Julia de Burgos
One of Puerto Rico's greatest national poets, Julia de Burgos was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, in 1914. She was a teacher, journalist and poet. Julia had a special sensability and determination to write and transform her experiences into poetry. At the age of 39 Julia was found unconscious on a New York City street and died later on that day as an unidentified person.
NOCHE DE AMOR
EN TRES CANTOS
I
OCASO
¡Cómo suena en mi alma la idea
de una noche completa en tus brazos
diluyéndome toda en caricias
mientras tú me das extasiado!
¡Qué infinito el temblor de miradas
que vendrá en la emoción del abrazo,
y qué tierno el coloquio de besos
que tendré estremecida en tus labios!
¡Comó sueño las horas azules
que me esperan tendida a tu lado,
sin más luz que la luz de tus ojos,
sin más lecho que aquel de tu brazo!
¡Cómo siento mi amor floreciendo
en la mística voz de tu canto:
notas tristes y alegres y hondas
que unirán tu emoción a tu rapto!
¡Oh la noche regada de estrellas
que enviará desde todos sus astros
la más pura armonía de reflejos
como ofrenda nupcial a mi tálamo!
II
MEDIA NOCHE
Se ha callado la idea turbadora
y me siento en el sí de tu abrazo,
convertida en un sordo murmullo
que se interna en mi alma cantando.
Es la noche una cinta de estrellas
que una a una a mi lecho han rodado;
y es mi vida algo así como un soplo
ensartado de impulsos paganos.
Mis pequeñas palomas se salen
de su nido de anhelos extraños
y caminan su forma tangible
hacia el cielo ideal de sus manos.
Un temblor indeciso de trópico
nos penetra la alcoba. ¡Entre tanto,
se han besado tu vida y mi vida...
y las almas se van acercando!
¡Cómo siento que estoy en tu carne
cual espiga a la sombra del astro!
¡Cómo siento que llego a tu alma
y que allá tú me estás esperando!
Se han unido, mi amor, se han unido
nuestras risas más blancas que el blanco,
y ¡oh milagro! en la luz de una lágrima
se han besado tu llanto y mi llanto...
¡Cómo muerelas ùltimas millas
que me ataban al tren del pasado!
¡Qué frescura me mueve a quedarme
en el alba que tú me has brindado!
III
ALBA
¡Oh la noche regada de estrellas
que envió desde todos sus astros
la más pura armonía de reflejos
como ofrenda nupcial a mi tálamo!
¡Cómo suena en mi alma clara
vibración pasional de mi amado,
que se abrió todo en surcos inmensos
donde anduve mi amor, de su brazo!
La ternura de todos los surcos
se han quedado enredado en mis pasos,
y los dulces instantes vividos
siguen, tenues, en mi alma soñadora...
La emoción que brotó de su vida
-que fue en mi manantial desbordado-
ha tomado la ruta del alba
y ahora vuela por todos los prados.
Ya la noche se fue; queda el velo
que al recuerdo se enlaza, apretado,
y nos mira en estrellas dormidas
desde el cielo en nosotros rondando...
Ya la noche se fue; y las nuevas
emociones del alba se ha atado.
Todo sabe a canciones y a frutos,
y hay un niño de amor en mi mano.
Se ha quedado tu vida en mi vida
como el alba se queda en los campos;
y hay mil pájaros vivos en mi alma
de esta noche de amor en tres cantos...
History
of Puerto Rico
The Spanish Conquest
The Spanish Colony | USA Seizes Puerto
Rico
The Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico
Modern
Day
The Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico
By 1930 the population in
Puerto Rico had grown to more than 1.5
million. Many people still lived in "bohios" (aborigines
style huts) and there was a lot of poverty and unemployment.
Large US corporations bought most of the flat
land in Puerto Rico which was used for the sugar industry.
Salaries were very low.
In 1928 Puerto Rico was hit
by Hurricane San Felipe, in 1932 it was Hurricane San Cipriano.
Many people died, others were left homeless. Most of the
sugar, coffee, tobacco and other crops were lost.
In reaction to all the poverty and the American presence the ideal of
independence began to grow. Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, a Harvard
graduate who had studied chemical engineering, military sciences,
philosophy, law and an X-US military
officer, was elected President of the Puerto
Rican Nationalist Party. Clashes between protesting Nationalist
and police brought deaths to both sides but mostly to
Nationalists. Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos was sentenced to jail.
On March
21, 1937, Palm Sunday, the Nationalist Party was to celebrate a
march in Ponce (city on the southern coast of the island) in support
of Puerto Rican independence. The activity had been authorized by
the mayor, but suddenly, pressured by the police chief, he canceled
the authorization. The Nationalist decided to go on with the march.
