My Father

Today, I’m sharing another poem by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. The poem, My Father, comes from the Love Poems in Old Age section of his book. As Father’s Day approaches, I thought it fitting to include this wonderful poem, it also feels like the right place to end this project I began over a year ago.

At times, it was difficult to find the right words and stay true to his intended meaning. I hope I did him justice and that his words will stand the test of time, perhaps reaching a new generation of the Rodríguez family—those who may never meet him in person but might still connect with him through his poetry.

I took on this project out of respect and love for a man I had the privilege of knowing personally. Along the way, I learned so much about love—love for family, for nature, for country, and so much more. I’ll miss the work of reading and translating his poems, but I’ll continue to enjoy them in the beautiful Spanish in which they were written.

I hope you’ve enjoyed Pedro’s poems and have experienced the beauty of life through the perspective of this remarkable Puerto Rican man, so deeply loved by his family and friends. 

Mi Padre

Mi padre era un hombre bueno.
Que caudal no nos legó;
Pero en moral, digo yo,
Que era sobresaliente.

Era honrado y laborioso.
Fiel al amigo y al jefe.
Le agradecemos con creces,
Las lecciones que nos dio.

Con el ejemplo educó
Cuatro hijos que tenía;
Y aunque para aquellos días, 
El País estaba en ruinas,
Él siempre subía el pan,
Que con sudor obtenía.

Era orgulloso, era probo,
Nunca obtuvo regalías,
Del gobierno or de la gente;
Con el sudor de su frente,
Construyó lo que tenía.

Fue agricultor arrimado,
Que con honor quebrantó
La cadena que lo ató
Al terrateniente avaro.

Él dejo de ser esclavo
Del sistema que existía
En el Puerto Rico aquel
Donde el hambre persistía.

Luchó con tenacidad,
Y así se fue levantando.
"Chavo” a "chavo” iba guardando
Lo que apenas le sobraba,
Logrando así superarse,
al fin no le faltó nada.

¡Qué enérgica gallardía
Mostró siempre nuestro padre!;
Que Huérfano se quedó
En su tierna adolescencia,
Y que logró superarse
Manteniendo su decencia.

No puedo decir lo mismo
De otros crueles especímenes,
Que se "comían a la gente”
En su cruel voracidad,
Por obtener, sin dar paz,
Lo que tenía la otra gente.

Te doy gracias, padre mío,
Por tu ejemplo sin igual.
Lo que de ti yo aprendí,
Se lo he pasado a los hijos
De este mi bendito hogar…
Dios te bendiga, mi "pai”…
My Father

My father was a good man.

No fortune did he leave behind;

But in morals, I say,

He was outstanding.

He was honest and hardworking,

Loyal to a friend and a boss.

We are deeply grateful,

For the lessons he gave us.

By example, he raised

The four children he had then;

And although in those days,

The country was in ruins,

He always brought us the bread

Earned with his sweat.

He was proud and he was honest,

Never took handouts,

From the government or the people;

With the sweat of his brow,

He built what he had.

He was a farmer on land not his own,

Who with honor broke

The chain that bound him

To the greedy landowner.

He ceased to be a slave

To the system that existed

In that Puerto Rico

Where hunger persisted.

He fought with tenacity,

And so he slowly rose.

"Cent by cent,” he set aside

What little he had left to save,

Thus managing to overcome,

In the end, he lacked nothing.

What energetic gallantry

Our father always showed!;

He became an orphan

In his tender adolescence,

And he managed to succeed

Maintaining his decency.

I cannot say the same

Of other cruel specimens,

Who “ate people”

In their cruel voracity,

To obtain, without giving peace,

What other people had.

I thank you, my father,

For your unparalleled example.

What I learned from you,

I have passed to the children,

Of this blessed home…

God bless you, my dad…

(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”
21. The Inept Hummingbird
22. To My Mother

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.

58 thoughts on “My Father”

  4. Dear Edward, you did an incredible job honoring your grandfather-in-law’s poetry and it has been an honor to read your translations. Pedro’s poetry is memorable and moving. Happy Father’s Day!

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  6. What a beautiful tribute and treasure to have known this man who beautifully and effortlessly shared his emotions with a poetic voice. Thank you for sharing with us, Edward, and I agree, very fitting as Father’s Day approaches. I never knew my grandparents as they passed before I was born, but our children knew theirs which meant a lot to us.

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    1. Thank you, Lauren. I only knew my grandmother on my mother’s side, but I had the privilege of meeting my wife’s grandparents, and that was a blessing. It’s something special when we’re able to interact with our grandparents and learn from them.

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  8. Your project has been a wonderful tribute to your wife’s grandfather. It’s truly a blessing when a spouse connects with his/her spouse’s family. I know this on a personal level as well.

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  9. You’ve honored him – again and again – and we’ve benefited from your care and tenderness in getting it “just right” every time. I’m sure of it! Thank you for including links to all of the previous poems, too. Bravo, Edward! 💕

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  10. Imagine what the world might be like if everyone had a father worthy of such a poem.
    Your grandfather-in-law left us such a beautiful legacy in his poetry. Your wife has such an angelic heart to encourage your year’s work of translating her grandfather’s poetry so that more of us may get a glimpse of this wonderful man. The world needs more people with values, strength, character, and love like Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. Thank you for introducing him to us.

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  12. A beautiful and heartfelt tribute to his father, whose legacy of decency and goodness has lasted until these days! And, I believe, will perdure further ahead as his ways are passed on to the new generations. Thank you, Edward, for translating and sharing this jewel and all the jewels you featured in this Pedro’s Poems series. I enjoyed them all! This was also an admirable tribute to another great man and poet. With gratitude and appreciation, sending light and blessings to you 🙏✨

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  14. Your FIL clearly had a beautiful soul as well as a remarkable gift for poetry and the ability to express his deepest emotions. Thank you for undertaking this project of translation and sharing it with us, Edward. They are a blessing.

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  15. You are a blessed man to have been so enriched by the words of this man. Having a relationship must have been a joy. Maybe not always easy but a blessing nonetheless. Thank you for sharing. I believe he would have been humbled and proud. Happy Father’s Day, Ed.

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      1. Channeling the man himself for a moment for you, he says you have not only done him justice with your translations, but honor also, and that, as far as future generations go, you have for sure at least doubled his poetry’s “life among men.”

        But he said that, as beautiful as those gifts were to him, it was an even greater one to be able to watch the two of you together, working on them ~ one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen.

        He says he died more peaceful for having known you, and for knowing you to be his daughter’s comfort and protection hence forward.

        And… he blessed you both, his children. He said to say it that way.

        🙋✨

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  25. Thank you my love, for all the wonderful translations you made of my beloved Papa’s poems. He would be proud of your hard work and your writing skills. I know I am. And thank you for being such a wonderful father to our son. We are both lucky to have you.

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