My Santiago

Moving on…

(From Baracoa to Santiago on Tuesday 12 th December 2017)

Today we transcend Baracoa,

Through a surreal mountain forest,

Trees stripped of leaves,

Remote huts, ingenious water pumps

And horse drawn carts.

We reach the Guantanamo look out,

And climb to view the infamous base

Through second - hand binoculars,

And barely glimpse – the harbour,

The stand-off between the US and Cuba;

Curious, complex, unjust, never-ending!

As we try and capture this slice of history,

I hear the frustration in a nation’s voice,

The impotent anger of all Cubans.

We arrive at Santiago de Cuba,

This city of a million,

Cradle of the revolution,

Stopping to photograph a General

Leading his men,

Horse rearing on back legs;

Symbolism for brave death in battle.

And then into Historic Santiago,

Where we are allocated Casas,

Ours being Yellow and splendid this time.