I have known your rivers,
with a beauty hard to match,
flowing with Taíno blood in their currents.
My blood flows like these rivers...
I bathed in Río Camuy
at the dawn of your history.
I built my bohío near Río Blanco,
and in my hammock, I slept.
I gazed at Río Grande de Añasco,
where Taíno courage slew the gods,
and there I raised the rebellion.
Río Grande de Loíza, witness of many eras,
I heard your sorrow when, in more recent times,
Julia de Burgos immortalized your pain.
I have seen your mighty flow,
your unstoppable strength,
your chest held high in defiance,
growing vast in the sunset glow.
I have known your rivers—
rivers with the fierce song of the brave Taíno.
My blood flows like these rivers...
They carry my blood, my history, and my memories.
Puerto Rico, you sing to me in your rivers,
and I sing to you in my verses.
-
Author:
rrodriguez (
Offline) - Published: April 22nd, 2025 08:55
- Comment from author about the poem: This poem is an adaptation of Langston Hughes' The Negro Speaks of Rivers. In it, I reflect on the rivers of my country, Puerto Rico—their role in our history, people, music, and poetry. These rivers carry the spirit of my homeland, and I am proud to share this poem with a deep feeling of pride. Enjoy!
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 9
- Users favorite of this poem: Cheeky Missy, arqios
Offline)
Comments5
The beauty of nature and the strength of layers of history are in this poem. It is nicely composed and well written with great images. A lovely piece
Thank you for reading my poem. I appreciate your comments. I wrote it in Spanish and then thought this would make a fine poem in English. Thank you!
Great read, thanks for sharing
Beautiful
Thank you!
You're welcome
Thank you very much for the expressive tribute and more especially for the explanatory author's note. Beautifully rendered with delicious imagery and a deeply haunting poignancy. Thank you for sharing.
Hair raising intensity! I saw interconnected rivers and tributaries and by the second to last stanza it had turned into the anatomical map of veins and nerves, arteries and lymphatic system…; liked and faved 🤩🕊🙏🏻
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