awaken the Filipino people, he points out in this poem that if there is someone that
will awaken the people It has to be him, this was shown in the last two stanzas which says, he
embraced the burden , he embraced that there has to be someone to serve as the voice of his
people, but when he finally acted at as the voice that will awaken his people, he felt emptiness,
he felt alone, for he is away from home, he is worried of his loved ones.
 My Retreat
by Dr. José Rizal
(“Mi Retiro”)
By the spreading beach where the sands
are soft and fine,
At the foot of the mount in its mantle of
green
I have built my hut in the pleasant grove's
confine;
From the forest seeking peace and
a calmness divine,
Rest for the weary brain and silence to my
sorrow keen.
Its roof of the frail palm leaf and its floor
the cane.
Its beams and posts of the unhewn wood;
Little there is of value in this hut so plain,
And better by far in the lap of the mount
to have lain,
By the song and the murmur of the high
sea's flood.
A purling brook from the woodland glade
Drops down o'er the stones and around it
sweeps,
Whence a fresh stream is a drawn by the
rough cane's aid;
That in the still night its' murmur has
made,
And in the day's heat a crystal fountain
leaps.
When the sky is serene how gently it
flows,
And its zither unseen ceaselessly plays;
But when the rains fall a torrent it goes
Boiling and foaming through the rocky
close,
Roaring uncheck'd to the sea's wide ways.
The howl of the dog and the song of the
bird,
And only the kalao's hoarse call resound;
Nor is the voice of vain man to be heard;
My mind to harass or my steps to begird;
The woodlands alone and the sea wrap me
round.
The sea, ah, the sea! for me it is all,
And it massively sweeps from the world's
apart;
Its smile in the morn to my soul is a call,
And when in the evening my faith seems
to pall,
It breathes with its sadness an echo to my
heart.
By night an arcanum; when translucent it
glows,
All spangled over with its millions of
lights,
And the bright sky above resplendent
shows;
While the waves with their sights tell of
their woes --
Tales that are lost as they roll to the
heights.
They tell the world when the first dawn
broke,
And the sunlight over their surface
played;
When thousands of beings from
nothingless woke,
To people the depths and the heights to
 cloak,
Wherever its life-giving kiss was laid.
But when in the night the wild winds
awake,
And the waves in their fury begin to leap,
Through the air rush the cries that my
mind shake;
Voices that pray, songs and moans that
partake
Of laments from the souls sunk down in
the deep.
Then from their heights the mountain
groan,
And the trees shiver tremulous from great
unto least;
The groves rustle plaintive and the herds
utter moan,
For they say that the ghost of the folk that
are gone
Are calling them down to their death's
merry feast.
In terror and confusion whispers the night,
While blue and green flames flit over the
deep;
But calm reigns again with the morning's
light,
And soon the bold fisherman comes into
sight,
And his bark rushes on and the waves
sink to sleep.
So onward glide the days in my
lonely abode;
Driven forth from the world where once I
was known,
I muse o'er the fate upon me bestow'd;
A fragment forgotten that the moss will
corrode,
To hide from mankind the world in me
shown.
I live in the thought of the lov'd ones left,
And oft their names to my mind are
borne;
Some have forsaken me and some by
death are reft;
But now 'tis all one, as through the past I
drift,
That past which from me can never be
torn.
For it is the friend that is with me always,
That ever in sorrow keeps the faith in my
soul;
While through the still night it watches
and prays,
As here in my exile in my one hut it stays
To strengthen my faith when doubts o'er
me roll.
That faith I keep and I hope to see shine
The day when the Idea prevails over
might;
When after the fray and death's slow
decline.
Some other voice sounds, far happier than
mine,
To raise the glad song of the triumph of
right.
I see the sky glow, refulgent and clear,
As when it forced on me my
first dear illusion;
I feel the same wind kiss my forehead
sere,
 And the fire is the same that is burning Of a sudden the fierce tempest roar'd
here amain;
To stir up youth's blood in boiling So I saw my wings shatter'd and no home
confusion. remain,
I breathe here the winds that perchance My trust to others and wrecks round me
have pass'd burn.
O'er the fields and the rivers of my own
Hurl'd out into exile from the land I adore,
natal shore;
My future all dark and no refuge to seek;
And mayhap they will bring on the
My roseate dreams hover round me once
returning blast
more,
The sighs that lov'd being upon them has
cast -- Sole treasures of all that life to me bore;
The faiths of youth that with sincerity
Messages sweet from the love I first bore.
speak.
To see the same moon, all silver'd as of
yore.
But not as of old, full of life and of grace,
I feed the sad thoughts within me arise;
Do you hold out hopes of undying
The fond recollections of the troth we
reward;
swore,
Sadder I find you; on your lov'd face,
Of the field and the bower and the wide
Though still sincere, the pale lines trace
seashore,
the marks of the faith it is yours to guard.
The blushes of joy, with the silence and
You offer now, dreams, my gloom to
sighs.
appease,
And the years of my youth again to
A butterfly seeking the flowers and the
disclose;
light,
So I thank you, o storm, and heaven-born
Of other lands dreaming of vester extent;
breeze,
Scarce a youth, from home and love I
That you knew of the hour my wild flight
took flight,
to ease,
To wander unheeding, free from doubt of
To cast me back down to the soil whence
affright --
I rose.
So in foreign lands were my brightest
days spent. By the spreading beach where the sands
And when like a languishing bird I was are soft and fine,
fain At the foot of the mount it its mantle of
To the home of my fathers and my love to green;
return,
 I have found a home in the pleasant
grove's confine,
In the shady woods, that peace
and calmness divine,
Rest for the weary brain and silence to my
sorrow keen.
INTERPRETATION:

