Mi Último Adiós
Dr. José P. Rizal (1861 – 1896) - Philippine National Hero
My Last Farewell
Contemporary English Translation By Marilyn Castillo Proctor
Dr. Jose Rizal finished writing this poem the eve of his execution by the Spanish army on December 30, 1896. His
execution was believed to be the catalyst to the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule.
Farewell, beloved homeland, dear land of the sun, Let the sun burn, the rain evaporate,
Pearl of the eastern sea, our lost Eden! And the heaven become pure, with my cry in pursuit;
With gladness I give you my life; sad and gray, Let a friend grieve my untimely death
That it be more brilliant, renewed, and colorful, And on quiet afternoons when one prays for me,
To you, I offer, and give for your glory. Pray too, oh, my country, that I may rest with God.
On the battlefields, a furious fight, Pray for all the ill-fated dead,
Others give their lives, no doubts, no regrets, For those who suffered disparate pain,
The place matters not: cypress, laurel, or lily; For our poor mothers who cry out with bitterness;
Gallows or open field, combat or cruel martyrdom, For orphans and widows, for tortured prisoners
They all answer the cries of my home and country. And pray too for your final redemption.
I die as I see the early hues of the sky And when the dark night envelops the cemetery
As finally the day breaks after a gloomy night; Where only the dead keep watch,
If you desire a crimson colored dawn, Disturb not their repose, disturb not the mystery,
Pour my blood, spread it in time If you hear the chords of a guitar or a harp,
For a bronze reflection in your rising light. It is I, beloved homeland, who sings to you.
The dreams of my adolescence, And when my tomb is forgotten
The dreams of my youth filled with vigor, No cross nor headstone to mark its place
Were to see you, jewel of the eastern sea, Let a man plow it, scatter it with a spade
Dry dark eyes, soft glowing temple, And before my ashes are no more
No frown, no wrinkles, no blemish. Let them turn to dust to cover the earth.
Dream of my life; my burning desire to live, Then it matters not that you should forget me.
Hurrah to you! Cries my soul that soon departs! In your skies, mountains, valleys, I shall remain.
Hurrah! Oh, how sweet it is to fall so you can fly; Vibrant and clear melody, I am to your ears,
To die so you can live, to die under your sky, Repeating constantly the essence of my faith:
And to sleep eternally in your enchanted land Aroma, light, colors, whisper, song, laments.
If over my tomb someday you should see sprout, My beloved country, pain of my sorrows,
Amid the thick grass a simple humble flower, Dear Philippines, hear my last farewell.
Raise it to your lips and kiss my soul, I leave you all: my parents, my loved ones.
That under the cold tomb, my temple may feel I go where there are no slaves, executioners nor tyrants,
Your gentle essence, your warm breath. Where faith does not kill, where God reigns.
Let the moon illuminate me with tranquil soft light, Farewell, parents and brothers, fragments of my soul,
Let the dawn send forth its fleeting glow, Childhood friends of my lost home,
Let the wind cry with its grave murmur, Give thanks, I shall rest from a tiring day;
And should a bird descend and perch upon my cross, Farewell, sweet foreigner, my friend, my joy,
Let it intone a song of peace. Farewell, my loved ones; death is a sweet repose
