How do I read this poem?
"The poem XXXIX
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 ortiga cultivo:
Cultivo una rosa blanca."
2 Answers
I grow a white rose,
In July as well as in January,
for my true friend ,
who gives me his honest hand
as well as for the cruel man who tears
out my living heart,
yet I don't grow thorns for him.
but rather a white rose. .
Jeremías has done the word for word, this is a slight attempt at retaining the feeling, it is not word for word.
Apologies in full to José Martí, the author.
Cultivo una rosa blanca, = I cultivate a white rose,
En julio como en enero, = In July as in January,
Para el amigo sincero = For the true friend
Que me da su mano franca. = Who gives his open/honest hand to me.
Y para el cruel que me arranca = And for the cruel one who tears out from me
El corazón con que vivo, = The heart with which I live,
Cardo ni ortiga cultivo: = Thistle nor thorn do I cultivate:
Cultivo una rosa blanca. = I have a white rose. (For him, the cruel one, as well).