In this poem Rizal describes his life during his exile in Dapitan, where he lived an
unexciting but fruitful life, in his refuge in Dapitan he felt tranquility, even though he is still far
away from home, he felt tranquility which is offered by the nature, he describes in this poem that
at the time of his exile he used it to calm himself from his works, problems, and sadness, but then
he realized that he is still in his own country, he have to discover new things, reconnect with
nature, and restore his peace of mind for a little time, that time he proved that he can still have an
abundant life and he can still have a lot of achievements in even though he lived in a place far
away from his home, even though that place is disadvantageous for him, he worked his way back
up and discovered that that place can be a paradise.
My Last Farewell ("Mi Ultimo
Adiós")
Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of
the sun caress'd
Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden
lost!,
Gladly now I go to give thee this
faded life's best,
And were it brighter, fresher, or
more blest
Still would I give it thee, nor count
the cost.
On the field of battle, 'mid the
frenzy of fight,
Others have given their lives,
without doubt or heed;
The place matters not-cypress or
laurel or lily white,
Scaffold or open plain, combat or
martyrdom's plight,
T is ever the same, to serve our
home and country's need.
I die just when I see the dawn
break,
Through the gloom of night, to
herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood
thou shalt take,
Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake
To dye with its crimson the waking
ray.
My dreams, when life first opened
to me,
My dreams, when the hopes of
youth beat high,
Were to see thy lov'd face, O gem
of the Orient sea
From gloom and grief, from care
and sorrow free;
No blush on thy brow, no tear in
thine eye.
Dream of my life, my living and
burning desire,
All hail ! cries the soul that is now
to take flight;
All hail ! And sweet it is for thee to
expire ;
To die for thy sake, that thou mayst
aspire;
And sleep in thy bosom eternity's
long night.
If over my grave some day thou
seest grow,
In the grassy sod, a humble flower,
Draw it to thy lips and kiss my soul
so,
While I may feel on my brow in the
cold tomb below
The touch of thy tenderness, thy
breath's warm power.
Let the moon beam over me soft
and serene,
Let the dawn shed over me its
radiant flashes,
Let the wind with sad lament over
me keen ;
And if on my cross a bird should be
seen,
Let it trill there its hymn of peace
to my ashes.
Let the sun draw the vapors up to That my ashes may carpet earthly
the sky, floor,
And heavenward in purity bear my Before into nothingness at last they
tardy protest are blown.
Let some kind soul o 'er my
Then will oblivion bring to me no
untimely fate sigh,
care
And in the still evening a prayer be
As over thy vales and plains I
lifted on high
sweep;
From thee, 0 my country, that in
Throbbing and cleansed in thy
God I may rest.
space and air
Pray for all those that hapless have With color and light, with song and
died, lament I fare,
For all who have suffered the Ever repeating the faith that I keep.
unmeasur'd pain;
My Fatherland ador'd, that sadness
For our mothers that bitterly their
to my sorrow lends
woes have cried,
Beloved Filipinas, hear now my
For widows and orphans, for
last good-by!
captives by torture tried
I give thee all: parents and kindred
And then for thyself that
and friends
redemption thou mayst gain.
For I go where no slave before the
And when the dark night wraps the oppressor bends,
graveyard around Where faith can never kill, and God
With only the dead in their vigil to reigns e'er on high!
see
Farewell to you all, from my soul
Break not my repose or the mystery
torn away,
profound
Friends of my childhood in the
And perchance thou mayst hear a
home dispossessed !
sad hymn resound
Give thanks that I rest from the
'T is I, O my country, raising a song
wearisome day !
unto thee.
Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend
And even my grave is remembered that lightened my way;
no more Beloved creatures all, farewell! In
Unmark'd by never a cross nor a death there is rest !
stone
Let the plow sweep through it, the
spade turn it o'er
INTERPRETATION:
This poem by Rizal shows his selflessness, this poem discussed Rizal’s willingness to
awaken his people from the abuse and foul acts of the Spaniards for they’ve had enough, he told
us in this poem that in battle it doesn’t matter where you are as long as you are fighting for your
freedom and you are ready to die for the betterment of the motherland, this poem also showed
that he never regret anything about his decisions on fighting the Spaniards, he did what he
wanted to do which is to awaken the people, he fight for our freedom at the cost of his life, and
even though his life was in great trouble, he never stopped fighting, he accepted his fate for the
freedom of his people.
 First Inspiration

