Rosa Blanca Jose Marti

Cultivo Una Rosa Blanca

by Jose Marti

This is Jose Marti's most famous poem.

Cultivo una rosa blanca
en junio como enero
para el amigo sincero
que me da su mano franca. Y para el cruel que me arranca
el corazón con que vivo,
cardo ni ortiga cultivo;
cultivo la rosa blanca.

I have a white rose to tend
In July as in January;
I give it to the true friend
Who offers his frank hand to me.
And for the cruel one whose blows
Break the heart by which I live,
Thistle nor thorn do I give:
For him, too, I have a white rose.