A Song on the End of the Cuban Revolution
1999; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 22; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/cal.1999.0199
ISSN1080-6512
Autores Tópico(s)Cuban History and Society
ResumoA Song on the End of the Cuban RevolutionAfter Czeslaw Milosz Virgil Suárez (bio) On the day Castro dies or flees the zun zun hovers by the hibiscus flower, the Russian boats on the harbor, those that remain, sink to become reefs; delighted, the manatee and cayman return, the tomeguines and rainbow bunting nest in peace, and the lizard will cease to change colors. On the day of the end of the Cuban Revolution, men, women and children gather in the fields, in the city streets, under the fallen propaganda, torn banners and posters, the guajiros play their decimas on their guitars. The son returns to the island, the maniceros resume their chants. The laughter of the maracas and the calling of the tumba drums rises above all clatter and human waking. And those here and there who expect thunder and the storm of vendettas are disappointed. And those who expected bloodshed are disappointed. I do not believe it is occurring now. As long as the cane and tobacco are in the fields, as long as the Cuban parrots are nesting, as long as children suckle everyone wants to believe it is happening now. Only an ash-haired babalao, prophet soothsayer, never too busy to read his cowry shells repeats and translates what all those sounds he is hearing mean: There will be no better change in the world. There will be no better change in the world. Virgil Suárez Virgil Suárez, who was born in Cuba, is author of Spared Angola: Memories From a Cuban-American Childhood, a memoir and a collection of poems. He is also author of a collection of short stories, Welcome to the Oasis, and four novels, Latin Jazz, The Cutter, Havana Thursdays, and Going Under. He teaches Creative Writing at FSU. Copyright © 2000 Charles H. Rowell
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