English Translation by Leidy Díaz Hevia, Cuba.
From the unpublished book: Cancers Like Plastic Flowers (2026)
Look at me, Homeland
and take my tears
to wipe away the pain
of your heroes.
Look at the streets
the palms, face down
children without horizons
alienated and in darkness
in front of a cellphone.
Look at me, Homeland
I survive point-blank shots
facing the sun
and without bars in my mind
with my flag in pieces
but on my chest.
Here I am in front of the lighthouse
my only rhetoric
−ours−
only
rhetoric
is to continue being free.
Free
without fear
without feeling embarrassed
for others.
Free
without a Homeland
that burns every afternoon
with great difficulty
in soot-stained homes
without the laughter of before.
Here I am
behind the fence
standing
surrounded by barbed wire
watching the paths
full of lovelessness
without the cowbell
because my freedom
flies over the world map.
English Translation by Leidy Díaz Hevia, Cuba.
Del libro inédito: Cánceres como flores de plástico (2026)
Mírame Patria
y toma mis lágrimas
para enjuagar el dolor
de tus héroes.
Mira las calles
las palmas, bocabajo
los niños sin horizontes
enajenados y a oscuras
frente a un celular.
Mírame Patria
sobrevivo a quemarropas
de frente al sol
y sin barrotes en la mente
con mi bandera en pedazos
pero en el pecho.
Aquí estoy frente al faro
mi única retórica
−nuestra−
única
retórica
es seguir siendo libres.
Libres
sin miedo
sin sentir vergüenza
ajena.
Libres
sin una Patria
que arde cada tarde
a duras penas
en hogares tiznados
sin la risa de antes.
Aquí estoy
detrás de la cerca
de pie
rodeada de alambres
mirando los caminos
llenos de desamor
sin el cencerro
porque mi libertad
vuela sobre el mapamundi.
Yuray Tolentino Hevia (Güira de Melena, Cuba, January 31, 1975).
Poet, screenwriter, curator, art critic and producer. He graduated from the Bachelor of Sociocultural Studies and Art Direction. His work has been published in different magazines, newspapers and poetry and narrative anthologies in Cuba, Spain, Argentina, Francia, Indonesia, Chile, the United States, Italy, Puerto Rico, Alemania, Indonesia, Canadá, Colombia, República Dominicana, and Mexico. He has published seven books.
International Award “Tulliola – Renato Filippelli”, 2020, Italy. Mention of Merit in the III Edition of the International Poetry and Photography Award “Diversità come Ricchezza”, Italy, 2021. VIII Edition of the International Award of Excellence “Ciudad del Galateo-Antonio De Ferrariis”, 2021, Italy. First Prize in Poetry of the International Contest of the Foundation Literary International (Cuba – Holland), 2021. Mention of Merit in the II International Poetry Contest “Poets for Peace and Freedom”, 2021, Italy. Since April 2018, she works at the International Film and Television School (EICTV) of San Antonio de los Baños as a producer.