Ala De Colibrí

Silvio Rodríguez's song 'Ala De Colibrí' is a poetic and profound call for healing, inclusion, and the celebration of the marginalized. The song opens with the idea of founding a 'party of dreams,' a metaphorical space where broken and fragile things, symbolized by the 'wings of hummingbirds,' can be repaired. This imagery suggests a place of restoration and care for those who are often overlooked or deemed unworthy by society. Rodríguez invites 'the sick, the fat without love, the crippled, the dwarfs, the vampires, and days without sun,' emphasizing a radical inclusivity that embraces all forms of human and existential suffering.

The second verse continues this theme by sponsoring 'the disheartened candor,' a poignant reference to the innocence and purity that have been abandoned or deemed obsolete in a modern, often cynical world. Rodríguez extends his invitation to 'outcasts, the rabid, homeless peoples, and the disappeared debtors of the World Bank,' highlighting the socio-political dimensions of his message. This verse underscores the song's commitment to social justice and the need to address systemic inequalities and injustices.

The chorus and subsequent verses weave together a tapestry of imagery that speaks to the universal human experience. References to 'withered flowers,' 'used piñatas,' and 'shadows in pain' evoke a sense of loss and decay, yet they are also granted 'license to any artifact of love,' suggesting that even in the midst of suffering, there is potential for beauty and redemption. The repeated invocation of the 'hummingbird's wing' as 'light and pure' serves as a symbol of hope and healing, a delicate yet powerful force capable of bringing about transformation. Rodríguez's song is a moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love and solidarity.