The Inept Hummingbird

Today, I’m sharing another poem by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. The poem, The Inept Hummingbird, comes from the Love Poems in Old Age section of his book. I hope you enjoy the poem. 

El Inepto Picaflor

Llenándose de valor,
Creyendo ser gavilán,
Un imberbe picaflor
de mi pradera riqueña,
quiso un dia conquistar
un corazón de mujer
que le enseñaría a besar,
que le enseñaría a querer.

Quiso temprano libar
El néctar que hay en la flor
Sin su pico aún estar
Desarrollado y completo.
Siendo en amores inepto,
Revoleteó con bravura,
Y logró picar la flor
Que aceptó su picadura,
Leve, suave e insegura.

Aquel pajarillo inepto
Que conquistó la mujer,
Se sintió con gran placer
Ser picaflor afamado,
Pero nunca se atrevió
Dejar su nido dorado,
Era tal la ineptitud 
Que adolecía el desgraciado.

Muy pronto aprendió a besar,
Muy pronto aprendió a querer,
Pero nunca comprendió
Cómo se ama a una mujer.

Y siguió picando aquí,
Y siguió picando allá,
Hasta que un día la mujer,
Hastiada del picaflor,
Lo tuvo que desechar
Por inepto en el amor…

Probrecito el picaflor…
The Inept Hummingbird

Gathering courage,

Believing himself a hawk,

A young hummingbird

From my rich prairie

Decided one day to conquer

A woman's heart,

that would teach him to kiss,

that would teach him to love.

He wanted to taste early

The nectar within the flower,

Though his beak was not yet

Developed and complete.

Inept in matters of love,

He fluttered bravely,

And managed to sting the flower

That accepted his sting,

Gentle, soft, and unsure.

That inept little bird,

Who conquered the woman,

Felt great pleasure

In being a famous hummingbird.

Yet he never dared

To leave his golden nest.

His ineptitude was such,

That he lacked what was needed.

He soon learned how to kiss,

He soon learned how to love,

But he never understood

How to truly love a woman.

And he kept stinging here,

And he kept stinging there,

Until one day, the woman,

Tired of the hummingbird,

Had to discard him

For being inept in love…

Poor little hummingbird…

(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
19. Miriam Celeste
20. My Cherub "Cherubero"

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.

45 thoughts on “The Inept Hummingbird”

  3. Your FIL truly had a way with words and wasn’t alone in his desires and yet such a wise bird to emulate the eagle. He certainly brings many of smiles in all of his writing. Thanks for sharing this lovely poem. He was certainly prolific and a wonderful man! 💕

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  8. Another wonderful poem! A beautiful entanglement of words about the little bird, believing himself a hawk, but had never truly learned to love. I have met some of these “hummingbirds” in life! Thank you for the translation and for sharing this poetic gem. Always appreciated, Edward! Lots of light and blessings to you, my friend 🙏✨

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  9. This poem beautifully captures the naivety and fleeting nature of immature love. The hummingbird’s journey is a poignant metaphor for those who rush into love without truly understanding its depth. The contrast between learning how to love and truly knowing how to love is striking, making the ending both inevitable and heartbreaking. A wonderfully evocative piece!🦾👍🌷

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        1. Oh, I forgot to mention that I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award in my Rockin’ Thursday post. I love your blog, and you are under no obligation to complete any of the questions. I just want you to know that your blog is awesome.

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    1. Thank you, Violet. It’s definitely speaking about fidelity. In Puerto Rico, and I’m sure in other parts of Latin America, a “picaflor” is a man who flirts with a lot of women and has no problem having multiple romantic relationships.

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