A Tribute to My Town(English translation by Nick Joaquin)

When I remember the days that saw my early childhood spent on the green shores of a murmurous lagoon; when I remember the coolness, delicious and refreshing, that on my face I felt as I heard Favonius croon;

when I behold the white lily swell to the winds impulsion, and that tempestuous element meekly asleep on the sand; when I inhale the dear intoxicating essence the flowers exude when dawn is smiling on the land;

Sadly, sadly I recall your visage, precious childhood, which an affectionate mother made beautiful and bright; I recall a simple town, my comfort, joy and cradle, beside a balmy lake, the seat of my delight.

Ah, yes, my awkward foot explored your sombre woodlands, and on the banks of your rivers in frolic I took part. I prayed in your rustic temple, a child, with a childs devotion; and your unsullied breeze exhilarated my heart.

The Creator I saw in the grandeur of your age-old forests; upon your bosom, sorrows were ever unknown to me; while at your azure skies I gazed, neither love nor tenderness failed me, for in nature lay my felicity.

Tender childhood, beautiful town, rich fountain of rejoicing and of harmonious music that drove away all pain: return to this heart of mine, return my gracious hours, return as the birds return when flowers spring again!

But O goodbye! May the Spirit of Good, a loving gift-giver, keep watch eternally over your peace, your joy, your sleep! For you, my fervent pryers; for you, my constant desire to learn; and I pray heaven your innocence to keep!

Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)

When early childhoods happy days In memory I see once more Along the lovely verdant shore That meets a gently murmuring sea; When I recall the whisper soft Of zephyrs dancing on my brow With cooling sweetness, even now New luscious life is born on me.

When I behold the lily white That sways to do the winds command, While gently sleeping on the sand The stormy water rests awhile; When from the flowers there softly breathes A bouquet ravishingly sweet, Out-poured the newborn dawn to meet, As on us she begins to smile.

With sadness I recallrecall Thy face, in precious infancy Oh mother, friend most dear to me, Who gave to life a wondrous charm. I yet recall a village plain, My joy, my family, my boon, Besides the freshly cool lagoon, The spot for which my heart beats warm.

Ah yes! My footsteps insecure In your dark forests deeply sank; And there by every rivers bank I found refreshment and delight; Within that rustic temple prayed With childhoods simple faith unfeigned While cooling breezes, pure, unstained, Would send my heart on rapturous flight.

I saw the Maker in the grandeur Of your ancient hoary wood, Ah, never in your refuge could A mortal by regret by smitten; And while upon your sky of blue I gaze, no love or tenderness Could fail, for here on natures dress My happiness itself was written.

Ah, tender childhood, lovely town, Rich fount of my felicities, Oh those harmonious melodies Which put to fight all dismal hours, Come back to my heart once more! Come back, gentle hours, I yearn! Come back as the birds return, At the budding of the flowers!

Alas, farewell! Eternal vigil I keep For thy peace, thy bliss, and tranquility, O Genius of good, so kind! Give me these gifts, with charity. To thee are my fervent vows,- To thee I cease not to sigh These to learn, and I call to the sky To have thy sincerity.

When Jose Rizal was fifteen years old and a student of Ateneo, he composed a poem entitled Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) which vividly described his childhood years in Calamba.Jose Rizal wrote Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (A Tribute To My Town) when he was 15 years old in 1876. He was then a student in Ateneo de Manila. Rizal, being away from his family, reminisced his memories of childhood in his hometown, Calamba, Laguna and wrote this poem to express his love and appreciation for the place where he grew up.AnalysisUn Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo or A Tribute to My Town consists of seven stanzas, eight lines per stanzas and six syllables per line. It is seen that Rizal expresses his genuine emotions by giving citation to memories of his past. On the first stanza, it is reflected that Rizal is recalling the sweet memories of his childhood, when he stayed in the green fields with cold wind breeze enjoying the fresh smell of nature. While on the third stanza, Rizal expresses his feeling of longing for the life near the lake while his mother cradles him with joy and love. He mentioned that he misses the simple life way back home. The fourth stanza signifies the candid Rizal, playing barefooted on the woods and swimming on river banks. Moreover, he mentioned his devotion as a catholic; that he misses praying in rural churches with his pure intentions in his heart. The fifth stanza is all about Rizals amusement and appreciation of Gods creations. He expressed so by using words that describe the aged forest and blue sky. The sixth stanza is considered as the climax of this poem. Rizal gives significance to the beauty of his hometown, a place founded by joyous memories the he longs for. He also mentioned that all the pain of loneliness is eased by the memories of his treasured hometown, that the hour he thinks of it is so precious. Lastly, the seventh stanza symbolizes his dream for his hometown to be as peaceful and as happy as when he was there.

Emotions of the poem

First and Second Stanza - Happy ReminiscingThird and Fourth Stanza - LongingFifth Stanza - Admiration, Awe (emphasis on God and Nature)Sixth Stanza - Amazement, Excitement (emphasis on beauty of Town)Seventh Stanza - Parting, Hope

As seen in the title, and in the words Rizal used, we can safely assume that this was written during a time when Rizal wasn't in his hometown anymore.

A time when these memories were fresh enough for him to remember how much he loved his town so dearly, but these memories were also old enough for it to give him a feeling of nostalgia.

You can feel how much he loves his town when he still wishes it all the best even though they're parting ways.

Implications of the poem

Key phrases in understanding the deeper meaning within the poem:

4th Stanza - I prayed in your rustic temple, a child, with a childs devotion.

5th Stanza - upon your bosom, sorrows were ever unknown to me;

6th Stanza - that drove away all pain: return to this heart of mine

Even though he was much more educated by the time he was writing the poem, a part of him still preferred being naive and innocent. (I.e. having a child's devotion.)

And wherever Rizal was, he wasn't as happy as when he was still in his town ('return to this heart of mine that which drove away all pain' and 'sorrows were ever unknown to me'.)

these are the phrases that emphasize more how much he longs to go back to what once was, compared to the extremely detailed descriptions of what he misses.

Message to the present Cherish everything around you.

Use your feelings and emotions to your advantage.

Goodbyes don't always mean what we think they mean.

Don't be in a hurry to grow up.

Never lose hope.

Humble yourself.

There are things out of your control.

Have an anchor.

To love something you just have to accept it.