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Primavera (Spring)

4/1/2022

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In the spirit of Bob Elmendorf’s poem March, I offer these lines from Carlos Santana’s song, Primavera—first in the original Spanish, then in my English translation:

Como la semilla
Lleva nueva vida
Hay en esta primavera
Una nueva era

Lluvia de sol
Como una bendición
La vida renace a plena luz
La primavera ya llegó

Todo es así
Regreso a la raíz
Tiempo de inquieta juventud
En primavera ya

La tierra negra
Se vuelve verde
Y las montañas
Y el desierto
Un bello jardín…

En el aire
De este nuevo universo
Hoy se respira libertad
En primavera ya…

 
Like the seed
Bearing new life
In this Spring there’s
A new age.
 
The sun rains down
Like a blessing
Life is reborn in its radiant light
Now it’s Spring
Always it’s like that
I return to my roots
To the time of restless youth 
Now it’s Spring.
 
The black earth
Turns green
And the mountains
And the desert
Become a lovely garden
 
In the air
Of this new universe
Now freedom breathes forth
Now it’s Spring.
 
In these last days of March, I hope Old Chatham folks are feeling the first stirrings of Spring and the end (we hope) of a deadly Pandemic. Of course, Friends know that even in the winter of our personal discontents, God (or Nature) brings us life and hope. And—speaking of a return—I expect to briefly visit OCMM in May. I’ll see the trees leafed out and squirrels scampering here and there. Maybe I’ll even see a bear in Bob Elmendorf or Bev Thompson’s yard!
BTW, if you want to hear Santana sing Primavera, click HERE.

~ Richard Russell

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    ​This blog was set up to post content of interest to Old Chatham Quaker members and attenders. Posts related to one's own personal spiritual journey, reports based on interviews with others, and reflections on Quaker-related topics are welcome. Posts by individuals are personal expressions and do not necessarily reflect those of the Meeting as a whole.
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