Why falls so rich a spray

of fragrance from the bowers
of the balmy flowers
upon this festive day?

Why from woods and vales

do we hear sweet measures ringing
that seem 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 from bough to bough?

Why should the spring that glows

its crystalline murmur be tuning
to the zephyr's mellow crooning
as among the flowers it flows?

Why seems to me more endearing,

more fair than on other days,
the dawn's enchanting face
among red clouds appearing?

The reason, dear mother, is

they feast your day of bloom:
the rose with its perfume,
the bird with its harmonies.

And the spring that rings with laughter

upon this joyful day
with its murmur seems to say:
"Live happily ever after!"

And from that spring in the grove

now turn to hear the first note
that from my lute I emote
to the impulse of my love.
INTERPRETATION:

This poem he wrote was dedicated to his mother in her birthday, for Rizal that day has to
be perfect, he wants to make her mother feel like she is a queen, he also pointed out the
atmosphere of the environment, he related it to her mother’s birthday where he sort of says like
even the flowers are blooming for her mother, like the forests sings for her, he poetically stated
his love for her mother, he want to give her mother his very best, he wanted to make her mother
happy for she served as his first inspiration, in this poem he shows the value of honouring our
parents, the bond that the family should have, and that inspiration comes from very significant
things like our loved ones, this poem tells us to be more thankful for the things that our parents
did for us, because without them we wouldn’t be here.
 To the Virgin Mary
by Dr. José Rizal
(English version of “A La Virgen Maria”)
Mary, sweet peace and dearest consolation
of suffering mortal: you are the fount whence springs
the current of solicitude that brings
unto our soil unceasing fecundation.
From your abode, enthroned on heaven’s height,
in mercy deign to hear my cry of woe
and to the radiance of your mantle draw
my voice that rises with so swift a flight.
You are my mother, Mary, and shall be
my life, my stronghold, my defense most thorough;
and you shall be my guide on this wild sea.

If vice pursues me madly on the morrow,

if death harasses me with agony:
come to my aid and dissipate my sorrow!
INTERPRETATION:
In this poem he feels emptiness and loneliness, he asks guidance for the Virgin Mary, he
also praises her in this poem, he asks of her mercy to bow down on him, to guide him in his
desperate times, wherever he may go, she will serve as her stronghold and defense, and she shall
guide him and his people in dark times, and in the time of his death he wants her to aid him, and
ease his pain and comfort him from his agony, this poem shows Rizal’s enormous Devotion to
the virgin mary, he wants everyone to know that she is the mother of our lands, and she will
never forsake us in desperate times.
 To My Fellow Children watchful care o'er all is flung,
by Dr. José Rizal Has given us His blessing in
(English version of “Sa Aking the speech we calim,
mga Kababata”) Our mother tongue, like all the
highest tht we know
Had alphabet and letters of its
Whenever people of a country very own;
truly love But these were lost -- by
The language which by heav'n furious waves were overthrown
they were taught to use Like bancas in the stormy sea,
That country also surely liberty long years ago.
pursue
As does the bird which soars
to freer space above.
For language is the final judge
and referee
Upon the people in the land
where it holds sway;
In truth our human
race resembles in this way
The other living beings born in
liberty.
Whoever knows not how to
love his native tongue
Is worse than any best or evil
smelling fish.
To make our language richer
ought to be our wish
The same as any mother loves
to feed her young.
Tagalog and the Latin language
are the same
And English and Castilian and
the angels' tongue;
And God, whose
INTERPRETATION:

