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;
CHE
Ana Menéndez
Atl¿ntic Monthly
pre ss
,/ Neu, yctrk
¿û¡¡,¡.", .,DU¡.ù.,!,1 r, .;..r,?.J
¡"r,.,r r, rl. rI,,,,,,,r ç,¡,.,,,1 r",,.,,..
lrhDr(
pf.
^1.¡rt,tÌ
'r."
I,,,1:
\\
rirìrì
Whcncr t'r I tr.alcl, I likc to spcnrl thc ìast <lav
of rnv j,ru¡.¡(.1.
in tlrr old Iì,ì¡.1 ¡¡l lorrn. lingt.rin¡ li,. h,,rrr. in jrrnk.r,,r,.*
rrltr.rsc rluslr' shclvcs, no nrattr,t-\\ hcrc in
thc u,or.lrl thcv nrat
l',.,rlu¡rs slcnr t,r J'r.pilc,l high rrill¡ ,,1,ì rrraq.rzinr *.¡¡¡,1
l¡ooks and lcllou,cd photograplì.. I,.,,r, .,r....,,,,iì.
llicr. airrJ
lhis cx( ¿rating into otìtcr. pco¡tlt,s nrcmolit,s ncrr.r. l)riìr
to
s()oth(' nrl, f<:ar.s on thc t.r.c of clcpartur.r,:..[.hr,
¡rhoto-qraplrs
of stlangcr-s, cspccj¡llv, lravc aJ.,^1a,,,. l.,r,,ught ì,," n
fr",.,,t"
¡reatr', rnrì r¡r'cr thc rtars l h¡r.r, amassc.rì a I:rr-gc c,,lìc, ri,,n
of scri()us an<l formal lookinq pcopìc ctught in
thc ca¡l(.r¡ s
rn¡)nr,.rrl.,\1.rnr,ri th, .ulri,.r 1.,,1 th,.",.,,1,i¡rlr,rr,r¡r.rphs.l.r,.
coln(' to Ììcrtice, catrv a gravc sira<lo\{ ¡l¡out thcil-r¡¡\rtìrs.
as if tlrr:r'r¡exr alrcach r-r:sisting thc assct-ti()tl rÌtat
thcsc jt¡agcs rnigbt rcprcs(.llt thcir truc sclr.ts. S¡r¡nr- rrigìrts.
uhcn
thr'.1'1u,. h,rr.is LrÌìint, l ill1{k(.,,r¡j ,,n,.,,1 nrr
'.\
¡rìr,,r,,¡r.r¡,h.
anrl ir.naginc that tìrc str-arrgcr t.iruqlrt tìrcrc iri o iralf.-lirr.g,rti,,l
old aunt. ol.a qr(:at gr.rnclmotìrcr rlho srtrokcrì ci{¡lr-.ltcs
lì-om .r ìonq silvcr hoìdcr. Iìut I knou, tlrat I'm pl;rvinj garrr,r
a
\\,ith historï. F¡,¡r alì nrv ìmagininqs, thcs,: in,ng.*.rriù
rcì,,nin
indilitlual nì\ stcr.ics. nunrbr,,l ancl fìrrr¡tr.r sìlcn,.c,l I,r. t hc
r,,¡rr l', t 11,...¡¡ ¡¡.i.
Anâ l\y'enéndez
Lov in
Somc vcars a{o, I l¡c<:alt.lt: intcrc,stt,rl in tho photograpbs that
cxilt's had takcrl r¡ut ol C'ub¡. II r,r,.r< 1:1¡¡1¡1,rr.r, ¡ fì,un.¡. ,,, ,' 0,,.r,,
thc photos rtr plar:c thcm in albuils, to lrr. takt,n r:rut nou,¡n<ì
compan\'¡rl liicn<ls. I thought I u,ould construct
again in thc
travcling cxhibition of thcsc phrito{ral)hs, and rvas cvcn ablc
to sccurc firnding firr thc
Ill( I r.an into tk:lals an(lr)thcr
a
g
Che
separation--beginning lrom our vcrv birt.h
is tle normal sc
gìcncc of thing,s and to detar:h oncsclf, to lcarn to
m,I,c fi<,clï
ahout the rvorld u jthout longi¡q. ¡,¡ inlcntirr¡,,,,.,k,,, ,,.""rr,,t
patient lcarning; ancl crcn thcn rre mav turn onc
rlav ínrì fìn,l
the years hollou,ing a dark canv<¡n bcneath
us.
