I Have a White Rose to Tend (Verse XXXIX) by Jose Marti

[Rigo Muniz]

I Have a White Rose to Tend (Verse XXXIX)
I have a white rose to tend
"In July as in January;
I give it to the true friend
Who offers his frank hand to me.
And for the cruel one whose blows
Break the heart by which I live,
Thistle nor thorn do I give:
For him, too, I have a white rose.

CULTIVO UNA ROSA BLANCA... (Verso XXXIX)

Cultivo una rosa blanca,
En julio como en enero,
Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca.
Y para el cruel que me arranca
El corazón con que vivo,
Cardo ni oruga cultivo:
Cultivo la rosa blanca.

Notes

In the language of flowers the white rose symbolises - eternal love;
innocence; heaven; secrecy and silence.