Miriam Celeste

Today, I’m sharing another poem by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. The poem, Miriam Celeste, was dedicated to his only daughter. The name has a divine connotation, as you will see in the poem. Miriam is of Hebrew origin and is believed—among other meanings—to signify “beloved.” Celeste comes from the Latin Caelestis, meaning “heavenly” or “celestial.” 

Miriam Celeste

Un día Cristo me habló
Y me regaño severo:
“Yo te he dado tres niñitos,
Ya no los evites más.
Una niña ahora tendrás
Que luego en tu ancianidad
Te dará consuelo y Paz.”

Este laudo de mi Padre,
Yo lo acepté muy resuelto,
Y me nació un querubín 
Entre gardenias y rosas,
Que llenó mi hogar de dicha
Con su presencia y sus cosas.

Crecío sana y muy hermosa,
Mujer al fin, no lo dudes,
¡Inteligente el querube!;
Y persistente, y fogosa.

Es hoy my niña adorada,
Resuelta y bien entendida
Para enfrentarse a la vida
Con sagacidad juiciosa.

En mi enfermedad es báculo
que firmemente sostiene
Mi caminar vacilante.
Pero algo más importante:
Impulsa con su lealtad
Mi espíritu caminante
Y mi laboriosidad.

Es alguien muy confortante.
Del Cielo Dios la envió…
Siendo del Cielo Presente,
Miriam yo la nominé,
Y al combinar el Presente,
Resultó Miriam Celeste.

Por ella mucho he llorado,
Sin razón, quizás, no sé.
En su bautismo lloré,
Cuando se casó también,
Y cuando se ha separado
De mi vera, como ayer,
Lágrimas tristes vertí
Con corazón lacerado.

En mis momentos de crisis
Su fortaleza me ha dado
Fuerzas para levantarme
Y cariños sin engaños.

Bien lo dijo mi Señor
Cuando su laudo anunció;
Ella vino desde el Cielo,
Y luego, en mi ancianidad,
Me dará Paz y Consuelo…
MIRIAM CELESTE, TE QUIERO
Miriam Celeste

One day, Christ spoke to me

And reprimanded me severely:

"I have given you three little boys,

Do not avoid them any longer.

Now you shall have a girl

Who, in your old age,

Will bring you comfort and peace."

This decree from my Father,

I accepted with resolve,

And a cherub was born to me

Among gardenias and roses,

Filling my home with joy

With her presence and her ways.

She grew up healthy and beautiful,

A woman at last, no doubt about it,

An intelligent cherub indeed!

Persistent and passionate.

Today, she is my beloved girl,

Resolute and well-prepared

To face life

With sagacious wisdom.

In my illness, she is my staff,

Firmly supporting

My faltering steps.

But more importantly still:

She propels with her loyalty,

My wandering spirit

And my diligence.

She is a comforting presence,

Sent from Heaven by God…

Being Heaven’s gift,

I named her Miriam,

And when I combined this gift,

She became Miriam Celeste.

For her, I have shed many tears,

Perhaps without reason—I do not know.

I cried at her baptism,

At her wedding too,

And when she separated,

From my side, like yesterday,

I wept sad tears

With a lacerated heart.

In my darkest moments,

Her strength has given me

The will to rise again

And love without deceit.

My Lord spoke truly

When He announced His decree;

She came from Heaven,

And in my old age,

She will bring me Peace and Comfort…

MIRIAM CELESTE, I lOVE YOU.

(Translated by Edward Ortiz)
Previous Poems:
1. Young Love                                   
2. To Jelly                                           
3. Message of Love                                
4. Subtle Dream                                     
5. Honeymoon Journey                        
6. That is Love
7. Nostalgia
8. Sad Christmas
9. A Verse for You
10. You Arrived
11. Letter to My Wife
12. To the Colón Park of Aguadilla
13. Legend of the Flamboyant
14. Evolution of Love
15. Liza
16. The Old Tree
17. God Bless the Sent One
18. I Will Be Happy

About the Author:

Pedro Rodríguez Miranda was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on 22 February 1930. He completed his primary and secondary education in Puerto Rico before moving to New York City to attend college when the Korean War started. He joined the Marine Corps and served four years, completing his enlistment and receiving an honorable discharge. After his service, he returned to New York City and attended college, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he worked for the city until 1965 when he returned to Puerto Rico. He worked as a high school teacher in Aguadilla and completed his second Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez.

54 thoughts on “Miriam Celeste”

  4. What a beautiful poem and such a beautiful name as well! Thank you as always for sharing, Edward. You can really feel so much deep meaning through his words 🙏 ☕️ ☕️

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  13. A beautiful poem, as always. So much tenderness in his words. One can literally feel the love and even the devotion toward his beloved daughter. Such a gift to have a father like him. Thank you for sharing, Edward! I appreciate reading it! Sending light and blessings your way, my friend; have a beautiful day*

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  16. Such a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to Miriam Celeste. The love and devotion in this poem are truly touching. Thank you for sharing your Grandfather-in-Law’s Beautiful Poetry.

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  22. Oh my goodness, what a glorious, love-filled poem. As an only daughter myself, and with no daughters to watch my husband love, I’m trying to imagine my father’s love. He died when I was 19 (nearly 60 years ago) and he sure didn’t have your grandfather-in-law’s remarkable ability with words, but this poem conjures up such pure fatherly love that I can kind of feel my father’s love through it. Beautiful.

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