Jose
Rizal dedicated this poem to Josephine Bracken. It was written during the
hero’s exile in Dapitan.
Josephine,
Josephine
Who to these
shores have come
Looking for a
nest, a home,
Like a wandering
swallow;
If your fate is
taking you
To Japan, China
or Shanghai,
Don't forget
that on these shores
A heart for you
beats high.
The
interpretation of these short lines of verse depend greatly on the historical
background between Rizal and the lovely Josephine. However, from these verses
alone, at least 3 things are apparent: first, that Rizal here is the unmoveable
of the two, having been exiled and unable to leave the island; second, that as
Josephine arrived in Dapitan in a sort of volatile, fleeting fashion although
building a home there with him, he sees her as one that might also leave as freely
as she had come, as she had none of the ties that bound her to that place;
third, that any reader of these verses would sense that posture of loving,
humbled submission that sets the tone of this entire piece.
Need more of this? Uncover the meaning of ALL of of Rizal's relevant poetry and verses by buying the book.