Cultivo una rosa blanca,
En Julio como en 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 oruga cultivo:
Cultivo la rosa blanca.
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Poem,
I Grow a White Rose
A thought-provoking poem by Cuban poet José Martí is presented in English and Spanish.
From the October 2022 Issue
Cultivo una
rosa blanca
I Grow a
White Rose
I grow a white rose,
In July as in January,
For the true friend
Who offers his honest hand to me.
And for the cruel person who rips out
The heart that keeps me alive,
Neither thistle nor weed do I grow;
I grow the white rose.
—Translated by Isabel Santos
Meet the Poet
Adam Eastland Art + Architecture/Alamy Stock Photo
José Martí
(1853–1895) was a famous poet and journalist from Cuba. He published his first poems when he was a teenager.
Writing Prompt
What does the white rose represent? Who will the speaker give it to? Answer both questions in a short response.
This poem was originally published in the October 2022 issue.
Audio
()
Activities
(2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key
(1)
Audio
()
Activities
(2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key
(1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building
1. READING THE POEM
2. ANALYZING THE POEM
3. WRITING
Text-to-Speech