"The Song of Maria Clara" by Dr. Jose Rizal

Maria Clara is one of Rizal's immortalized characters in his Noli Me Tangere novel. It is widely believed that the character was based on Rizal's real life cousin, Leonor Rivera. | Photo Credit: www.univie.ac.at

Sweet are the hours in one’s native land,
Where all is dear the sunbeams bless;
Life-giving breezes sweep the strand,
And death is soften’ d by love’s caress.

Warm kisses play on her mother’s lips,
On her fond, tender breast awakening;
When round her neck the soft arm slips
And bright eyes smile, all love partaking.

Sweet is death for one’s native land,
Where all is dear the sun beams bless;
Dead is the breeze that sweeps the strand,
Without a mother, home, or love’s caress.

Translated to English from original Spanish by Charles E. Derbyshire.

Source:

Philippine Literature, From ancient times to the present
Authors: Teofilo del Castillo y Tuazon; Buenaventura S. Medina, Jr.
Publisher: Del Castillo and Sons, Quezon City

Share To Any

ATIN CU PUNG SINGSING (Kapampangan Folk Song)

About Author

The Editors

(6) Readers Comments

lady mayumi
February 14, 2011 at 12:31 pm

could you please explain to me he meaning of the poem the song of maria clara? thanks!
nuryn
September 5, 2011 at 3:40 pm

i need interpretation of it please ….
Jilmer
November 9, 2011 at 3:19 pm

aa
hannalea
November 25, 2011 at 9:42 am

maraming salamat po marami kaming natutunan
ara23
November 30, 2011 at 7:55 pm

….
khatie18
November 30, 2011 at 7:57 pm

tnx…. i have new lesson that i learned
tnx agin…. =)