Yesterday, I was awarded a prize for a poem I wrote in Spanish for my literature course (voluntary entry). I received a rose, a book and a certificate in honour of the day Sant Jordi — Catalonia's day of books and roses, celebrated on the 23rd of April each year.
Sant Jordi is Barcelona's answer to Valentine's Day, except here men give women a rose, women give men a book, and the whole city fills with stalls selling flowers and literature. It is one of my favourite days to be in this city.
The poem is titled A Través De Nuestros Ojos — Through Our Eyes. I will share it here in Spanish, as I wrote it, with an English translation below.
El mundo sin paz El dinero que causa luchas El sol que causa cáncer FEO... Los niños sin comida Los animales sin tierra Las mañanas sin tranquilidad FEO... La guerra en el mundo La vida sin voz La destrucción de la capa de ozono FEO... Los políticos que causan separación Los desastres que destruyen vidas Los pájaros sin alas FEO... Las drogas que existen en el mundo Las pistolas que matan Las enfermedades que no tienen cura FEO... Los toros sin libertad Los animales que se extinguen Los niños sin padres FEO... Las personas que están solas Las mañanas sin sol Las noches sin estrellas FEO... El corazón que no puede querer Gente sin educación La polución de la calle FEO... Los niños recién nacidos, que traen inocencia y esperanza para cambiar el futuro. BUENO
Translation — Through Our Eyes
A world without peace Money that causes conflict A sun that causes cancer UGLY... Children without food Animals without land Mornings without peace UGLY... War in the world Life without a voice The destruction of the ozone layer UGLY... Politicians who cause division Disasters that destroy lives Birds without wings UGLY... The drugs that exist in the world The guns that kill The diseases that have no cure UGLY... Bulls without freedom Animals that go extinct Children without parents UGLY... People who are alone Mornings without sun Nights without stars UGLY... A heart that cannot love People without education The pollution of the streets UGLY... Newborn children, who bring innocence and hope to change the future. BEAUTIFUL
Writing in a second language forces a kind of clarity — you use the words you know, you can't hide behind complexity. I think the poem is stronger for it. And winning the prize in a room full of native Spanish speakers is something I will not forget.