Earth by Amado Hernandez I was christened by the enemy, stripped naked of name and liberty; Ravished in a cruel cage, on this lonely rock. Cold, this rock-cradle of pain, for a weakened heart it is like the clutch of the grave. No intrusion here of wind, sunlight—and no dawn. Tears nourished me, The earth was my mat, in turn, too hot, too cold; how dark the sky shrouded by a thousand sorrows in the night! With pain beyond endurance, I saluted the power of noble earth. What miracle is this? Heart and soul cried out at this Promethean power. I am vowed To vigil; Earth is the beginning of all things, Out of it come the seed of green hope and life’s ripening.