My Retreat
Jose Rizal describes in “My Retreat” his exile in Dapitan. From 1892 to 1896, he lived an unexciting but fruitful life.
poems
Goodbye to Leonor
“Goodbye to Leonor” was written by Rizal for his childhood sweetheart, Leonor Rivera, when she married Henry Kipping, a British railway engineer.
Felicitation (English Translation)
This poem is the English translation of Rizal’s Spanish poem entitled ‘Felicitation.’ It was one of the many poems he wrote while studying at the Ateneo.
Hymn To Labor
Jose Rizal’s patriotism is shown in this poem “Hymn To Labor” where he urged his fellowmen to strive and work for their country whether in war or in peace.
To My Childhood Companions
This Nick Joaquin English translation of ‘Sa Aking Mga Kababata’ was taken from an article by Ambeth Ocampo.
Sa Aking Mga Kababata
As a very young poet, Jose Rizal wrote this poem in Tagalog at the age of 8. Another English version was translated by Nick Joaquin.
Song of the Wanderer
In this poem, Rizal talks about the loneliness of being a wanderer and the heartbreak of being a stranger in his motherland after being away for so long.
Song of Maria Clara
Maria Clara is a character in Jose Rizal’s novel, the Noli Me Tangere, and this poem is part of the novel sung by the character.
To the Philippine Youth
At 18, Rizal won first prize for his poem “To the Philippine Youth” in 1879 in a poetry contest organized by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature
Our Mother Tongue
Rizal wrote the original version of this poem in Tagalog when he was just eight years old. Rizal’s most famous quote, “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda.” is from this poem.