Ser Guadalupano

My favorite Marian holy day is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  This is quite possibly heavily influenced by the fact that it occurs the day after my birthday and my mother prayed for her intercession during labor with me.  I feel a special connection to this brown-skinned, pregnant patroness of the Americas, who left her imprint on a simple tilma and upon the hearts of many.  I have two t-shirts with her image that I wear proudly.  I have other little items here and there graced with her lovely face and have even been mistakenly identified as Mexican because of my devotion.  Granted, I've been told to go "back to Mexico" without any Guadalupan markers, but this person was confused why I would care so much about her.

Although Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared specifically in Mexico, she is a mother for all of the Americas.  She came as one of the people, in their skin, speaking their language and appearing to Juan Diego.  Honor and veneration to her has spread across the continent.  I asked my mother to explain to me how she came into our family's life in Nicaragua.  Though this is not directly a part of Nordia's personal story, it does help with understanding the environment she grew up in.

In Nicaragua, a greater emphasis is places on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8. (Interestingly, this was the due-date I was suppose to be born.)  It is celebrated there somewhat similarly to Halloween in the United States.  Houses that want to participate decorate outside with an altar to the Virgin.  Children go from house to house singing songs to Our Lady and collect fruits and candies from the homes they visited.  No tricks, just treats and nothing scary, only joyful singing.  My family celebrated with this tradition every December.  Then one year when my mother was very young my grandfather, Juan Fernando Gonzalez Molina, took a trip with his brothers to Mexico.  They unintentionally happened to be there during the Guadalupan festivities.  He was so impressed by all the "peregrinos"and the great devotion of the Mexican people.  Deeply touched by what he saw, he wanted to bring this back to share with his family in Estelí.

What he ended up doing was loosely adapting their "Purísma" customs into a "Guadalupana" one.  They stopped setting-up on the 8th to prepare to host on the 12th.  The display was moved inside and he invited the whole neighborhood, with crowds growing into the hundreds eventually.  My grandmother would lead the prayer, ending the novena that day with the people gathered.  Prayers turned to songs and the sweets would be distributed.  In the early days, the fruits and candies would be passed out individually at internals, then eventually they started putting everything together in little buckets to give.  My grandfather observed this every year until he died and then my grandmother continued the practice.  Now my uncle upholds the tradition in her memory.

I personally find it fascinating that my grandfather could travel off to Mexico, fall in love with Our Lady of Guadalupe and build up such an ongoing, lasting devotion, celebration and tradition in their small town in Nicaragua.  My mother says she was around 5 or 7 years old, which makes Nordia two years younger.  This tells me that my aunt was raised with the same respect and honor to Our Lady.  It makes me happy to know that my Tía Nordia was probably a Guadalupana as well.  And to be Guadalupano, es algo escencial.

Dejada

As I continue to remember my journey of ten years ago participating in the SOA Watch Vigil in Georgia, I recall today especially as the day I left a photo of my aunt behind at the gates of Fort Benning.  On Sunday, November 23, 2003 after getting closer to my aunt and carrying her with me, I had to leave her behind.  I had to let go.  It was an extremely emotional experience for me.  I didn't realize how hard it was to put the picture down and walk away from it.

I can still remember the day very well.  The sunny clear sky welcomed us amidst the cool, crisp air.  We walked toward the back of the procession line, collecting our crosses along the way.  Simple, white wood, with black paint listing the name of a victim from a soldier of this school.  Some were nameless, with just an age.  We remember the fallen regardless of knowing them.  I did not take a cross, for I was carrying my aunt's photo.  She was my cross, her life was the one I carried with me.

When we found our place in line I was overtaken by the beauty of it all.  Golden red hues of trees lined the path and converged deep ahead to flank the center point of it all, the United States flag, hanging high from a pole.  I immediately admired the composition of it, thinking of my Advanced Storyboard class but had to laugh at myself and brush the distraction away.  However, it was still interesting that the prominent flag would be the visual focal point, as if the crucifix for the gathered congregation in our outdoor prayer.  The flag, striped red with the blood of the lives it had taken.  It made me uncomfortable.

A chilling, haunting voice broke free to made its resonance felt among the thousands, "Oscar Romero..."  A white sea arose in response, "Presente..."  The procession had begun.