In this poem said that in our country have different languages, dialects and also other
forms of language/dialect. Just like the people love their country or appreciates, they must
appreciate or love their language also because without their respective languages, of course
everyone cannot able to understand each other and also maybe it could lead to chaos. Also
language taught many people for socializing, making diplomacy and etc. but if they do not
appreciate their own respective language like for example they intended to forget what their true
language that they have or replaced at, it would bring shame to the person who wish to learn new
language and tend to forget their old and authentic one.

And Rizal’s another point for the young persons is of course be proud of what they have
like their own language (mother tongue) because this is their first step in making a conversation
to other people like their parents.
Through Education Our He error subjugates with solid feet,
Motherland Receives Light And is exalted by conceptions of
nobility.
The vital breath of prudent Education
She breaks the neck of vice and its
Instills a virtue of enchanting power;
deceit;
She lifts the motherland to highest
Black crime turns pale at Her
station
hostility;
And endless dazzling glories on her
The barbarous nations She knows
shower.
how to tame,
And as the zephyr's gentle exhalation
From savages creates heroic fame.
Revives the matrix of the fragrant
flower,
And as the spring doth sustenance
So education multiplies her gifts of
bestow
grace;
On all the plants, on bushes in the
With prudent hand imparts them to
mead,
the human race.
Its placid plenty goes to overflow
And endlessly with lavish love to feed
For her a mortal-man will gladly part
The banks by which it wanders,
With all he has; will give his calm
gliding slow,
repose;
Supplying beauteous nature's every
For her are born all science and all art,
need;
That brows of men with laurel fair
So he who prudent Education doth
enclose.
procure
As from the towering mountain's lofty
The towering heights of honor will
heart
secure.
The purest current of the streamlet
flows,
From out his lips the water, crystal
So education without stint or measure
pure,
gives
Of perfect virtue shall not cease to go.
Security and peace to lands in which
With careful doctrines of his faith
she lives.
made sure,
The powers of evil he will overthrow,
Where Education reigns on lofty seat
Like foaming waves that never long
Youth blossoms forth with vigor and
endure,
agility;
But perish on the shore at every blow;
And from his good example other
men shall learn
Their upward steps toward the
heavenly paths to turn.
Within the breast of wretched
humankind
She lights the living flame of
goodness bright;
The hands of fiercest criminal doth
bind;
And in those breasts will surely pour
delight
Which seek her mystic benefits to
find,
Those souls She sets aflame with love
of right.
It is a noble fully-rounded Education
That gives to life its surest
consolation.
And as the mighty rock aloft may
tower
Above the center of the stormy deep
In scorn of storm, or fierce
Sou'wester's power,
Or fury of the waves that raging seep,
Until, their first mad hatred spent,
they cower,
And, tired at last, subside and fall
asleep, --
So he that takes wise Education by the
hand,
Invincible shall guide the reigns of
motherland.
On sapphires shall his service be
engraved,
A thousand honors to him by his land
be granted:
For in their bosoms will his noble
sons have saved
Luxuriant flowers his virtue had
transplanted:
And by the love of goodness ever
lived,
The lords and governors will see
implanted
To endless days, the Christian
Education,
Within their noble, faith-enrapture
nation.
And as in early morning we behold
The ruby sun pour forth resplendent
rays;
And lovely dawn her scarlet and her
gold,
Her brilliant colors all about her
sprays;
So skillful noble Teaching doth
unfold
To living minds the joy of virtuous
ways.
She offers our dear motherland the
light
That leads us to immortal glory's
height.
INTERPRETATION:

It’s said that education is the key to progress and Rizal’s point of view that education can
educate the person for the sake of future of the country and also just like Rizal did to our country
that he study for a long time and without bloodshed, he managed to make a diplomacy to the
Spaniards, but he failed to achieve the independence of the Philippines without any single drop
of blood and it turns to war or revolution led by Andres Bonifacio AKA Supremo.

