POEM

Sa Aking mga Kabata

Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig

Sa langit salitang kaloob ng langit

Sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapi

Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid

Pagka’t ang salita’y isang kahatulan

Sa bayan, sa nayo't mga kaharian

At ang isang tao’y katulad, kabagay

Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.

Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita

Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda

Kaya ang marapat pagyamanin kusa

Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala

Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin,

Sa Ingles, Kastila, at salitang anghel,

Sapagkat ang Poong maalam tumingin

Ang siyang naggagawad, nagbibigay sa atin.

Ang salita nati’y tulad din sa iba

Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,

Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng sigwa

Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una.

The 1^st ever poem of Rizal that was written in the native language, when he was 8 years old. In which the famous line “Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita, Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda,” can be found.

Memories of My town

When I recall the days

That saw my childhood of yore

Beside the verdant shore

Of a murmuring lagoon;

When I remember the sighs

Of the breeze that on my brow

Sweet and caressing did blow

With coolness full of delight;

When I look at the lily white

Fills up with air violent

And the stormy element

On the sand doth meekly sleep;

When sweet 'toxicating scent

From the flowers I inhale

Which at the dawn they exhale

When at us it begins to peep;

I sadly recall your face,

Oh precious infancy,

That a mother lovingly

Did succeed to embellish.

I remember a simple town;

My cradle, joy and boon,

Beside the cool lagoon

The seat of all my wish.

Oh, yes! With uncertain pace

I trod your forest lands,

And on your river banks

A pleasant fun I found;

At your rustic temple I prayed

With a little boy's simple faith

And your aura's flawless breath

Filled my heart with joy profound.

Saw I God in the grandeur

Of your woods which for centuries stand;

Never did I understand

In your bosom what sorrows were;

While I gazed on your azure sky

Neither love nor tenderness

Failed me, 'cause my happiness

In the heart of nature rests there.

Tender childhood, beautiful town,

Rich fountain of happiness,

Of harmonious melodies,

That drive away my sorrow!

Return thee to my heart,

Bring back my gentle hours

As do the birds when the flow'rs

Would again begin to blow!

But, alas, adieu! E'er watch

For your peace, joy and repose,

Genius of good who kindly dispose

Of his blessings with amour;

It's for thee my fervent pray'rs,

It's for thee my constant desire

Knowledge ever to acquire

And may God keep your candour!

Rizal wrote this poem at the age of 15 years old. He wrote this to reminisce about his childhood days at Calamba, his hometown, which he considered full of the happiest moments and people in his entire life.

Mi Ultimo Adios

This was the last poem of Rizal and was written when he was in Fort Santiago. Also, the last thing that he gave to his sister when she visited him before the day of his death. Later on, the copy of the original poem was passed on to Josephine Bracken until she moved to Hongkong. However, it was lost when Bracken died. However, the government of the Philippines looked for this and also paid 1, 000 pesos to have it back. Thus, this does not have an original translation because it was written in Spanish and just translated by different authors such as Monico Mercado in Kapampangan and Andres Bonifacio in Filipino, also of Pascual H. Poblete at Julian Balmaceda.

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