La ciudad esmeralda translates into English as “The Emerald City.”

Memphis brings me a familiar feeling. There is so much that reminds me of Colombia.

I see Memphis hiding below tall trees that cover the city. From the upper floor of a multi-story building, I see a sea of emeralds, even though I know there are many houses and people underneath. This perspective is also visible when you fly into the city and see through the tiny airplane window all the green tones of the trees. Those many greens remind me of emeralds.

Colombia is the top producer of emeralds. I remember passing by la plaza del Rosario where many emerald merchants buy and sell them. Near Bogotá, the city where I grew up, there are many mines. There is a Colombian legend that emeralds were tears of the Fura, an indigenous woman who was tempted and tricked by Zarbe, the god of mischief. Fura’s tears are for the loss of her love, Tena. There is an emerald called Fura and another called Tena.

La ciudad esmeralda honors Memphis, its river, and immigrants that, like me, have a unique lens to see the beauty of Memphis and its familiarity with our birthplaces.