But in this poem, education will teach tons of lessons (literally anything e.g. life lessons,
Science, Math, Music, Arts and etc.). It gains respect, respect that really deserving to give
someone at, and also it makes someone worthy, free from inferiority and also while studying,
precious memories will never be forgotten (e.g. friendships, hard works, struggles and etc.) in
lifetime of course. And it is worthy because being educated does not make a person down or
someone who is good at.
The Intimate Alliance Between
Religion and Good Education Without Religion, Human Education
Is like unto a vessel struck by winds
Which, sore beset, is of its helm
As the climbing ivy over lefty elm
deprived
Creeps tortuously, together the
By the roaring blows and buffets of
adornment
the dread
Of the verdant plain, embellishing
Tempestuous Boreas, who fiercely
Each other and together growing,
wields
But should the kindly elm refuse its
His power until he proudly send her
aid
down
The ivy would impotent and
Into the deep abysses of then angered
friendless wither
sea.
So is Education to Religion
By spiritual alliance bound
As the heaven’s dew the meadow
Through Religion, Education gains
feeds and strengthen
reknown, and
So that blooming flowers all the earth
Woe to the impious mind that blindly
Embrioder in the days of spring; so
spurning
also
The sapient teachings of religion, this
If Religion holy nourishes
Unpolluted fountain-head forsakes.
Education with its doctrine, she
Shall walk in joy and generosity
As the sprout, growing from the
Toward the good, and everywhere
pompous vine,
bestrew
Proudly offers us its honeyed clusters
The fragrant and luxuriant fruits of
While the generous and loving
virtue
garment
Feeds its roots; so the fresh’ning
waters
Of celestial virtue give new life
To Education true, shedding
On it warmth and light; because of
them
The vine smells sweet and gives
delicious fruit
INTERPRETATION:

In this poem, Rizal stated that education cannot simply stand on its own ideas, it needs a
companion or an alliance eventually and it is Religion. Because good education itself are just the
way of studying, they just came to school to learn, to socialize or even for compliance only, but
if religion did not promote or were implemented, of course it could be no essence of God or any
Divine Being on it, or not even a single piece of scriptures (e.g. Bible, Quran), and their studying
would be one-sided studying.

And for Rizal’s perspective in writing this poem, it’s said that this poem provides
necessary knowledge, skills and attitude so that the horizon of their thoughts could be able to
expand. And also he used to enlighten the Filipino people to know more about the education
system when it adds religion on it and also to gain societal freedom to every nation (Globally
Competent, cannot easily surpassed by others.).
To the Philippine Youth The tenderest poesy,
More sweet than divine honey;
Unfold, oh timid flower!
You of heavenly harmony,
Lift up your radiant brow,
On a calm unperturbed night,
This day, Youth of my native
Philomel's match in melody,
strand!
That in varied symphony
Your abounding talents show
Dissipate man's sorrow's blight;
Resplendently and grand,
Fair hope of my Motherland!
You at th' impulse of your mind
The hard rock animate
Soar high, oh genius great,
And your mind with great pow'r
And with noble thoughts fill their
consigned
mind;
Transformed into immortal state
The honor's glorious seat,
The pure mem'ry of genius great;
May their virgin mind fly and find
More rapidly than the wind.
And you, who with magic brush
On canvas plain capture
Descend with the pleasing light
The varied charm of Phoebus,
Of the arts and sciences to the
Loved by the divine Apelles,
plain,
And the mantle of Nature;
Oh Youth, and break forthright
The links of the heavy chain
Run ! For genius' sacred flame
That your poetic genius enchain.
Awaits the artist's crowning
Spreading far and wide the fame
See that in the ardent zone,
Throughout the sphere proclaiming
The Spaniard, where shadows
With trumpet the mortal's name
stand,
Oh, joyful, joyful day,
Doth offer a shining crown,
The Almighty blessed be
With wise and merciful hand
Who, with loving eagerness
To the son of this Indian land.
Sends you luck and happiness.
You, who heavenward rise
On wings of your rich fantasy,
Seek in the Olympian skies
INTERPRETATION:

According to Rizal’s famous words in Filipino language to wit, “Kabataan ang Pag-asa
ng Bayan”, this is the one of the most common or cliché quote that many people even today read
and heard this quote somewhere. Because in this poem, Rizal is relying to the fellow Filipino
youth to show their hidden talents, skills and capabilities that they have it is because they are the
face of the future meaning the new generation or the next ones will uphold their next successful
path for, short to praise them as they praise for their country.