Cry and response, a victim remembered, the prayer continued.  One step at a time, the procession slowly moved forward.  The chant went on in great length.  I remember noticing the neighbors houses as we inched along the path.  The forest of people was too thick to really see much ahead.  It wasn't until we were close to the stage and near the end that we could even catch the action.  Bodies on the ground, in masks, covered with red paint, representing the dead.  I didn't realize there was going to be anything else besides our procession.  We continued along slowly, raising our crosses together in turn and I lifting the portrait.

Finally we reached the end of the line.  I am still amazed how the gate was not visible until the very end.  What greeted us was a wall of white, hiding the wire behind.  An intricate web of crosses going every which way fully encompassed the span of the gate.  Where would we leave ours?  We moved together to a less congested patch and joined our crosses with the others, uniting them on the fence.  I didn't want to fold and tuck my photo into gate.  I left Nordia on the floor, facing out, supported by her neighboring crosses to be seen by those who approach this gate.

As I left her there I became deeply saddened.  The symbolism of leaving her behind transformed into an emotional reality.  The people surrounding me were happy and smiling, energized by exercising their civil rights of peaceful protest.  They joyfully took pictures of themselves in action promoting justice and serving their faith.  I felt broken and alone.  I remember falling down in tears.  Fortunately, my friend Jake saw my pain and came to comfort me.  I don't think he realized what it meant to me to be able to cry in someone's arms.  I will always be thankful.

The rest of the day was a bit of a blur.  It took more of a touristy character as we visited the sights of Atlanta before flying home.  And although we had to go back to California and return to college life, I wanted to continue to carry Nordia with me.

In honor of this memorable day I want to share the poem I wrote back then in 2003 as a reflection of my experience.

Nhordia,

Mi tía,

Nunca te conocí,

Nunca te pude ver,

Solo en los fotos de ayer.

Nunca te llamaré

Nunca te visitaré

Solo en el espíritu de Nicaragua.

Pero por un fin de semana,

Casi,

Te pude sentir

En el aire,

En la tierra,

Empezabas a vivir.

En mi cuerpo,

En mi mente,

Tu estabas allí

Resistiendo,

Protestando,

Nhordia en mí.

Y todavia,

No sé que pasó

Ese domingo triste

En la entrada

De la Escuela de las Americas,

Sangrienta,

Dolorosa,

Tú lo viste,

Las dos entramos

Pero salió sola una,

Erika.

Otra vez, caías

En los manos de la Guerra,

Otra vez, me fuí llorando,

Sin mi tía al salir.

Mi compañeros Zapatistas,

Y yo la única,

Sandinista.

De tu lado,

De tu alma,

Yo no quería partir.

Pensé que por segunda vez

Mi tía fue asesinada,

Pero El Señor me ensenó

Una Nhordia re-encontrada

Ese domingo memorable,

Buscando la gran liberación

Allí estaba mi tía

Continuando la revolución.

Por los siglos de los siglos,

Ya sé que va a pasar,

Mi Nhordia siempre viva

Nunca la volverán a matar.

¿Cómo puede ser esto?

¿Un cuerpo immortal?

Es el alma que se queda

Que yo la voy a llevar.

Translation:

Nhordia,

My aunt

I never met you,

I never saw you,

Except in photos from the past.

I would never call you,

I would never visit you,

Except in the spirit of Nicaragua.

But for one weekend,

Almost,

I felt you

In the air,

In the earth,

You started to live.

In my body,

In my mind,

You were there

Resisting,

Protesting,

Nhordia in me.

And still,

I don’t know what happened,

That sad Sunday,

At the entrance

Of the School of the Americas,

Bloody,

Painful,

You saw it,

We both entered

But only one returned,

Erika.

Once again, you fell

In the hands of the army,

Once again I left crying,

Parting without my aunt.

My friends Zapatistas,

And me the only,

Sandinista.

From your side,

From your spirit,

I did not want to leave.

I thought for a second time

My aunt was murdered,

But God showed me

A Nhordia re-found

That memorable Sunday,

Searching the grand liberation,

There was my aunt

Continuing the revolution.

Forever and ever,

I already know what will happen,

My Nhordia will always live

They’ll never return to kill her.

How is this possible?

An immortal body?

It’s the spirit that stays

That I will carry.

