Poem+XXXIX

**"Poem XXXIX" from //Versos Sencillos// by José Martí** **//Versos Sencillos// was written by José Martí during the winter of 1889-1890 while he was recovering from health issues in the Catskill Mountains of New York. The volume was published in 1891. The popular Cuban song //Guantanamera// was rewritten with four verses from this collection.** media type="youtube" key="4reoGZkkvZU" height="315" width="420" align="center"

**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 ortiga cultivo:**   **Cultivo una rosa blanca.**

**I cultivate a white rose,**  **In July as in January,**   **For the sincere friend,**   **That gives me his frank hand.**   **And for the cruel one**   **Who pulls out my heart,**   **I cultivate neither thistle nor nettle:**   **I cultivate a white rose.**