The house of Santander (Casa de Santander)

Francisco José de Paula Santander y Omaña (2 April 1792 – 6 May 1840), was one of the military and political leaders during Colombia's (then known as New Granada) Independence War (1810-1819). He was President of the Republic of the Nueva Granada (1819-1826). Santander became to be known as “The Man of the Laws” (“El Hombre de las Leyes"). This poem is about the house in which he was born. One of Colombia's national treasures kept in Cúcuta.

From my Dad’s book Elementary motherland (Patria elemental).

The house of Santander (Casa de Santander)

Under the shade of old trees

the General rises up in bronze.

A scent of glory expands

in the darkness of the rooms, on the slippery roofs,

on the stones of yesterday and of today,

on the patios of sun and green, on the flagpoles,

on the portraits on the walls,

under the memorable tombstones

and on the names that they consecrate,

in the chapel where remains are kept

and in the swift wind that blows by

the centenary palm trees.

In the Temple, Bolívar, dreamer

and alive.

The wheel of the old mill spins

and the refreshing noise of the wings

sounds like a background melody in the loneliness

of the hallways.

The water runs and mills, slowly,

the long history of the house.