In a Decade

It's been exactly a decade since I stepped foot in Columbus, Georgia to visit Fort Benning and attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In and SOA Watch Vigil over the course of three days.  Friday, November 21, 2003 marked the beginning of this profound experience.  I traveled with about a group of 30 from Loyola Marymount University.  We learned together, we prayed together, we walked together.  This trip was the culmination of a lot of preparation, formation and reflection.  We learned about the Jesuit martyrs at UCA and the story of Oscar Romero in El Salvador.  We studied the history of US involvement with Latin America.  This was the first time I questioned my aunt's death as more than a casualty of war.  This was the beginning of my questioning.  Traveling to Georgia and honoring my Tía Nordia at the vigil was my first real relationship with her.  I will always tie this experience as part of my unraveling of her story.  Ten years later, I must continue to question.  I must always take time to remember her sacrifice.

In honor of the ten-year anniversary, I'd like to share these videos of our journey courtesy of Paul Pryor Lorentz.

and the third video which won't imbed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT5pEpcvKeE

Reunited

Today, November 16, 2013 marks the 7th anniversary of when my grandmother was reunited with her daughter, Nordia.  After waiting years for her to come home, she instead met her there.  As hard as it was for me to not be able to say goodbye, I rest with the hope of seeing her again someday.  Until then, I will take the time  to honor her life here on Earth.

   

Lost In Translation

As promised, an earnest attempt to properly translate the beautiful lyrics of La Misa Campesina to the not-so adequate English language.  Some animals, foods and cities just don't have good equivalents.  I'm still lacking info on the meaning of "Mikisito Lawana."  Bonus points to whoever finds me a Miskite-English or even Miskite-Spanish dictionary or translator.  Thanks!  Hopefully this does some justice to Carlos Mejía Godoy great compilation.

La Misa Campesina

The Peasant Mass

CANTO DE ENTRADA/SONG OF ENTRY

Vos sos el Dios de los pobres,

You are the God of the poor,

el Dios humano y sencillo,

the human and simple God,

el Dios que suda en la calle,

the God who sweats in the street,

el Dios de rostro curtido,

the God of a sunburnt face,

por eso es que te hablo yo

that's why I speak to you

así como habla mi pueblo,

as how my people speak

porque sos el Dios obrero,

because you are the laborer God,

el Cristo trabajador.

Christ, the worker.

Vos vas de la mano con mi gente,

You walk hand to hand with my people,

luchas en el campo y la ciudad

Struggling in the field and the city

haces fila allá en el campamento

You line up there in the camp

para que te paguen tu jornal.

So that they pay you your wages.

Vos comés raspado allá en el parquet

You eat snowcones there in the park

con Eusebio, Pancho y Juan José,

With Eusebio, Pancho and Juan José,

y hasta protestás por el sirope

and even complain about the syrup

cuando no te le echan mucha miel.

when they don’t give you enough honey.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Yo te he visto en una pulpería

I've seen you in a grocery store

instalado en un caramanchel,

settled in your hut

te he visto vendiendo lotería

I've seen you selling lottery

sin que te avergüence ese papel.

without shame in that role.

Yo te he visto en las gasolineras

I've seen you at the gas station

chequeando las llantas de un camión,

checking the tires of a truck,

y hasta petroleando carreteras

and even paving the roads

con guantes de cuero y overol.

with leather gloves and overalls.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

KYRIE/KYRIE

Cristo, Cristo, Jesús,

Christ, Christ, Jesus,

identifícate con nosotros.

Identify with us.

Señor, Señor, mi Dios,

Lord, Lord, my God,

identifícate con nosotros.

Identify with us.

Cristo, Cristo, Jesús,

Christ, Christ, Jesus,

solidarízate,

build solidarity,

no con la clase opresora

not with the oppressor class

que exprime y devora

that squeezes and devours

la comunidad,

the community

sino con el oprimido

but with the oppressed

con el pueblo mío

with my people

sediento de paz

thirsting for peace.

GLORIA/GLORY

Con el más alegre son de mi pueblo vengo a cantar

With the happiest song of my people I come to sing

este “Gloria a Cristo” que en son de toros me gusta más,

this "Glory to Christ" of all the songs I like the most,

yo quiero cantar a Jesús que es líder de la verdad,

I want to sing to Jesus who is the leader of truth,

con el gozo desbordante y explosivo de los cohetes

with the overflowing joy of firecrackers

que iluminan nuestros cielos en la fiesta popular.

that illuminate our skies in this popular festival.

Gloria a Dios en Siuna, Jalapa y Cosigüina,

Glory to God in Siuna, Jalapa and Cosigüina

en Solentiname, Diriomo y Ticuantepe,

Solentiname, Diriomo and Ticuantepe

gloria a Dios en Tisma, Guaslala y yalagüina,

Glory to God in Tisma, Guaslala and Yalagüina,

en Totogalpa, Moyogalpa y Santa Cruz.

in Totogalpa, Moyogalpa and Santa Cruz.

