Raul Rivero

So I was reading the news yesterday morning (you'd think I was working, but no - that's another story)...anyway, I was reading the news and saw this story about a recently released Cuban dissident poet who was put in jail for his writings against Castro and communisim (see here: http://www.babalublog.com/archives/002367.html). While imprisoned, he was only allowed to write love poems, which he had to submit to the guard so that they could be censored before Rivero could give the poems to his wife (who he only got to see once every three months). Here's one of those poems, called "Nothing?":

Where I used to dwell
in my autumn, with my rags
and I say dwelled
because I felt alive
inside there as never before.

Where I used to inhabit
tremulous, subtle
and I was recognized
by my sinewsand my veins
and by the air
that traveled in and out
your lungs.

There, down in your blood
streamand within your thoughts
that host now
another guest,
is there not left a remnant of sorrow?
not even some ashes?

Here's one (not written in prison) called "High Fidelity":

They'll be free from the gramophone's pain,
its torture from the rub and the needles.
Chaste, they'll not know the sin
of singing a capella while hungry
caught between the farce and the fair.

The men who stay at home
humming soft melodies
will acquire wisdom.

A fortunate life, serene happiness
will be theirs and their children's.

As light as ash. As clear as eternity.

So that's it...Now he lives in Miami (I think). Anyway, I like them - the poems...Rivero is also quoted as saying this about going to prison: "I was afraid of my own fear. I was afraid of not being able to stand it. Everything is programmed to undo you as a human being." I'll admit, it's a bit cynical, but ensightfull in it's own right I suppose. Especially knowing who it is that said it, I think it's encouraging.......like he was afraid, but that didn't change him, didn't stop him from doing what he believed in...believed was right....hmm, isn't that the definition of courage?