Patria

Homeland

Patria

Some time ago a boy asked meHace algún tiempo me preguntaba un chiquillo
About the meaning of the word homelandPor el significado de la palabra patria
His question surprised meMe sorprendió con su pregunta
And with a lump in my throatY con el alma en la garganta

I told himLe dije así
Neighborhood flower, little brother!¡Flor de barrio, hermanito!
Homeland is so many beautiful things!¡Patria son tantas cosas bellas!
Like that old tree that a poem talks aboutComo aquel viejo árbol de que nos habla aquel poema

Like the affection you still keep after grandma's deathComo el cariño que aún guardas después de muerta abuela
Homeland, so many beautiful things!¡Patria, son tantas cosas bellas!
They are the walls of a neighborhoodSon las paredes de un barrio
It's their brown hope: It's what everyone carries in their soul when they leaveEs su esperanza morena: Es lo que lleva en el alma todo aquel cuando se aleja

They are the martyrs who shout, flag, flag, flag, flagSon los mártires que gritan, bandera, bandera, bandera, bandera
Don't memorize lessons from dictatorships or confinementsNo memorices lecciones de dictaduras o encierros
The homeland is not definedLa patria no la define
By those who suppress a peopleLos que suprimen a un pueblo

The homeland is a feeling in the gaze of an old manLa patria es un sentimiento en la mirada de viejo
Sun of eternal spring, laughter of a new little sisterSol de eterna primavera risa de hermanita nueva
I answer you, little brotherTe contesto, hermanito
Homeland is so many beautiful things!¡Patria son tantas cosas bellas!