Gloria al que sigue la luz del evangelio,

Glory to the one who follows the light of the gospel,

al que denuncia sin miedo la injusticia,

to the one who fearlessly denounces injustice,

gloria al que sufre la cárcel y el destierro

Glory to the one who suffers in jail and in exile

y da su vida combatiendo al opresor.

and gives his life fighting the oppressor.

Hoy te glorificamos Señor con las marimbas,

Today we glorify God with marimbas,

con violines de ñambar, sonajas y atabales,

With Ñambar violins, rattles and drums,

con chirimíias, quijongos  y sambubias,

with wooden flutes, single-string violins and sambubias,

con las danzas nativas de Sutiava y Monimbó

with native dances of Sutiava and Monimbó

CREDO/CREED

Creo señor firmemente que de tu pródiga mente todo este mundo nació,

Lord, I firmly believe that of your prodigal mind all this world was born,

que de tu mano de artista, de pintor primitivista, la belleza floreció.

that from your artist hand, of primitivist painter, beauty did blossom

las estrellas y la luna, las casitas, las lagunas,

the stars and the moon, the little houses, the ponds,

los barquitos navegando sobre el río rumbo al mar,

the little boats sailing on the river towards the sea,

los inmensos cafetales, los blancos algodonales

the vast coffee plantations, the white cotton fields

y los bosques mutilados por el hacha criminal.

and forests mutilated by the criminal ax.

Creo en vos, arquitecto, ingeniero,

I believe in you, architect, engineer,

artesano, carpintero, albañil y armador.

craftsman, carpenter, builder and assembler.

Creo en vos, constructor del pensamiento,

I believe in you, builder of thought,

de la música y el viento, de la paz y del amor.

of music and of the wind, of peace and of love.

Yo creo en vos Cristo obrero, luz de luz y verdadero unigénito de Dios,

I believe in you, Christ laborer, light from light, true only Son of God,

que para salvar al mundo en el vientre humilde y puro de María se encarnó.

that to save the world in the humble and pure womb of Mary became incarnate.

Creo que fuiste golpeado, con escarnio torturado,

I believe you were beaten, scornfully tortured,

en la cruz martirizado siendo Pilatos pretor,

martyred on the cross being Pilate the praetor,

el romano imperialista, puñetero y desalmado,

The imperialist Roman violent and heartless,

que lavándose las manos quiso borrar el error.

That washing his hands wished to erase his mistake.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Yo creo en vos compañero, Cristo humano, Cristo obrero, de la muerte vencedor.

I believe in you companion, Christ human, Christ worker, conquerer of death.

Con tu sacrificio inmenso engendraste al hombre nuevo para la liberación.

With your immense sacrifice you beget the new man for our freedom

Vos estás resucitando en cada brazo que se alza

You are being resurrected in every arm that rises

para defender al pueblo del dominio explotador.

to defend the people of the exploitation.

Porque estás vivo en el rancho, en la fábrica, en la escuela,

Because you are alive at the ranch, at the factory, at the school,

creo en tu lucha sin tregua, creo en tu resurrección,

I believe your relentless struggle, I believe in your resurrection,

(Coro)/(Chorus)

OFERTORIO/ OFFERTORY

Yo te ofrezco Señor

I offer you, oh Lord

en esta misa,

in this mass,

el trajín de cada día,

the bustle of every day,

toda la energía

all the energy

que da mi sudor.

That my sweat produces

Yo te ofrezco Señor

I offer you, Lord

Nicaragua entero,

the entire Nicaragua

los bejucos de mis brazos

the vines of my arms

y el vivo entusiasmo

and the lively enthusiasm

de mi corazón.

of my heart.

Obreros y campesinos

Workers and peasants

con el pan y el vino

with bread and wine

te ofrecemos hoy

We offer today

los chilincocos y almendros

the chilincocos and almonds

que montaña adentro

that inside mountain

nuestra tierra dio.

our land gave.

Los caimitos bien morados,

The fine purple star apples,

los mangos pintados

The mangos painted

de luna y de sol,

by the moon and sun,

los pipianes, los ayotes

the pipianes, the ayotes

la miel de jicote,

jicote honey,

la chicha e coyol.

the coyol chicha.

