APRIL 30, 1970

      AMHERST, MASS.                  

      flores cantaron                 
              un grito             
      y la liberacion broto         
              de un vientre,
                    welcome                 
         my dear daughter 

  

      Libertad was born in primavera*

      Libertad was born in primavera
      como las flores y canciones,
      como el amor y lo vital;

      dear, sweet child,
      little daughter
      born, ironically enough, 
      far from Aztlán
      here in Northampton, Massachusetts, 
      evening of april 29th,
      smiling/gurgling,
      with your hairy little head 
      swaying
      toward light and sound, 
      and your exquisite little woman's hands,
      delicate and tender,    
      the fine turning of your curving smile, 
      and the faint aroma
      of freshness
      like new grasses billowing 
      on a new england hillock 
      when the nip of morn 
      tucks in spirit,

      oh, how sweetly do i love you, 
      the curious ways your arms stretch out 
      as if impatient to claim the world

      as your own;
      yes, you already know 
      that you have conquered, 
      for we shall be your doting parents, 
      and out of love and warmth 
      delight
      in bringing a universe of stars and moons 
      and silvery thoughts
      gliding through the windows of your mind,

      and we shall share 
      warm blankets/pillows/and bedside stories 
      with milk/cookies 
      and a smile; 
      perhaps someday 
      my hands will spank you, 
      and the discipline 
      will not be pleasing, 
      but you will know, somewhere within, 
      that love shall weather all;

      oh, little delicate being, 
      with the perfection of your humanity 
      shining on the ridges 
      of your stares,
      i shall try to understand you 
      and caress your fears away.
      I shall try to be less grouchy, 
      and at night as you grow older 
      I shall hold you on my lap, 
      and together we shall wander 
      through the furry lands of stories 
      that will make your heart exclaim, 
      we shall travel thus together, 
      you shall sleep upon my lap, 
      and your mommy's milk shall give you 
      strength and faith to help you grow;

      I shall cry when you are ill,
      I shall worry about your safety,
      I shall help you stand up strong,
      I shall be a helping hand,

                              and mi'jita,

                              my sweet Libertad-Yvonne, 
                              we will share with you our love, 

                              and I hope you get to know 
                              that in sharing 
                              truth is needed, 
                              just like justice/dignity, 
                              for we've brought you to this world 

                              through the mystery of birth

                              and we hope and within want 
                              that you'll grow 
                              into a woman 
                              who'll be free with inner peace, 

                              that you'll never bow nor cringe, 

                              that you'll share in liberty, 
                              ever knowing who you are, 
                              ever proud of where you've come,
                              that you'll never feel inferior
                                            nor superior, Libertad.

      may you thus help make life better 
      for all people of the earth, 
      that your life will ever mirror
      all the meaning of your name ...

      Libertad, sweet child
      of bronze skin and glowing eyes, 
      tender one 
      with resilience and love
      dancing out your smile,
      whatever awaits you
      we shall ever be there
      not just to cuddle you 
      but to help you weather 
      storm and to share bounty and joy.

      Welcome home, mi vidita, 
      welcome to your home 
      until someday, years from now, 
      you will go to create 
      your own ... for now this, as ever, 
      is yours; we don't own you, but 
      we know the good fortune of being able 
      to share life with you and you with us.   
      Libertad, you, 
      like everyone else, 
      belong to the world 
      like the world belongs 
      to everyone;
      share in the process of life
      the greatest meaning you can cultivate

      from the process of experience; 
      learn truth and joy, 
      meaning and dignity, 
      freedom and peace, 
      human-ness and compassion, 
      and forge out of experience 
      a sense of your own humanity 
      within the context of our people,
      within the context of all people, 
      that your life
      might give comfort when needed 
      to those who have less, 
      and that you might know 
      that to live is to affirm 
      your awesome human responsibilities 
      to create, protect, defend, project 
      the humanity of people, 
      the sacredness of all life;
      take only what is yours by human rights, 
      share without fear, 
      trust without hesitation, 
      love without reason, 
      but never allow 
      anything nor anyone to desecrate 
      the substance of your soul/mind/body. 
      you are you,
              not a shadow of your parents, 
      but you in all your you-ness; 
      grow to become your best you, 
      and if you need of us 
      we shall ever be there,
              for you and Rikárd and anyone, 
      for love is not to be earned 
      but neither is it to be toyed with.

      love is the poetic feeling 
      that cries tenderly when i hold you, 
      it is also strength and dignity, 
      but never possession.

      i love you, mi'jita....

* also appeared in The Loves of Ricardo