THUNDER
high up the mountains of Cuba.
Sweat rolls.
Eyes squint.
Under the
hot dry
sun.
Da.
Wondering
what city
lay beyond?
Habana?
Santiago?
Cienfuegos?
Pina Del Rio?
Da.
Do I hear
cracked ruins?
Suddenly crashing?
Bursting in the
violent air?
Sweat rolls.
Eyes squint.
Under the
hot dry
sun.
Da.
Wondering
what city
lay beyond?
Habana?
Santiago?
Cienfuegos?
Pina Del Rio?
Da.
Do I hear
cracked ruins?
Suddenly crashing?
Bursting in the
violent air?
No.
No se.
Don’t you know?
Mati says.
The voice of thunder?
It must be thunder.
The sun is making
you crazy.
Quietly
Don’t you know?
Mati says.
The voice of thunder?
It must be thunder.
The sun is making
you crazy.
Quietly
we walked
the parched streets
to a crumbling
village school.
Da.
Ask how we can help.
Mati draws back her long black hair.
Tight. Picks up a tiny naked child.
Mere skin and bones. Crying.
Reaching desperately for a breast.
She rocks him asleep in her arms.
the parched streets
to a crumbling
village school.
Da.
Ask how we can help.
Mati draws back her long black hair.
Tight. Picks up a tiny naked child.
Mere skin and bones. Crying.
Reaching desperately for a breast.
She rocks him asleep in her arms.
The locals smile.
Reach for
my camera.
David!
Matilde!
Show us
your baby.
my camera.
David!
Matilde!
Show us
your baby.
Da.
Lightening flashes.
Da.
We look up.
No clouds.
No rain.
Unreal.
Hand him back.
Continuing on our way.
Under the unforgiving sun.
Under the unforgiving sun.
Mati, who walks beside us?
Who walks ahead?
I count only los dos.
The two of us.
You and I.
Together.
Si sez she.
Que?
What?
What did you say?
Que tienes?
It’s loco.
What did you say?
Que tienes?
It’s loco.
Da da da
Whats happening here?
Da da da da da
What’s that murmur?
That sad lament?
Da.
Da.
Watch your step.
The cracked dry earth.
Da.
I don’t know. No se.
It must be
Hey, where’s the sun?
Lightening flashes.
Black clouds.
A damp gust.
Is that a drop
of rain?
Da Da Da Da Da Da
Drip
Drop
Drip
Drop
Drip
Drop
Da?
Giving water?
Giving life?
Dripping
Dropping
on the rocks?
From over mountains?
From over mountains?
From Beyond?
No. No. Says Mati.
There’s no hope here.
No hope of rain.
Just dark clouds
that's all.
Dark clouds
Thunder.
Lightening.
No rain.
No hope of rain.
Just dark clouds
that's all.
Dark clouds
Thunder.
Lightening.
No rain.
Si. I know
No hope.
There’s
no hope
at all.
Remember the sun?
Who’s child was he?
Que?
Que?
but
He
needed
help
andHe
needed
help
you
gave
it to
him.
Small comfort.
I wish
somebody
beyond
the mountainsbeyond
the cities
gave a damn.
All I hear
is thunder
Si.
There’s
No hope
of rain
of rain
Da.
Datta.
Dayadhvan.
Damyata.
No hope
for
rain.........................[DTC]