Category Archives: poetry

Nuestro Juramento — Español-English

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Nuestro Juramento is a song by the Puerto Rican songwriter Benito de Jesús (1912-2010), which was popularized throughout Latin America by the Ecuadorian singer Julio Jaramillo (1935–1978), who gained international recognition in 1957 with this bolero. The following translation is an attempt to retain some of the poetic feeling of the Spanish language original, while conveying the meaning in English. Of necessity, both the English poetry and the literalness of translation here are imperfect. Enjoy.

Nuestro Juramento
Benito de Jesús (1912-2010)

No puedo verte triste porque me mata
Tu carita de pena, mi dulce amor
Me duele tanto el llanto que tu derramas
Que se llena de angustia mi corazón

Yo sufro lo indecible si tu entristeces
No quiero que la duda te haga llorar
Hemos jurado amarnos hasta la muerte
Y si los muertos aman
Despues de muertos amarnos mas

Si yo muero primero, es tu promesa
Sobre de mi cadaver dejar caer
Todo el llanto que brote de tu tristeza
Y que todos se enteren de tu querer

Si tu mueres primero, yo te prometo
Escribiré la historia de nuestro amor
Con toda el alma llena de sentimiento
La escribire con sangre
Con tinta sangre del corazón

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Our Bonding Vows
(a translation of Benito de Jesús’ lyrics for Nuestro Juramento)

I can’t bear to find you sad because it kills me
to see your little face grieving, my dear sweet love;
the tears that gush out your sadness so deeply hurt me,
drowning my heart in anguish, my little dove.

I suffer beyond description when you are saddened,
I don’t want a single doubt to make you cry.
We should swear to love each other till our lives end,
and if the dead can still love,
then after death to love even more.

If I die before you, give me this promise
that over my cadaver you will let go
of all of that sadness cascading out as teardrops,
and of your love for me let them all know.

If you die before me, I make this promise
to write out the history of our shared love,
and with all my heart infused with your remembrance
to write our tale with heart’s blood,
penned with blood-ink drawn from my heart.

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Julio Jaramillo sings “Nuestro Juramento”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20cH30WXtFE

Daniel Santos sings Nuestro Juramento
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHzZ5UoPimA

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Peak Apes in a Self-Entangling Universe

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When you realize that it is impossible to alter the course of human events in a world indifferent to you and your concerns and your interests, then the challenge becomes to fashion a life that unfolds with reasonable delight given reasonable exertion, and is experienced as fulfilling despite the knowledge that all is impermanent.

We are a species of pyramid-building apes living in a self-entangling universe. Our fantasies of self-worth and our obsessions of personal gain are homogenized into mass neuroses (and for some, psychotic cults) that we distinguish as strains of politics, and varieties of religion. We like to keep our minds focused on our wants in the here-and-now, and more narrowly so as our selfishness becomes more consuming. This blinds us to the panorama of interconnectedness we are immersed in, and that robs our brains of accurately interpreting sensory input, our minds of realizations based on fact, and our consciences of forming resolve that recognizes personal responsibility.

The left wing politics of complaint is useless, the global consensus for selfishness — whether massed in chaotic jumbles of grasping individuals or as organized units of capitalism — has a cumulative inertia that is unstoppable by the force of logic or the appeal to morality. Right-wing politics is entirely the machinations of organized greed, and all its rhetoric is merely a blustery show to distract attention from its purpose. Fundamentalist religion is the male cult of sexism and misogyny, the ultimate in self-righteousness for excusing willfully ignorant authoritarianism.

We have not evolved to the point where altruistic attitudes about social inclusion and species solidarity can outweigh our immediate selfish desires when choosing how to act, which is usually reflexively or impulsively. The rush to satisfy our constant streams of immediate wants overwhelms any concern for the exercise of social responsibility for the long term benefit of all life. As a result, we can anticipate that human extinction will be nature’s response to capitalism.