(coro)/(chorus)

La clase trabajadora

The working class

que desde la aurora

from the dawn

busca su labor,

searches for their tasks,

desde el arado que canta,

from the plow that sings,

desde cada andamio

from each scaffold

y hasta del tractor.

and even from the tractor.

Albañiles, carpinteros,

Masons, carpenters,

sastres, jornaleros,

tailors, laborers,

todos por igual,

everyone the same,

herreros y estibadores

blacksmiths and stevedores

y los lustradores

and the shoe shiners

del Parque Central.

from Central Park.

(coro)/( chorus)

CANTO DE MEDITACIÓN/ SONG OF MEDITATION

Antes que nazca el día,

Before the birth of the day,

los pájaros del monte

the mountain birds

nos dan sus melodías,

give us their melodies,

los güises y cenzontes,

the Guises and cenzontes,

el picotear sonoro

the pecking sound

de un carpintero se oye,

of a woodpecker is heard,

que en la punta de un árbol

that at the top of a tree

su casa construye, donde va a vivir,

builds its home, where it will live,

y un gorrioncillo salta

and a sparrow jumps

de una rama a otra, muy cerca de allí.

from one branch to another, very near there.

Como estos pajarillos hoy te canto, Señor,

Like these birds I sing to you today, Lord,

pidiéndote nos unas en fuerza y amor,

asking you to unite us in strength and love,

te alabo por mil veces

I praise you for a thousand times

porque fuiste rebelde,

because you were rebellious,

luchando noche y día

fighting night and day

contra la injusticia de la humanidad.

against the injustice of humanity.

Mil campesinos unidos te cantamos,

Thousand peasants together we sing to you,

bajamos de los cerros

coming down from the hills

con nuestras alforjas repletas de amor,

with our backpacks filled of love,

por ser el pencón, el pencón,

because you are the strong one, the strong one

el guía y justiciero,

The vigilante, our guide

por ser el tayacán ,

because you are the strong leader,

el tayacán de mi pueblo entero,

the leader of my whole people,

por ser el tayacán,

as the strong leader,

el tayacán de mi pueblo entero.

the leader of my whole people,

Canten pijules, zanates y pocoyos,

Sing black birds, grackles and pocoyos,

vengan los chichilotes,

the yellow birds come,

los saltapiñuelas y el alcaraván

the saltapiñuelas and curlew

que cante el colibrí

sing the hummingbird

canarios y chocoyos

canaries and parakeets

juntos con el macuá , cua, cua, cua,

together with Macuá, cua, cua, cua,

canten felices todos,

sing happy all

juntos con el macuá, cua, cua, cua,

together with Macuá, cua, cua, cua,

canten felices todos,

everyone sings happy

juntos con el macuá, cua, cua, cua,

together with Macuá, cua, cua, cua,

canten felices todos

sing happily everyone

  

SANTO/HOLY

Por todos los caminos,

On all the roads,

veredas y cañadas

paths and streams

diviso, Jesucristo,

I see, Jesus Christ,

la luz de tu verdad.

the light of your truth.

Vos sos tres veces santo.

You are thrice holy

Vos sos tres veces justo;

You're three times fair

libéranos del yugo

free us from the yoke

danos la libertad.

give us freedom.

Vos sos el Dios parejo,

You're the fair God,

no andás con carambadas

You don’t give with nonsense

vos sos hombre de ñeques,

you are a man of strength,

el mero Tayacán.

the true teacher.

Vos sos tres veces santo.

You are thrice holy

Vos sos tres veces justo.

You're three times fair

libéranos del yugo

free us from the yoke

danos la libertad.

give us freedom.

MISKITO LAWANA

Miskito nani ba won dara walaia

Swak sakan storka na pain wali banwaia

Won aisa purara ai kuipa pihni ba

Miskito nesanka ban yami munisa.

Won dama Ebraham pain kasak luki kan

Ba mita witinra God bui brisata.

Miskito mani sin pain kasak luki ba

Won Aisa purara yamni won brisa na.

Won dama Ebraham God bui aisata

Ai waihla nanira sut pura luaia

God mita yawonra sim baku takam sa.

Won waihla nanira sut pura luisa.

Won Dama Ebraham God bui aisata

Aikyamka nani ba ailal ban takbia.

God Mita yawonra sim baku takan sa

Miskito nani ba ailal sin bara sa.

