Porque No Soy Poeta – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: José José

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into José José's heartfelt classic, "Porque No Soy Poeta." While the title suggests a lack of skill with verse, the song teaches that true love transcends eloquent language, showing how sincerity and action can speak louder than poetry. Its simple, passionate melody makes it a beautiful entry point for anyone wanting to connect with classic Spanish romantic music.

[English]

Because I’m not a poet,

I can’t recite my love in verses,

because I’m not a poet,

I’m left without telling you I love you.

Because I’m not a poet,

I don’t see stars in your eyes,

because I’m not a poet,

I don’t find your skin turning into a beach.

And so,

with just my soul and my hands,

I can make it so you never miss

your old lover.

Love,

I don’t understand poetry,

I only know how to rhyme your name

with the most beautiful things in life.

Because I’m not a poet,

I can’t find a better way to adore you,

because I’m not a poet,

accept that in silence I love you.

And so,

with just my soul and my hands,

I can make it so you never miss

your old lover.

Love,

I don’t understand poetry,

I only know how to rhyme your name

with the most beautiful things in life.

Because I’m not a poet,

I can’t find a better way to adore you,

because I’m not a poet,

accept that in silence I love you.

[Spanish]

Porque yo no soy poeta,

no puedo recitar mi amor en versos,

porque yo no soy poeta,

me quedo sin decirte que te quiero.

Porque yo no soy poeta,

no miro las estrellas en tus ojos,

porque yo no soy poeta,

no encuentro que tu piel se vuelva playa.

Y así,

tan solo con el alma y con mis manos

puedo hacer que nunca extrañes

a tu antiguo enamorado.

Amor,

yo no entiendo de poesía,

solo sé rimar tu nombre

con las cosas más bonitas de la vida.

Porque yo no soy poeta

no encuentro mejor forma de adorarte,

porque yo no soy poeta,

acepta que en silencio yo te ame.

Y así,

tan solo con el alma y con mis manos

puedo hacer que nunca extrañes

a tu antiguo enamorado.

Amor,

yo no entiendo de poesía,

solo sé rimar tu nombre

con las cosas más bonitas de la vida.

Porque yo no soy poeta,

no encuentro mejor forma de adorarte,

porque yo no soy poeta,

acepta que en silencio yo te ame.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
poeta poeta A2	noun - poet
recitar recitar B1	verb - to recite
amor amor A1	noun - love
verso verso B1	noun - verse
decir decir A1	verb - to say, to tell
querer querer A1	verb - to want, to love
mirar mirar A1	verb - to look, to watch
estrella estrella A2	noun - star
piel piel A1	noun - skin
playa playa A1	noun - beach
alma alma B1	noun - soul
mano mano A1	noun - hand
extrañar extrañar B2	verb - to miss, to long for
antiguo antiguo B1	adjective - old, ancient
enamorado enamorado B2	noun - lover, sweetheart
poesía poesía B2	noun - poetry
rimar rimar B2	verb - to rhyme
bonito bonito A2	adjective - pretty, beautiful
vida vida A1	noun - life
adorar adorar B2	verb - to adore, to love deeply

Key Grammar Structures

• Porque yo no soy poeta,

  ➔ Present tense of 'ser'

  ➔ The verb 'soy' is the first-person singular present tense of 'ser', used to express a permanent characteristic.

• no puedo recitar mi amor en versos,

  ➔ Present tense of 'poder'

  ➔ The verb 'puedo' is the first-person singular present tense of 'poder', used to express ability or possibility.

• me quedo sin decirte que te quiero.

  ➔ Present tense of 'quedarse'

  ➔ The verb 'quedó' is the first-person singular present tense of 'quedarse', used here to express a state of being without doing something.

• no miro las estrellas en tus ojos,

  ➔ Present tense of 'mirar'

  ➔ The verb 'miro' is the first-person singular present tense of 'mirar', used to express the action of looking.

• solo sé rimar tu nombre

  ➔ Present tense of 'saber'

  ➔ The verb 'sé' is the first-person singular present tense of 'saber', used to express knowledge or ability.

• acepta que en silencio yo te ame.

  ➔ Present subjunctive of 'aceptar'

  ➔ The verb 'acepta' is used in the present subjunctive to express a wish or request.