For this year’s World Language Week, Sacred Heart Greenwich students from the Chinese, Spanish, French, and Arabic classes shared their work from their foreign language classes.

Each year, the Spanish IV Honors class writes poems to reflect an important aspect of their identities.  Senior Claire Miller, an Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language and Culture student, was in the Spanish IV Honors class last year.  She chose to write her poem about the synthesis of cultures and connections within a person.

“Dos corazones” por Claire Miller 

Ojos marrones como frijoles,

baja, con fuerza grande.  

Dulce caña de azúcar,

dictador ácido.

Collar de oro, asfixiado en la mano del diablo,

parte de su corazón.

Isla remota hasta país de “oportunidad;” 

Margarita se convierte a Margaret.

Manos para las pinturas,

bajo, con la generosidad grande.

Árboles de limones.

Un barco, un niño asfixiado en el vapor.

País de comida rica hasta país de “oportunidad;”

Giuseppe se convierte a Joseph.

Doce uvas en las bocas,

campanas dicen ¡las doce!

Plátanos crujientes,

dorados, como el sol.

El teléfono dice “hola hermana,”

y le transporte al pasado.

Tomates, queso, y pasta

tenedores destruyen, 

y estufa nunca para.

Tengo una ventana

hacia los países inalcanzables,

y los pasados nublados.

Solo un país conectaba

dos culturas,

dos historias,

y dos corazones.

Translation – “Two Hearts”

Brown eyes like beans,

short, with great strength.  

Sweet sugar cane,

acidic dictator.

Gold necklace, suffocated in the hand of the devil,

Part of her heart.

Remote island to country of “opportunity;” 

Margarita becomes Margaret.

Hands for the paintings,

short, with great generosity.

Lemon trees.

A ship, a boy suffocated in the steam.

Country of rich food to the country of “opportunity;”

Giuseppe becomes Joseph.

Twelve grapes in the mouths, 

bells announce twelve o’clock!

Crispy plantains,

golden, like the sun.

The phone says “hola hermana,”

and transports her into the past.

Tomatoes, cheese, and pasta

forks destroy, 

and the stove never stops.

I have a window 

to the unattainable countries,

and the cloudy pasts.

Only one country connected 

two cultures,

two histories,

and two hearts.

Also, take this quiz to test your knowledge of the Spanish speaking world.  Share with friends and family to see who knows the most.

The King Street Chronicle thanks Claire Miller for her contributions.

Featured Image by Gabrielle Wheeler ’23