A fulfilling life is to be had by acting in ways that maintain your self-respect while also transmitting a positive — or at a minimum neutral — experience to the people you have direct contact with. Given human reality, none of us will always achieve this ideal. However, successful practitioners of such mindful living will only lapse into unkindness and hostility infrequently. The basis of “self-respect” as used here is: your truthful estimation of your moral character. This has nothing to do with affectations and acquisitions used as measures of social status.

It should be freeing for you to know that the achievement of personal fulfillment through mindful living is very rarely noticed, let alone acknowledged and celebrated. It is its own reward.

Bésame Mucho, Español-English

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Bésame Mucho is perhaps the most popular Spanish language song ever. It was written by Consuelo Velázquez (1916-2005), a Mexican pianist and composer, in 1940.

The lyrics of Bésame Mucho are shown below, followed by a translation to English, which  attempts to suggest the rhyme, rhythm and meaning of the Spanish language original. A few liberties of a poetic nature were taken so as to give an English translation with a better fit to the music and with a better verbal flow than that of a literal translation.

Bésame Mucho
Letra y Música de Consuelo Velázquez (1940)

4/4
(introducción instrumental de 9 medidas)

Bésame,
bésame mucho —
como si fuera esta noche
la ultima vez.
Bésame,
bésame mucho —
que tengo miedo a per-derte,
perderte después. —

(repite, y entonces la música cambia un poquito) …-derte, perderte después. —

Quiero tenerte muy cerca
mirar me en tus ojos
verte junto a mi.
Piensa que tal vez mañana
yo ya estaré lejos
muy lejos de ti.

Bésame,
bésame mucho —
como si fuera esta noche
la ultima vez.
Bésame,
bésame mucho —
que tengo miedo a perderte,
perderte des-pués. —

(“-pués” tiene 3 tiempos, se sigue con un tiempo y entonces 7 medidas de música)

Bésame,
bésame mucho —
que tengo miedo a perderte,
perderte después. —
Que tengo miedo a perderte, —
perderte des-pués. — — —

(el ultimo “-pués” tiene 5 y 3/4 medidas, un instrumental sigue con 7 y 1/4)

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Bésame Mucho (a translation)
Words and Music by Consuelo Velázquez (1940)

4/4
(instrumental introduction of 9 measures)

Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
kiss me as if this were to be
our very last night.
Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
for you I may never-more see
once past early light.

(repeat, then the music changes a little bit) …-more see once past early light. —

I want to hold you so closely,
look into your eyes to find
you mirroring me.
I’m sure dawn will find me lonely
cast away so far behind
where you then will be.

Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
kiss me as if this were to be
our very last night.
Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
for you I may nevermore see
once past early light.

(“light” has three beats followed by one beat then 7 measures of music)

Kiss me now
kiss me with passion —
fearing tomorrow I’ll lose you
past dawn’s early light; —
and I may forever lose you, —
forever lose you. — — —

(the last “you” has 5 and 3/4 measures, followed by 7 and 1/4 measures of music)

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Bésame Mucho is such a good song that it can enchant in many different styles, and despite the passing of time. Here are nine performance videos of Bésame Mucho that caught my attention, many many more are out there. These videos are listed in a sequence of performances that I like.

Andrea Bocelli
(An elegantly balanced performance; video shows lyrics and a literal English translation)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83lnl6hOmUw

Diana Krall
(A sultry and lush version by a wonderful, popular North American jazz stylist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uEl5Z5DEDw

Consuelo Velázquez
(A piano instrumental by the composer herself, in 1990)

and in 1968

 

Raquel Andueza
(A high soprano version of bell-like clarity and tone, it sounds so Andean to me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp4Vdr9D0yg

Alina Izquierdo
(¡LLeva! A potent Cuban vocalist gives a rich and propulsive performance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d76SEnn2z1s

Alioska
(Very sweet, lovely singing by a Cubana during a jam session at a club)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P2ozkMARwY

Chico y Rita
(Idania Valdés, singer; Cuban soul singing about mythical memory)

Bésame Mucho by Ella Garcia
(shimmering)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27HPsNlc80Q

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Cucurrucucú Paloma, Español-English

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Cucurrucucú Paloma is a Mexican Huapango song written by Tomás Méndez Sosa (25 July 1927 – 19 July 1995) in 1954. Huapango is a style of Mexican music and folk dance.

