Cuban Poetry Quotes

I’m a migrant worker picking frozen peas, and a clodhopper hiding behind a white sheet. I’m a shootout at Ruby Ridge, and a freefall of flames. I am closed for the winter, and crawling in my playpen. I am cold, and quick chatter and beautiful smiles. I am a man missing a limb, and lettuce and tomatoes. I am a palace, and fresh milk and goat cheese. I’m the great emptiness among Cubans, and a job that requires the auditing of truth and lies. I’m a confounding calm that will shatter fear and complacency, and a town full of self-defined renegades and recluses. I’m a public execution, and a lanky husband waiting by the checkout.

ahí está el padre acurrucado casi para que yo encontrara vida y pudiera existir allí donde no estuvo (de "La Cena")

Tata Ante La Muerte De Don Pablo (para Rosa Amelia González) Mohina y serena, sin la trenza engañosa, en un silencio embalsamado, miras el paso de la muerte llegar. Tu boca firme dice con la pausa del ave en la llanura: La muerte es la mejor de las desgracias porque borra todas las demás.

la poesía viene sola con todo lo que dejo a mi paso: flor o demonio, la poesía viene sola como un pájaro (de "Amor, Ciudad Atribuída")

que voy de nuevo entre las calles, entre orichas, entre el calor oscuro y corpulento, entre los colegiales que declaman Martí, entre los automóviles, entre los nichos, entre mamparas, entre la Plaza del pueblo, entre los negros, entre guardacantones, entre los parques, entre la ciudad vieja, entre el viejo viejo Cerro, entre mi Catedral, entre mi puerto aquí vuelvo a decír: amor, ciudad atribuída (de "Amor, Ciudad Atribuída")

quién oye el sueño de mi boca maldita para quién hablo, qué oído dirá sí a mis palabras (de "Amor, Ciudad Atribuída")

Piedra Pulida Un nuevo libro, un nuevo día, otra nueva ciudad, más veranos, más flores, aquel perpetuo mar y yo, ahora, sobre piedra pulida, busco tus labios, busco tus ojos.

Mirar Adentro Del siglo dieciseis data mi pena y apenas lo sabía porque aquel ruiseñor siempre canta en mi pena. Looking Within From the sixteenth century dates my suffering though I barely felt it for that nightingale always sings in my suffering.

WE ARE ALL HUMAN It should not matter - That we grew up On opposite banks, Opposite streets, The opposite Side of the tracks, Or opposite ends of The social ranks. It should not matter What your father did Or what was his blood, As long as you are good And full of love. It should not matter That you have more than me Or that I know more than you, Or what my job is, Or where I went to school For we are all equal -- And it's only our polarities that Make us each so unique, Individually resourceful, And every human useful. It should not matter That the media wants to Keep dividing us By reminding us that We are from different sects, With labeled and Typecasted Racial and stereotypical Defects, And that there are rules Set for every age, Religion, class and sex. "Sign over here. Put an X in the box, Then step to the left So I can see Whose next?" Nobody should ever feel Like just another statistic, And nobody Should ever feel Above or below the rest. Remember to Stand up for yourself Before you stand up to Rip the test. Stand up for all that's unfair And speak out for what's Always right and best. It should not matter If you are Chinese, Black, white or Cuban. If you seriously do realize That we are all just human. WE ARE ALL HUMAN by Suzy Kassem

Returning to New York City, Martí held a number of diplomatic positions for various Latin American countries and again wrote editorials for Spanish-language newspapers. Many considered Martí to be the greatest Latin American intellectual of the time. He published his newspaper Patria as the voice of Cuban Independence. While in the United States, he wrote several acclaimed volumes of poetry and along with other friends in exile, he spent time planning his return to Cuba. During the following year in 1892, he traveled throughout Central America, the Caribbean and the United States raising funds at various Cuban clubs. His first attempt to launch the revolution, with a few followers, was drastically underfunded and failed. However, the following year with more men and additional backing, he tried again. Although he admired and visited America in the interim, he feared that the United States would annex Cuba before his revolution could liberate the country from Spain. With small skirmishes, the Cuban War of Independence started on February 24, 1895. Marti’s plan for a second attempt at freeing Cuba included convincing Major General Máximo Gómez y Báez and Major General Antonio de la Caridad Maceo y Grajales, as well as several other revolutionary heroes of the Ten Years’ War, to join him. Together they launched a three-pronged invasion in April of 1895. With bands of exiles, they landed separately, using small boats. The main assault was on the south coast of Oriente Province, where their objective was to take and hold the higher ground. During this maneuver Martí was directed by the commanding officer General Máximo Gómez to remain with the rearguard, since he would be much more useful to the revolution alive than dead. However Martí, exercising his usual exuberance, took the lead and was instantly killed during one of the first skirmishes. Thus, he met his death on May 19, 1895, fighting regular Spanish troops at the Battle of Dos Ríos just north of Santiago de Cuba, at the relatively young age of 42.” José Martí remains revered as a hero by the people of Cuba regardless of politics!