Citizen, Where Are You?
(translation|modification of ¿Dónde estás Ciudadano, Ciudadana?)
by Luis S. González-Acevedo
Sad is the destiny
of a colonized people,
its soul torn
and ways violated!
Without rights and without voice,
serving like slaves;
without citizens who would dare
–with deeds and not mere words–
to reveal their intentions
and willingness to answer…
By becoming the answer
to the age-old question:
As concerns Puerto Rico,
who will set it free?
Liberty is a right,
a universal foundation,
something that Puerto Rico
has never truly enjoyed.
Political slavery is a cause of sorrows,
brutal and binding
Puerto Rico with self-doubting chains.
National Injustice!
Pedro Albizu Campos and Blanca Canales: patriots of renown.
In a delirious search for freedom,
their spirits call each of us by name
and proclaim: “We’ve come to share our courage!”
–You can find the poem in Caribbean Poet, by Luis S. González-Acevedo or the original version in Spanish in Poemas Caribeños, por Luis S. González-Acevedo–
