PACHIRA
In December of 2012, my family and I encountered a place we will always treasure. Not only was this remarkable place unforgettable, it is one we cannot stop thinking about.
The experience of visiting Costa Rica was something that had been enthusiastically described to us by numerous friends and acquaintances over the years. Their stories filled us with curiosity and anticipation. The feeling of actually being within that land, however, was something we could not have anticipated. The sights, sounds, smells, and flavors were all instrumental to the transformative power of this special journey.
The names of so many of its plants, animals and locales ring with musical tones. To my ears, they dwell at the intersection of music and magic. Pachira, anhinga, coati, Escazu, Poas, Arenal, Escallonia, Tortuguero.
From the great warmth of the people we encountered along the way, to the dazzling flash of the Blue Morpho butterfly glinting in the sunlight, we were so often mesmerized and transfixed by the richness of life around us. A beautiful feeling of peacefulness was pervasive throughout our travels in the country.
The source material for these songs was drawn mostly from our experience in Tortuguero, an annual destination for nesting sea turtles. The village occupies a narrow strip of land between the the Caribbean Sea and Tortuguero lagoon. The lagoon is extensive and was our causeway through the forest. There are no cars, only boats. All travel is by water or foot.
Beyond the aforementioned animals we also had close encounters with iguanas, two and three-toed sloths, blue crabs, caimans, anteaters, a laughing falcon, howler and spider monkeys and toucans. I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the most intimate engagement we had with a small black cat named Negrito. His impact upon us was palpable, and his intrepid and self-possessed demeanor was inspiring and reassuring.
THE SONGS
I make no claim that these songs emanate from native musical forms of Costa Rica. In fact, I did not hear any traditional music during my time in Costa Rica to inform my approach to composing these songs. They were simply created as an emotional response to my experience as an enthralled visitor.
The songs are played, however, on instruments common to Costa Rica's musical heritage. For the recordings I used a classical nylon-string guitar, a requinto, shekere and claves. I was pleased to include Chris Smith on bongos.
I wish to extend special thanks to Mimi Marchev. Always willing to lend a hand of friendship, she lent her hand with poetry to this project through her deft translations.
Please see the Pachira Photo Gallery page for images and context to accompany the songs.
Pura Vida!
Pachira Lyrics
Luna Llena
En el barco, flotando,
por el rio, pensando
ascendente del bosque, la luna llena.
Esta tarde me llega un deseo penoso
que estás tan lejos de mi
Y me pregunto, si estás mirando
a la misma luna
y si bes a mi imagen mirando a ti.
Yo llamo a ti, el viento lleva tu nombre.
Las olas rompen como mi corazon
Negrito
A la noche en la orilla del mar
un gatito negro le dice a la luna,
“Yo soy Negrito y no tengo miedo ne nada.
No me asusta ni la barracuda ni el tiburón
porque mi corazon es puro.
Por la noche bailo con los congrejos azules.
Soy amigo de la anhinga.
Soy hermano de todos.
Hijo de todas.
Este selva tropical es mi hogar.”
Full Moon
In the boat, floating,
down the river, thinking,
rising from the forest, the full moon.
(In) this twilight a painful longing comes
because you are so far from me.
And I wonder if you are looking
at the same moon
and if you see my image looking at you.
I call to you, the wind carries your name.
The waves break like my heart.
Negrito
At night on the shore of the sea
a small black cat speaks to the moon.
“I am Negrito, and I am not afraid!
I fear neither the barracuda nor the shark
because my heart is pure.
At night I dance with the blue crabs.
I am friend to the anhinga.
I am the brother of all.
I am the son of all.
This tropical forest is my home.”