My Last Farewell
by J.Rizal, translated by Nick Joaquin (exerpts)

In barracades embattled, fighting with delerium
others donate you their lives without doubts, without gloom
The site doesn't matter: cypress, laurel or lily;
gibbet or open field, compat or cruel martyrdom,
are equal if demanded by country and home.

I am to die when i see the heavens go vivid,
announcing the day at last behind the dead night.
If you need color, color to stain that dawn with
let spill my blood, therefore and
scatter it in good hour,
and drench in its gold one beam of the newborn light.

Pray for all who have fallen befriended by no fate:
for all who braved the bearing of torments all bearing past:
for our pitiful mothers, piteously breathing forth bitterness:
for orphans and widows: for those in tortured captivity
and yourself-- pray to behold your redemption at last.

And when my grave stands wholly remembered and unlocated
Let the site be wrecked by the plow and cracked by the spade:
Let my ashes, before they vanish to nothing
as dust be formed a part of your carpet again.

Nothing then will it matter to place me in oblivion-
Across your air, your space, your valleys shall pass my wraith,
A pure chord, strong and resonant, shall I be in your ears:
fragrance, light, and color--whisper, lyric and sigh:
Constantly repeating the essence of my faith.