TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH

“To the Filipino Youth”

“ Sa Aking Mga Kababata”

By DR. JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL

Theme: “Grow, O Timid Flower.”

Hold high the brow serene,

O youth, were now you stand.

Let the bright sheen

Of your grace be seen,

Fair hope of my fatherland!

                                                         Come now, thou genius grand,

And bring down inspiration;

With thy mighty hand,

Swifter than the winds volation,

Raise the eager mind to higher station.

Come down with pleasing light

Of art and science to the flight,

O youth, and there untie

The chains that heavy lie,

Your spirit free to blight.

    See how in flaming zone

Amid the shadows thrown,

The Spaniard holy hand

A crown’s resplendent band

Proffers to this Indian land.

Thou who know wouldst rise

On wings of rich emprise,

Seek from Olympian Skies

Songs of the sweetest strain,

Softer than ambrosial rain;

       Thou whose voice divine

Rival’s Philomel’s refrain,

And with varied line

Through the night benign

Tress mortality from pain;

Thou, who by sharp strife

Wakest thy mind to life;

And the memory bright

Of thy genius’ light

Makest immortal in it’s strength;

And thou in accent clear

Of Phoebus, to Apelles dear;

Or by the brush’s magic art

Takest from nature’s store apart

To fix it own simple canvas’ length;

Go forth, and then the sacred fire

Of thy genius to the laurel may aspire;

To spread around the flame,

And in victory acclaim,

Through wider spheres the human name.

Day, O happy day,

Fair Filipinas, for thy land!

So bless the Power today

That places in thy way

                                                                         This favor and this fortune Grand.