Martí, José: Verse XXXIX (I Have a White Rose to Tend) (Verso XXXIX (Cultivo una rosa blanca) in English)

Cultivo una rosa blanca

en junio 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 la rosa blanca.

I have a white rose to tend

In July as in January;

I give it to the true friend

Who offers his frank hand to me.

And for the cruel one whose blows

Break the heart by which I live,

Thistle nor thorn do I give:

For him, too, I have a white rose.