And it promotes persuasion for many people especially to the fellow youths, also this
poem has a great impact and until now.
"Love of Country" (Jose Rizal) Jose Rizal’s article entitled “Love of
Country,”

Highlights the author’s desire to create a sense of patriotism and nationalism among the
Filipino people. As brought up in discussion, Rizal belonged to the elite, mestizo group of
intellectuals called the Propaganda. Consequently, his social status reflects the sense of class
divisions that existed and continue to exist in the Philippines. The historical timeframe in which
Rizal is writing this article is also a period of Spanish colonization and rule over the Philippines.
However, Rizal tries to convince the reader that despite the class divisions and the Filipinos’ lack
of sovereignty, the Philippines is still a country to be loved. Although Rizal is writing from
Europe at this point in time, he still feels a connection to the motherland. In fact, Rizal’s sense of
Philippine nationalism appears to heighten with distance as he states that “we in a foreign land
shall dedicate our first endeavours to our native land, wrapped among the clouds and the
morning mists, always beautiful and poetic, more loved when one is away or separated from her”
(p. 1). Later, he refers to this homesickness as a “profound loneliness” (p. 2). Not only does Rizal
use personal testimony to encourage Philippine nationalism, but he also makes references To
family and religion as a means of persuasion. Rizal uses his understanding of Filipino values,
including family and religion, to convince the Filipino people of their need to demonstrate a
sense of nationalism. From my upbringing in the church, I remember hearing passages from the
bible that would often refer to the mother-son relationship. The relationship between Mary and
Jesus is a clear example. Rizal, by the same token, uses this same relationship as he personifies
the Philippines as the mother and states that “whatever be her name, her age or her fortune, we
love her always like a child loves his mother amidst hunger and misery” (p. 1). He parallels the
relationship of the Filipino people and the motherland to that of tight-knit Filipino families,
despite economic hardships. In addition, his frequent use of “we” infers that Rizal is trying to
point out that despite his physical distance from the Philippines; he is still united with the
Filipino people. As Rizal describes how the “poorer and more miserable she is, the more one
suffers for her, the more she is idolized and adored until there is even pleasure in suffering for
her” (p. 1), I recall the events of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, in the Philippines. The Filipino
evening news recaps images of Filipinos in the motherland carrying a life-size, wooden cross, as
well as a man, who is supposed to represent Jesus, being whipped and crowned with real thorns.
My dad clarified the meaning of the dramatization. To share in the suffering of Jesus is a way of
reciprocating His love for us. Thus, Rizal is inferring that just as Jesus whose “entire love was
given to the world for the salvation of mankind” (p. 3), the Filipino people likewise, must suffer
for the Philippines in order to save it from Spanish rule and domination. Rizal has great
command over a persuasive rhetoric. Not only does he incorporate family and religion into his
paper, but he also equates patriotism to heroism. This theme runs throughout the text, but is most
evident near the end when he creates the image of a father who has left his children to defend his
country during a time of war. Although this father as well as other soldiers and leaders all “go
out and die! Rizal reminds the reader that there is victory in death. The sons who “lend
themselves to defend the land of their forefathers” are “fierce and proud”. Nevertheless, while I
commend his writing style, I also question who Rizal is referring to when he states that “some
have sacrificed their youth, their pleasures; others have dedicated to her the splendours of their
genius” (p. 3). In a class and gender based society such as the Philippines, who decides which
Filipinos make physical sacrifices and which make intellectual contributions for the country?
Does Rizal only call on fathers and sons to fight while women stay at home and tend to the
children? How about the intellects of the country? Can other members of the working class
follow in the steps of Andres Bonifacio and engage in intellectual and political discussions about
how to defend the Philippines?
INTERPRETATION:

In this essay, he showed us that there is hope, here he encourages his fellow men to
demonstrate the old Filipino values and abolish the Spanish values which he believed it is what
ruined us, and he encourages his fellowmen to demonstrate a sense of nationalism, for he
believed that it will make our country stronger, it is where all progress starts, he believed that we
never needed foreign products for we have better ones, we don’t have to adapt foreign values and
abandon our traditional ways for it will ruin our identity as Filipinos, he pointed out in this essay
that we really need a sense of nationalism for if we don’t preserve our ways, our culture, our
craft, our practices and tradition, we will become fools and we will lose our identity and more
importantly we will be easily colonized by other countries because of the weak bond that we
have with our motherland.
 NAGA COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
College of Criminal Justice Education
Division of Graduate School
M.T. Villanueva Avenue,
Naga City

1st Semester 2019-2020

COMPILATION AND INTERPRETATION

OF Dr. JOSE RIZAL’S POEMS

Submitted to:

Marlen F. Fortez

Submitted by:

Carl Janno V. Betito- BS Crim 2C