by Dr. Jose Rizal
(Note: this is the last untitled poem of Jose Rizal which was first published in New York Herald and reproduced in "The Philippine Islands" (1898) by Ramon Reyes Lala)
Farewell, adored fatherland! Our Eden lost, farewell!
Farewell, O sun’s lov’d region, pearl of the Eastern sea!
Gladly I die for thy dear sake: Yea, thou knowest well
Were my sad life more radiant far than mortal tongue could tell
Yet would I give it gladly, joyously for thee.
Farewell, O sun’s lov’d region, pearl of the Eastern sea!
Gladly I die for thy dear sake: Yea, thou knowest well
Were my sad life more radiant far than mortal tongue could tell
Yet would I give it gladly, joyously for thee.
On bloodstained fields of battle, fast locked in madd’ning strife,
Thy sons have dying blest thee, untouched by doubt or fear.
No matter wreaths of laurel; no matter where our life
Ebbs out, on scaffold, or in combat, or under torturer’s knife.
We welcome Death, if for our hearths, or for our country dear.
Thy sons have dying blest thee, untouched by doubt or fear.
No matter wreaths of laurel; no matter where our life
Ebbs out, on scaffold, or in combat, or under torturer’s knife.
We welcome Death, if for our hearths, or for our country dear.
I die while dawn’s rich iris-hues are staining yet the sky,
Heralds of the freer day still hidden from our view
Behind the night’s dark mantle. And should the morning nigh
Need crimson, shed my heart’s blood quickly, freely, let it dye
The new-born light with th’ glory of its ensanguined hue.
Heralds of the freer day still hidden from our view
Behind the night’s dark mantle. And should the morning nigh
Need crimson, shed my heart’s blood quickly, freely, let it dye
The new-born light with th’ glory of its ensanguined hue.
My dreams when yet were ling’ring my childhood’s careless years.
My dreams, my hopes, when vigor pulsed in my youthful heart,
Were that one day, gem of the East, thine eyes, undimmed with tears,
Might darkly glow, that I might see unwrinkled, free from fears,
Thy lofty brow wherefrom for aye all blushes should depart.
My dreams, my hopes, when vigor pulsed in my youthful heart,
Were that one day, gem of the East, thine eyes, undimmed with tears,
Might darkly glow, that I might see unwrinkled, free from fears,
Thy lofty brow wherefrom for aye all blushes should depart.
Hail unto thee, dreams of my life! My dying soul doth cry
All hail to thee! And ye I hail, my aspirations deep
And ardent! Oh, how sweet it is to fall beneath thy sky,
To die that thou mayst live, and, for thy welfare high,
In thine enchanted bosom eternally to sleep!
All hail to thee! And ye I hail, my aspirations deep
And ardent! Oh, how sweet it is to fall beneath thy sky,
To die that thou mayst live, and, for thy welfare high,
In thine enchanted bosom eternally to sleep!
If on my grave, midst the thick grass, thou shouldst see spring one day
A simple, humble flow’ret, Life victor over Death,
Sweet symbol of my loving soul, ah, kiss the dew away.
Approach to it thy gentle lips, that in my cold tomb I may
Feel on my brow thy tender sigh, the soft warmth of thy breath.
A simple, humble flow’ret, Life victor over Death,
Sweet symbol of my loving soul, ah, kiss the dew away.
Approach to it thy gentle lips, that in my cold tomb I may
Feel on my brow thy tender sigh, the soft warmth of thy breath.
Let o’er my grave the placid moon shed its soft tranquil light;
Let cool dawn’s fleeting splendor shine on my resting place;
Let the deep murmur of the wind caress it in the night;
And if above my lonely cross it stay its restless flight,
’T will breathe a prayer of peace and chant a canticle of grace.
Let cool dawn’s fleeting splendor shine on my resting place;
Let the deep murmur of the wind caress it in the night;
And if above my lonely cross it stay its restless flight,
’T will breathe a prayer of peace and chant a canticle of grace.
Oh, let the rain rise pure to heav’n beneath the sun’s hot rays
And carry to the throne of God my loving, last request.
Let friendly souls weep for my end, and in the after days,
On evenings clear, when o’er my tomb some gentle being prays,
Pray also thou, O Fatherland, for my eternal rest.
And carry to the throne of God my loving, last request.
Let friendly souls weep for my end, and in the after days,
On evenings clear, when o’er my tomb some gentle being prays,
Pray also thou, O Fatherland, for my eternal rest.
Pray for all those who died alone, betrayed, in wretchedness.
For those who suffered for thy sake torments and misery,
For our poor, loving mothers’ hearts, who weep in bitterness,
For widows, tortured captives, orphans in deep distress,
And pray for thy dear self that thou may’st finally be free.
For those who suffered for thy sake torments and misery,
For our poor, loving mothers’ hearts, who weep in bitterness,
For widows, tortured captives, orphans in deep distress,
And pray for thy dear self that thou may’st finally be free.
And when dark night enshrouds in gloom the silent cemetery,
When but the lonely dead are left watching by the sea,
Disturb not their repose, nor dispel the mystery,
Perchance then shalt thou hear cithern or psaltery
Well tuned, ’tis I, O my dear country, ’tis I singing to thee.
When but the lonely dead are left watching by the sea,
Disturb not their repose, nor dispel the mystery,
Perchance then shalt thou hear cithern or psaltery
Well tuned, ’tis I, O my dear country, ’tis I singing to thee.
And when the memory of my grave has faded from the mind,
When my tomb bears nor cross nor stone to mark where I lie dead,
Plough o’er the spot, turn up the earth, and scatter to the wind
My ashes ere they return to naught; let them go unconfined
To form thy rolling meadows and thy flower-covered glade.
When my tomb bears nor cross nor stone to mark where I lie dead,
Plough o’er the spot, turn up the earth, and scatter to the wind
My ashes ere they return to naught; let them go unconfined
To form thy rolling meadows and thy flower-covered glade.
No matter then, if all forget, still, still shall I be near,
Still shall I breathe thy od’rous air, still wander in thy ways.
And dwell in space, a thrilling note loud sounding in thine ear;
I shall be perfume, light and shade, sound, color, refrain clear,
Telling forever of my faith and singing thy dear praise.
Still shall I breathe thy od’rous air, still wander in thy ways.
And dwell in space, a thrilling note loud sounding in thine ear;
I shall be perfume, light and shade, sound, color, refrain clear,
Telling forever of my faith and singing thy dear praise.
Farewell, adored country! I leave my all with thee,
Beloved Filipinas, whose soil my feet have trod,
I leave with thee my life’s love deep. I go where all are free,
I go where are no tortures, where th’ oppressor’s power shall be
Destroyed, where faith kills not, where He who reigns is God.
Beloved Filipinas, whose soil my feet have trod,
I leave with thee my life’s love deep. I go where all are free,
I go where are no tortures, where th’ oppressor’s power shall be
Destroyed, where faith kills not, where He who reigns is God.
Farewell, my parents, brothers, friends of my infancy,
Dear fragments of my heart, once to my bosom pressed
Round our lost hearth. Give thanks to God in glad tranquillity
That after day’s long, weary hours I sleep eternally.
Farewell lov’d beings, stranger sweet; to die is but to rest.
Dear fragments of my heart, once to my bosom pressed
Round our lost hearth. Give thanks to God in glad tranquillity
That after day’s long, weary hours I sleep eternally.
Farewell lov’d beings, stranger sweet; to die is but to rest.
Sr. Jose Rizal