Police surrounded the Nationalist and right when the march was to
begin there were gun shots. It is not known who shot that first
shot, but the toll of the shootout was 18 Nationalist and 2
policemen dead. 200 people, Nationalist and bystanders, were
injured. This incident is known as "The Ponce
Massacre".
In 1940, headed by Luis Muñoz Marin, the Popular
Democratic Party was formed. Their logo was Bread, Land
and Liberty. Although the party favored independence, the
need for social and economic reform was the priority, the
status was not an issue. In 1946, the Puerto Rico
Independence Party was formed by dissidents who saw the
Popular Democratic Party shifting away from the ideal of
independence for Puerto Rico. Also that same year Harry
S. Truman appointed the first Puerto Rican governor, Jesus
T. Piñeiro.
In 1947 the US Congress passed a bill which established
that Puerto Ricans could vote every 4 years for governor of
the island.
In 1948 the Popular Democratic Party received
64% of the vote and Muñoz Marin became the first democratically elected
governor.
After much debate, on July 3, 1950 the federal Government
approved the 600 Law authorizing Puerto Rico to draft
it's own constitution. The Puerto Rican Constitution was
drafted and a referendum was celebrated for approval by
the Puerto Rican people. 81% of the voters voted in
favor. Afterwards the USA made some changes and approved
the Puerto Rican Constitution. On July 25, 1952 the
"Estado Libre Asociado" or Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico was officially implemented and inaugurated by
Governor Luis Muñoz Marin.
In 1950 though, Nationalist, believed that the
"Estado Libre Asociado" was really a colony in
disguise. In an attempt to stop the creation of the new
government they attacked "La Fortaleza" (the
Governors Mansion). In the town of Jayuya the police
station was attacked and burnt down. In the town of
Utuado, Nationalist used a house as a fort and resisted
the Puerto Rico National Guard which had been called out
by the Governor Muñoz Marin. Other suicide attacks took
place in other parts of the island. Two days later
Nationalist attacked President Truman's home, the Blair
House in Washington DC. 14 Nationalist, 4 policemen, one
National Guardsman and 4 civilians were killed and around 50
people were wounded before the National Guard took
control of the situation. Finally four years later in a
suicidal attempt to get the attention of the world,
Nationalist attacked the House of Representatives in
Washington DC. No one was killed, but five Congressmen
were wounded. All of the attackers were arrested and
sentenced to long prison terms.
During the years that Muñoz Marin was in power, he took
on the task of developing Puerto Rico's economy into an
industrial economy. The infrastructure was improved
through government agencies. Tax breaks were offered to
companies that would establish themselves on the island.
The result was the industrial Puerto Rico of today.
In 1964, after 4 terms and 16 years, Governor Muñoz
Marin decided to step down. Once again that year The
Popular Democratic Party won the elections but this time
Roberto Sánchez Vilella was elected Governor of Puerto
Rico. In 1967 the people of Puerto
Rico voted between Statehood, Commonwealth and
Independence, resulting in an overwhelming preference for
the Commonwealth option.
Modern Day
In the years to come both the New Progressive Party (pro-statehood) and the Popular Democratic Party (pro-Commonwealth) took turns administrating the government of the island of Puerto Rico. Our most recent governor is Sila María Calderón of the Popular Democratic Party, who was elected in 2000 and is the first woman to occupy that position.Two more plebiscites have been held in Puerto Rico since the 1967 plebiscite. One was held in 1993 where out of the three options (Independence, Commonwealth and Statehood) the Commonwealth option received more votes than any other option. In 1998 another plebiscite was held, in this case the Popular Democratic party (pro-commonwealth) did not agree with the definition of Commonwealth which was to be presented on the ballot. After much debate, the Popular Democratic party decided to call it's voters to vote under the "None Of The Above" column. "None Of The Above" received more than 50% of all the votes casted.
Between 1950 and 1980 Puerto Rico went through a great transformation. The economy changed from mainly agricultural economy to an industrial economy. Literacy went up dramatically. Many Puerto Ricans of all walks of life, poets, writers, actors, musicians, athletes and more have achieved world recognition.
As a people, Puerto Rico has a distinct culture and history. Puerto Ricans feel proud of this. For this reason the Puerto Rican culture and language have not dissipated despite more than 100 years of American influence. The vast majority believe that our political goals should be achieved through peace. Puerto Ricans believe that our culture and race are the result of the mixture of Aborigines, Spanish and African cultures and races. You never hear of racial disturbances.
A courteous tourist or foreigner can feel free to be himself or herself while visiting our beautiful island. Visitors soon notice that most Puerto Ricans on the island are friendly and courteous also.
The Spanish Conquest
The Spanish Colony | USA Seizes Puerto
Rico
The Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico
Modern
Day
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