This song has always been popular, more recently in moving performances by Caetano Veloso in the 2002 Pedro Almodóvar movie Hable Con Ella (Talk To Her), and in concert.

Caetano Veloso (in the movie Hable Con Ella)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1emgUdD3_pE

Lola Beltran (the 1965 recording, dearest to Mexicans)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHW-q8oD3gE

Cucurrucucú Paloma – Ella & Lilah
http://youtu.be/NIfj44NjVNY
[My favorite version.]

The Spanish lyrics of Cucurrucucú Paloma are shown below followed by an English translation. It is impossible to match the poetry of the Spanish original with any translation. Mine is simply an attempt to convey in English the meaning of the song, with some suggestion of the cadences and rhyming pattern of the Spanish language original, without taking too many poetic liberties.

Cucurrucucú Paloma

Dicen que por las noches
no más se le iba en puro llorar;
dicen que no comía,
no más se le iba en puro tomar.
Juran que el mismo cielo
se estremecía al oír su llanto,
cómo sufriá por ella,
y hasta en su muerte la fue llamando.

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay cantaba,
ay, ay, ay, ay, ay gemía.
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay cantaba,
de pasión mortal moría.

Que una paloma triste
muy de mañana le va a cantar,
a la casita sola
con sus puertitas de par en par.
Juran que esa paloma
no es otra cosa más que su alma,
que todavía la espera
a que regrese la desdichada.

Cucurrucucú paloma,
cucurrucucú no llores.
Las piedras jamás, paloma,
¿qué van a saber de amores?

Cu……
(Final que hace Caetano Veloso.)

Cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú,
cucurrucucú, paloma, no llores.
(Final que hace Lola Beltran; su versión tiene unas diferencias de lo que se ve aqui.)

Cucurrucucú Paloma (translation)

They say through every nighttime
he was purely a flowing river of tears;
they say he wasn’t eating,
but drinking to drown out the pain that so sears.
They swear that even the night skies
shudder with pity to his sad wails and sharp cries,
for her, oh he was suffering,
and vainly calls out past the death where she now lies.

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay he’s singing,
ay, ay, ay, ay, ay he’s moaning.
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, he’s singing,
and from mortal passion dying.

A Mourning Dove sad and lonesome
at dawn its song will be cooed for your ears,
the cottage still is waiting
with wide open doors emptying fears.
They swear that Mourning Dove cooing
is surely the very soul of your darling,
that is still so sweetly awaiting
her return to his love never-ending.

Cucurrucucú paloma,
cucurrucucú no crying.
The stones we walk on, paloma,
will never know about our loving.

Cu….
(The ending of the song as performed by Caetano Veloso.)

Cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú,
cucurrucucú, paloma, no crying.
(The ending of the song as performed by Lola Beltran; her version has other differences from what is shown here.)

Lágrimas Negras — Español-English

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Lágrimas Negras
[Trio Matamoros, 1929]

Aunque tú
me has dejado en el abandono,
aunque tú
has muerto todas mis ilusiones,
en vez de maldecirte
con justo encono,
en mis sueños te colmo,
en mis sueños te colmo
de bendiciones.
(2X)

Sufro la inmensa pena de tu extravío,
siento el dolor profundo
de tu partida
y lloro sin que sepas
que el llanto mío
tiene lágrimas negras,
tiene lágrimas negras
como mi vida.
(1X)

Tú me quieres dejar,
yo no quiero sufrir
contigo me voy mi santa
aunque me cueste morir.
(3X con dos intermedios cortos)

Black Tears
(a © translation of “Lágrimas Negras”)

Although you
have left me desolate with your abandon,
although you
have been death to my every illusion
instead of cursing you now
with justified rancor,
in my dreams I enshrine you,
in my dreams I enshrine you
with benediction.
(2X)

Immensity of pain I suffer over losing you,
my feelings so profoundly hurt
torn by your parting.
I cry without your knowing
and that lonely crying
weeps out a stream of black tears,
weeps out a stream of black tears
and all my living.
(1X)

You want leaving me
I can’t suffering be
so with you I go my darling
even it costs me dying.
(3X with 2 short breaks)

[It is impossible for me to match the poetry of the Spanish original in an English translation. Let me know if you perform “Black Tears” successfully.]