Miskito nani ba uan dara ualaia

suak sakan Storkana pain uali banuaia

uan ais apurara ai kupia Piniba Mismito

nesanka banyami munisa

COMUNIÓN/ COMMUNION

Vamos a la milpa,

Let’s go the cornfields,

a la milpa  del Señor,

to the cornfields of the Lord,

Jesucristo invita

Jesus Christ invites

a su cosecha de amor.

To His harvest of love.

Brillan los maizales

The cornfields shine

a la luz del sol.

From the sunlight.

Vamos a la milpa

Let’s go the cornfields

de la comunión.

Of Communion.

El pueblo se desborona

The people rush

alrededor del altar,

around the altar,

arrimadita a la hoguera

Snuggling around the fire

se reúne entera la comunidad.

The entire community meets.

Yo vengo de tierra adentro

I come from inland

más allá de Sacacli

beyond Sacacli

traigo bellas mazurquitas

I bring beautiful dances

y una tonadita

And a little tune

que la canto así:

That I sing like this:

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Los pescaditos del lago

The fishes from the Lake

nos quieren acompañar

want to accompany us

y brincan alborozados

and jump jubilantly

como encalichados

Like covered with

de fraternidad.

fraternity.

Laguneros  y robalos,

Harriers and snook,

el guapote  y el gaspar

The guapote and gaspar

las mojarras, las guabinas

cichlids, the guabinas

y hasta las sardinas

and even sardines

parecen cantar.

seem to sing.

(Coro)/ (Chorus)

La comunión no es un rito

Communion is not a ritual

intrascendente y banal.

inconsequential and banal.

Es compromiso y vivencia,

It's commitment and experience,

tomar conciencia

To become aware

de la cristiandad.

of Christianity.

Es comulgar con la lucha

It’s to unite with the fight

de la colectividad.

of the community.

Es decir yo soy cristiano

It’s to say that I am a Christian

y conmigo hermano

and with me, brother

vos podés contar.

you can count.

(Coro)/ (Chorus)

CANTO DE DESPEDIDA/ FAREWELL SONG

No hay cosa más bonita que mirar a un pueblo reunido

There is nothing more beautiful than to see the people gathered

que lucha cuando quiere mejorar porque está decidido.

That fights when they want to improve because they've made up their mind.

No hay cosa más bonita que escuchar en el canto de todos

There is nothing more beautiful to listen to the song of all

un solo grito inmenso de fraternidad.

an immense cry of immense fraternity.

No es chiche decir adiós cuando la alegría es tanta,

It’s not easy to say goodbye when joy is so,

aquí siento un torozón en mitad de la garganta,

here I feel a pain in the middle of the throat,

pero toda esta cabanga  va a ser pronto una sonrisa,

but all this nostalgia will soon be a smile,

cuando todos regresemos a la misa campesina.

when we all return to the peasant mass.

Qué cosa más bonita contemplar a la Chenta Calero

What a beautiful thing to behold, Chenta Calero

con sus cuatro chigüines y Gaspar, su alegre compañero.

with her four young kids and Gaspar, her joyful companion

De aquí puedo mirar al pescador Presentación Ortiz

From here I can see the fisherman Presentation Ortiz

con toda su familia cantando feliz.

with his family singing happily.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Hoy siento nuevecito el corazón, lo siento macanudo,

Today I feel my heart brand new, I feel full force,

igual que la semilla e´marañón cuando ya está de punto.

Just like the seed and cashew when they are ready.

Ahora que regrese a mi lugar repleto de alegría

Now come back to my place full of joy

voy a limpiar mi huerta con más devoción.

I'll clean my garden with more devotion.

(Coro) /(Chorus)

Al golpe de las palmas la canción va agarrando más fuerza

To the beat of the palms, the song is building up strength

para que en todos vibre la emoción y se haga más intensa.

So that in everyone excitement builds and it becomes more intense.

Al golpe de las palmas se sabrá que somos mucha gente

At the beat of the palms be it known that we are many people

y si estamos unidos nadie nos moverá.

and if we are united no one will move us.

(Coro) /(Chorus)

Juntemos nuestras manos para estar fundidos nuevamente

Let us join our hands to become newly fused

en este enorme lazo de hermandad de amor nicaragüense.

in this huge bond of brotherhood of Nicaraguan love.

Juntemos nuestras manos para hacer una muralla fuerte

Let us join our hands to make a strong wall

que defienda por siempre la comunidad.

That will forever defend the community.

(Coro) /(Chorus)