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Letter to Pedro, U.S Citizen, Also Called Pete by Rene Estrella Amper

Original Poetry

Translation

Letter to Pedro, U.S Citizen, Also Called Pete by Rene Estrella Amper

Pete, old friend,

there isn't really much change

there isn’t really much change

in our hometown since you left.

This morning I couldn't find the grave

This morning I couldn’t find anymore

of Simeona, the cat we buried

the grave of Simeona, the cat we buried

at the base of Miguel's mango tree,

at the foot of Miguel’s mango tree,

when we were in fourth grade,

when we were grade four,

after she was hit by a truck while crossing

the street. The bulldozer has destroyed it

the street. The bulldozer has messed it up

while making the small road into the mountains

while making the feeder road into the mountains

to reach the farmers.

to reach the hearts of the farmers.

The farmers come down every Sunday

to sell their hard work and sweat for

to sell their agony and their sweat for

a few pesos

a few pesos, lose in the cockpit or get

lose in the cockfighting arena or get

drunk on the way home.

A steel bridge named after the congressman’s wife

A steel bridge named after the congressman's wife

now spans the gray river where Tasyo, the old

now crosses the gray river where Tasyo, the old

goat, had split the skin of our young lizards

goat, had cut the skin of our young lizards

to make us a man years ago.

to make us men years ago.

The long blue hills where we

use to shoot birds with slingshot or spend

used to shoot birds with slingshots or spend

the summer afternoons we loved so much doing

nothing in the tall grass have been bought

by the mayor’s son. Now there’s barbed wire

by the mayor's son. Now there's a barbed wire

fence about them, the birds have gone away.

fence around them, the birds have gone away.

The mayor owns a big sugar plantation, three

new cars, and a mansion with the gate overhung

new cars, and a mansion with the gate covered

with sampaguita. Inside the gate

with sampaguita flowers. Inside the gate

are guys who carry a rifle and a pistol.

are men who carry a rifle and a pistol.

We still go to Konga’s store for rice,

We still go to Konga's store for rice,

and sardines and sugar and nails for the coffin.

Still only a handful go to Mass on Sundays.

Still only a few go to church on Sundays.

In the church the men talk, sleep, the children play.

The priest is sad.

Last night the storm came and blew away

the cornflowers. The cornfield are full of cries.

the cornflowers. The cornfield is full of cries.

Your cousin, Julia has just become a whore.

Your cousin, Julia has just become a prostitute.

She liked good clothes, good food, big money.

She liked nice clothes, good food, big money.

That’s why she became a whore.

That's why she became a prostitute.

Now our hometown has seven whores.

Now our hometown has seven prostitutes.

Peter old friend,

every time we have good reason to get drunk

every time we have a good reason to get drunk

and be carried home in a wheelbarrow,

we always remember you. Oh we miss

both Pete and Pedro.

Remember us to your American wife,

your lucky bastard, Islaw, your cock-eyed

you lucky guy, Islaw, your cross-eyed

uncle, now calls himself Stanley

after he began wearing clothes you sent

him last Christmas.

P.S. Tasyo, the old goat,

sends your lizard his warmest congratulations.

Explanation

In 'Letter to Pedro, U.S Citizen, Also Called Pete,' Rene Estrella Amper reflects on the changes and stagnation in his hometown, juxtaposing past memories with present realities. The poem opens with a nostalgic address to Pete, a friend who has moved to the U.S., highlighting unchanged aspects of their hometown, yet subtly pointing out the decay and loss, such as the grave of a childhood pet now destroyed by development.

The imagery of farmers selling their labor for meager returns and the transformation of natural spaces into private property underscores socio-economic disparities. The steel bridge and barbed wire symbolize both progress and restriction, while the mayor's wealth contrasts sharply with the poverty of the townspeople. The poem paints a vivid picture of a community struggling with modernization and loss of innocence.

Emotionally, the poem conveys a sense of longing and resignation. The speaker's tone is reflective and tinged with sadness, as he recounts personal and communal losses. The mention of Julia's turn to prostitution and the dwindling church attendance further emphasize moral and social decline.

Amper employs free verse to mirror the conversational and intimate tone of a letter. The use of direct address, vivid imagery, and irony enriches the poem, creating a poignant commentary on identity and change. The dual identity of 'Pete' and 'Pedro' symbolizes the immigrant experience, caught between two worlds.

Ultimately, the poem speaks to the universal themes of nostalgia, identity, and the impact of socio-economic changes on small communities. It captures the bittersweet nature of progress and the enduring ties to one's roots, reflecting Amper's broader concerns with cultural and personal identity in a changing world.

Word Dictionary9

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
hometown	place where you grew up	the town where you were born or spent your childhood	hohm-taown
bulldozer	large machine for moving earth	a powerful machine used for pushing earth and rocks	bool-dozer
feeder road	small road leading to a main road	a road that connects smaller areas to a main road	fee-der road
cockpit	place where cockfights happen	an arena for cockfighting	kok-pit
sampaguita	type of flower	a fragrant flower native to the Philippines	sam-pa-gee-ta
cornfield	field where corn is grown	a field planted with corn	korn-feeld
whore	prostitute	a person who engages in sexual activity for payment	hohr
wheelbarrow	small cart for carrying things	a small hand-propelled vehicle with one wheel and two handles	weel-bar-oh
congratulations	praise for an achievement	an expression of praise for someone's success	kun-gra-choo-lay-shuns

Poet & Context

PoetRene Estrella Amper

EraContemporary

Rene Estrella Amper is a contemporary poet known for his reflective and poignant poetry that often explores themes of change, identity, and nostalgia. His work frequently delves into the socio-political landscape of the Philippines.

WhenContemporary period

WhyThe poem reflects on the changes in a hometown and the dual identity experienced by immigrants, symbolized by the personas 'Pedro' and 'Pete'. It highlights socio-economic issues and nostalgia for the past.

FormFree verse

Themes & More

Themes

nostalgiaidentitysocio-economic changeloss

Literary devices

imagery: vivid descriptions of the hometown and its changesirony: contrast between past innocence and present decaysymbolism: 'steel bridge' and 'barbed wire' as progress and restriction