So I’ve been reading a lot of poetry lately because I really like the way it sounds and the emotions it evokes. It’s almost like a rhythm or a song that repeats in my head. I have some poetry books at home and I always love a good Emily Dickinson poem. It’s also become a very practical hobby as I saw in my practice test last semester that I need to work on my understanding of poetry for the AP test. However, I’m not only in one AP class, and I’ve been starting to realize that reading poetry can also help me in AP Spanish. Of course, that means that I’ll have to be reading Spanish poems, but I really don’t mind because it’s a really enjoyable way for me to expand my vocabulary and reading comprehension. In AP Spanish, we choose one Spanish speaking country and research its culture for every unit we do, so that we have a country to talk and write about on the exam. My country is Peru, so in this blog I’m going to talk about a poem by a Peruvian poet named Alejandro Romualdo. (I’m going to post the poem below in the original Spanish and my translation into English).
SI ME QUITARAN TOTALMENTE TODO
Si me quitaran totalmente todo
si, por ejemplo, me quitaran el saludo
de los pájaros, o de los buenos días
del sol sobre la tierra
me quedaría
aún
una palabra. Aún me quedaría una palabra
donde apoyar la voz.
Si me quitaran las palabras
o la lengua
hablaría con el corazón
en la mano,
o con las manos en el corazón.
Si quitaran una pierna
bailaría en un pie.
Si me quitaran un ojo
lloraría en uno ojo.
Si me quitaran un brazo
me quedaría el otro,
para saludar a mis hermanos,
para sembrar los surcos de la tierra,
para escribir todas las playas del mundo, con tu nombre
IF EVERYTHING IS TAKEN FROM ME
If everything is taken from me
If, for example, from me, the greetings
of the birds, or the good days
of the sun above the earth are taken,
I would have one word
still
I would still have one word
supported by my voice.
If words are taken from me
or my tongue*
I would talk with my heart
in my hand,
or straight from the heart*.
If my leg is taken
I would dance with a foot.
If my eye is taken
I will cry with one eye.
If my arm is taken
The other would stay with me,
to greet my brothers,
to sow the furrows of the earth,
to write your name on every beach in the world.
* the word lengua means both language and tongue
*con el corazón en la mano is a kind of idiom in Spanish, it basically means sincerely or straight from the heart
Obviously the Spanish version is a lot more elegant and the words have a much prettier rhythm, but I still love the meaning. I’m definitely not a professional translator, so please excuse any inaccuracies or confusing parts. I also felt like analyzing this poem in Spanish, but for the sake of all of the English speakers reading this blog, I’ll keep it in English.
I love this poem because of the emphasis on persistence and making the most of what you have. Despite every difficulty, he still finds a way to live his life. I love any poem that talks about tenacity in life because I feel like that’s a really important quality that everyone needs. In this poem, he isn’t just surviving with what he has has, but he is actually living. He is dancing, crying, working, and loving. I think this poem is really inspirational about using the gifts and challenges that you have to live life to the fullest.
I just really love this poem in Spanish and am a little disappointed that my English translation didn’t quite encompass it. I encourage everyone to get into poetry because the messages and words really do stick with you. I know it seems a little intimidating at first, but I promise that it will be worth it. Even if you think you don’t like poetry, I bet there is at least one poem out there that speaks to you. Yesterday, Mrs. Lobb was telling our class how she didn’t really like poetry but she loved this poem about an ode to a tomato (here’s the link if you’re interested https://allpoetry.com/Oda-al-Tomate). Granted, that poem wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I could understand why she appreciated it. Anyway, sorry for that little rant, but go and enjoy some poetry. 🙂
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Exciting to see someone pushing themselves out of their comfort zone! The substance of the poem is intriguing too. Tenacity is, at the end of the day, what helps us make the choice we know we have to make. In a world where everything is a series of choices, heartfelt poems can be the warm nod of agreement we need as we weather the consequences of a tough decision.
I’m sitting here thinking about the last time I read someone my age write something genuine and without a specific agenda. Not going to lie, nothing comes to mind. I appreciated that in a lot of different ways, especially since that’s the kind of content I seek to produce/enjoy to consume. No quirky adjectives, flamboyant tone or hiding behind some facade. Thanks for that.
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I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS POST! I relied on your English translation of the poem for my own understanding, and I have to thank you for providing such an important message for us during such an uncertain time. This poem speaks volumes of hope and persistence especially when so many of us feel downtrodden and like we have no control. Thanks for sharing! I thoroughly enjoyed it! You should translate another Alejandro Romualdo poem for us!
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