Original Text of Political Poems and Songs Referenced in Contextual Essays
Referenced in From Democracy’s Borderlands: Hispanic-American Representation, 1822–1898.
| Homilia En Verso1 El dia 30 de Julio Se reunió la convención Para escojer Delegado Al Congreso de la Unión. Convención republicana Al que bien has acordado Que Don Mariano S. Otero Sea nuestro Delegado. Pues bien, Nuevo Mejicanos Tenéis amor por la Patria Votad por Mariano Otero Dejad a Benito Baca. Dando una Mirada cierta Reflejando la cuestión El Nuevo Méjico grita Electo nuestro campeón! Partido republicano Que tienes la garantía Que todos vuestros amigos Trabajan de noche y día. Atención buenos amigos Inteligencia y valor Y que nuestro candidato Reciba su posición. | Homily in Verse2 On July 30th The convention met To elect a delegate To the Congress of the Union. Republican Convention You have come to good accord, That Don Mariano S. Otero Be our delegate. So then New Mexicans, Love your country, Vote for Mariano Otero, Drop Benito Baca. Taking a closer look And reflecting on the issue New Mexico declares, Elect our champion! Republican Party, You are assured That all your friends Work night and day. Pay attention our friends, Be intelligent and valiant, Make sure the job goes To our candidate. |
| Miguel Antonio Otero3 El Sol con sus rayos baña Desde lo alto del imperio A nuestra fiel democracia A nuestro ilustre partido A Miguel Antonio Otero A este joven tan querido A quien se ha dignado el cielo Colmarle de beneficios Proclamamos sin recelo Y sin cobardía a mi juicio Viva MIGUEL, viva ANTONIO Y viva también OTERO. Terrible administración Que gobierna este Condado Que nos ha subordinando De la libertad y acción Ahora hay tiempo, hay ocasión Para librarnos del mal Democracia Nacional Alerta, alerta, estaremos La sangre derramaremos Nacionales con esmero Viva MIGUEL, viva ANTONIO Y viva también OTERO. En el próximo Septiembre Tendremos nuestra elección Para nuestro Delegado Al Congreso de la Unión Y también la remoción De todo official perverso Que todo el interés nuestro Sea bien representado Por medio del Delegado Que nos ha donado el cielo Viva MIGUEL, viva ANTONIO Y viva también OTERO | Miguel Antonio Otero4 From high up in the empire, the sun casts its rays on our true democracy, on our illustrious party, on Miguel Antonio Otero; on this beloved young man showered with gifts by the heavens; we proclaim without apprehension and, in my own judgment, without cowardice, long live MIGUEL, long live ANTONIO and long live OTERO as well. This terrible administration that governs this County has subordinated our liberty and action. Now it is time and it is our chance to be free from evil. National Democracy alert, alert we will be, we nationals with greatest care, will shed the blood long live MIGUEL, long live ANTONIO and long live OTERO as well. Next September we will have the elections for our Delegate to the Congress of the Union and, also to remove every corrupt official. That all of our interests be well represented by our Delegate a gift from the heavens, long live MIGUEL, long live ANTONIO and long live OTERO as well. |
Referenced in “Foreign in a Domestic Sense,” 1898–1945.
| Sisifo excerpt5 V. Resignado pero indomable; con la altiva y ruda dignidad de quien cumple su destino y en su valor descansa, poco a poco llega el titán a la planicie y busca el peñón que sus fuerzas desafía. Lo contempla hito en hito; gira en torno; estudia sus cavernas seculares y aplica el hombre a su gigante masa. Todo inútil. Los monstruos le acometen con infernal estruendo y los reptiles clavan en él su envenenada lengua. La multitud, del éxito dudosa, le aplaude sin cesar; pero a distancia, cual si temiese al rápido desplome. Resiste el bloque al temerario impulso; redoblan su tremenda algarabía las bestias que en sus cóncavos se ocultan y Sísifo jadeante se detiene, medita y vuelve a comenzar. | Sisyphus excerpt6 V. Resigned but indomitable, with the proud and rough dignity of someone who is fulfilling his destiny and that relies on his valor, little by little the titan arrives at the plain and looks for the crag that defies his strength. He stares at it, walks around it, studies its centuries-old caves and puts his shoulder to the giant mass. It’s all useless. He is attacked by monsters with infernal thunder and stung by reptiles with their venomous tongues. The crowd, doubtful of success, applauds the whole time but from a distance as if they were fearful of a fast collapse. The block resists the bold push, the beasts that hide in its cavities redouble their enormous joy and Sisyphus, breathless, stops, reflects, and starts all over again. |
Footnotes
1“Un Viajero” (A Traveler).“Homilia En Verso” (excerpt). Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM), 21 November 1878: 2. Translated as “Homily in Verse” by Translations International, Inc. (December 2009).
2Excerpt of campaign poem about Territorial Delegate Mariano S. Otero of New Mexico. From the Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican, November 21, 1878.
3J. L. “Miguel Antonio Otero” Santa Fe Weekly Gazette (Santa Fe, NM), 22 August 1857: 4. Translated as “Miguel Antonio Otero” by Translations International, Inc. (December 2009).
4Translation of an excerpt of a campaign poem about Delegate Miguel Antonio Otero of New Mexico. From the Santa Fe Weekly Gazette, August 22, 1857.
5Luis Muñoz Rivera, “Sisifo” in Tropicales (New York: H.M. Call Printing, Co., 1902). Translated as “Sisyphus” by Translations International, Inc. (December 2009).
6By Luis Muñoz Rivera (1902), referencing Greek mythology in speaking of Puerto Rico’s political position after the United States won control of the island from Spain.