Farewell by Rizal. English translation with apologies

 tap the “play arrow” (if on mobile device, pls click “Listen in browser”) on the soundcloud pod below:


 

“Farewell” by Dr. Jose Rizal (Original, untitled, written on the eve of his execution):

     for the worldwide audience: the following audio post embedded below, is an English translation of excerpts of the poem – with apologies to all writers who have translated this before; I tweaked the common English translation (which was like trampling on holy ground — apologies) in many parts, (but making an effort to retain the essence behind every line of the original) — but please accept my apologies.
           Music and Filipino translation by Joey Ayala arrangement by Ronnie Quesada, performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad, used here non-commercially for academic purposes.
(apologies for the technical glitch towards the middle of the rough recording, this was a first cut, I could not render it again because my voice has been cracking from the weather). This podcast plays automatically. It starts with Joey Ayala’s song “Ultimo Adios” based on Jose Rizal’s poem … (for the other half of the global audience, i put an English translation, with apologies)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Good Morning

“No idle gold — since this fine sun, my friend,

 Is no mean miser, but doth freely spend.

 

 No prescious stones — since these green mornings show,

 Without a charge, their pearls where’er I go.

 

 No lifeless books — since birds with their sweet tongues

 Will read aloud to me their happier songs.

 

goodmorning

“No painted scenes — since clouds can change their skies

  A hundred times a day to please my eyes.

 

  No headstrong wine — since, when I drink, the spring

  Into my eager ears will softly sing.

 

  No surplus clothes — since every simple beast

  Can teach me to be happy with the least.”

                                           -William Henry Davies

***                  ***              ***

Photo by Myra Lambino, Griffith Park Observatory, Los Angeles, California

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus

From WordPress: “Snap a photo of something or someone in focus, against a blurred background.”

                                               ***              ***           ***

“Tumbling-hair

             picker of buttercups

                                  violets

dandelions

And the big bullying daisies

                            through the field wonderful

with eyes a little sorry

Another comes

             also picking flowers  ”

                                     – e.e. cummings

Photo by Myra Lambino