Trio Matamoros
(the original from 1931, classic, precious)

 

another posting of the 1931 recording;

Los Guaracheros del Oriente
(classic roots music, 2007, [get past the ad])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpDL1NxAoS4

Compay Segundo
(old guys doing it lush and making it their own, not long before 2003)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jpz7AHw0zo

“Cuba Feliz”
(street music in Cuba, 2000, with Miguel Del Morales)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tozhe0yTAqo

Lágrimas Negras – Raquel Zozaya (2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShikbqIPa0U
[Bolero Son nace en 1929 con Lágrimas Negras; un poco de historia explicado aqui. Bolero Son is born in 1929 with Lágrimas Negras; some history explained here.]

Javier García (2002)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC7Ic34EFfo (Javier’s posting, with a cute video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H33uaBouyU (has richer sound; & picture, no video)
[A very “young” and modern “songo” (like “rock” + “son”) version, hip; has Arturo Sandoval on trumpet. Good songs go on forever!] (García: no relation)

Cover Estereo Son (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46Fi6Pup4A4
[Four young musicians (in Colombia?); both very svelte and very full playing and singing from an economical ensemble: singer, piano, bass, percussion.]

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Buyer Beware

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Buyer Beware

If you eat what they sell
it will make you fat.

If you read what they sell
it will make you stupid.

If you watch what they sell
it will make you coarse.

If you want what they sell
it will make you poor.

If you believe what they sell
it will make you mindless.

If you are what they sell
it will make you lifeless.

If you sell what they sell
it will make you soulless.

I Am A Cloud

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Clouds Over Mountain

Clouds Over Mountain

I am a cloud over the mountain,
carried on the wind.

I am the rain out of the cloud,
falling to the mother.

I am the water sheeting on rocks,
the kiss of sky and earth now.

I am the stream scouring the mountain,
crumbled earth in a watery froth.

I am the river coursing the valley,
the womb of future mountains.

I am the outpouring into the sea,
the mother ready to embrace me.

I am the wide and open ocean,
the one whose thoughts are clouds.

I am the thought of life ascending,
exhaled from the all-embracing.

I am the wind over the ocean,
watering up the sky.

I am a bubble of ice chill rising
in an ocean of airy radiance.

I am a cloud over the mountain
snowing onto the mother.

I am the crystalline bite of an ice cap,
frozen solid with intent.

I am the rasping flow of glaciers,
furrowing the breasts that nurse them.

I am the warming tears of melt,
crying for joy to water the earth.

I am the water sheeting on rocks,
the kiss of sky and earth now.

I am a cloud over the mountain,
the still fresh memory of ocean.

I am the mountain under the cloud,
a memory of oceans and fire.

I am the river of time from mountain to sea,
the ephemeral stream of the eternal return.

I am the ocean, mother of mountains,
called home by the clouds.

I am a cloud over the mountain
carried on the wind.

Rima LXIX — Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

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Rima LXIX — Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836-1870)

Al brillar un relámpago nacemos,
Y aun dura su fulgor cuando morimos:
¡Tan corto es el vivir!

La gloria y el amor tras que corremos,
Sombras de un sueño son que perseguimos:
¡Despertar es morir!

Rima LXIX — Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (a translation)

In a stroke of lightning flash life births anew,
Yet before its aura fades death will ensue:
Life as brief as breath!

That glory and those loves we grasp onto
Are shadows within dreams that we pursue:
Waking is our death!

Mango Garcia Poems

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“Some good, some bad, most just so-so.”

That is how Marcus Aurelius described his book of poems. I’ll split the difference between humility and pride, and assume the same assessment for my own poems. Here is my poetry book (you will find pricing information on the last page).

Mangogarcia Poems

Enjoy