¡rr.ojcct.
M.trrr tirn jlit s. I rr¡,. tlism.rtt,l ro 1.,¡rrr, rr,,uì.1 n,,t
qivc up thcir ph(rtographs, not clcn lìrr ¿ fcs. dar.s, Anrl rvhcn.
in a pLrrcly inn<¡tcnt gt:slurc, I agrc<:<l tr_r acccpt thc photo
¡rr','l'11 ¡15.
olcxilt:s vvhr ha<l llcd Biìtisla, m\.prrliti(,al motivations
\\trc fut in qtrcstioD anrl thc cntirc pr,ric<f lcll apart.
I)isillusi¡rn cd , I al¡andorrt'<l ml plans ancl r.amc to intcrprct tìris fètish lirr thc ¡rast a-,. anotht,r ¡rl tl¡<. dcstr\Ìctivc tr.aits
of thc (luban. llfiami sc<rr¡cd t.ì nlc in thosc lears t() l)c lililìg
in rcv:rsc.'l'hcv nam<'<l cvcn thcir storcs altcr thc oncs thev
h¡,1 I,'.t; an¡l rh,.r.rhi¡l r¡rli,r sl¡ri,¡rs, arri(.(ì !h(.s¿t.n(,nùnr(:\
as thc oncs thcv harl listcnc<l to in (-'uba, as il thcv u,r:rc thc
rli¡htìr , r'¡2,"1 s,lr* ,,{ ,r r)r)(r, pronriir(.n1 l.rmilr.. firis ,.nJl,..s
¡rininqlirrlho¡rrst*,.,'lrr,,l f ,, m, .r kiu,l,,l nrr,lrr,,..; c\.(,r\rrn(
lilin¡ in rn ¡rllrrrr,, ril,,l li,'rrr rh,. liring,,rn,l n,,,,n,..1¡r.int
graphs
k) sa\ ir plajnìy.
I wondcr
il
this bar.kl,¡r¡l lookìng r.rl tìrc cxjlc-- thc
('trban onc ìn p;ri'ticuliìr, so htstcrl(.lì ¡n,l casv to (,aricatt¡rc
r',,rrl,l lu.¡n rnti(1,ìtr. l,ì .r r¡,.rr ,rn¡l n,,,.,,r,.rri1,ì, kin,ì ,,1 m.vl
nr¡r.r'
ncss.'lJx' r:xikr, rvhatt'vcr thc cir( umstan(\:s ol'his lcavinq, rnal
rr¡f,,'u¡r,rrrr'ni¡ltt. ,rs.r lr¡rll.r in .lr rlrrl¿l¡rili¡l .,,,,n,, a,.,,1
rr',rn¡lcr u lrt'rc il i\ hc nìav sct (l()\^ n hi:^ li,ct. in u,ha1 <lirc<tion
ìics thc dor¡ lrr u,hir.lr Írc cn1.,.r-,'ri. l),:rìr¡Ps tìris tr¿uma ol
Of my olvn origins, I knou, Iittle, I u,as raiscd ll,
mv gran<ìfather in a u,estern suburb olMiami in a smalÌ
h_lr"ihì, .un*
almost indistinguìshablc lrom tlc othcr hr¡usr:s
on the st.cct.
Everv morning hc rvalke d me to school
ancì cvt r.v aftr:rnoon
uc rt turnc¡l. homt' toqn þc¡. \\'ht,n hc spr)k(.il \;.rs
t.) l,,int
out a particular tÌ-Þc ol tce that hc wante<l
mc to knr:rvt about,
or the name of a flovvcr that w
o"n:l r!" evcninss,
Ï,ïiil.ö.i,î'ä;:::i
he .,r,ouu
rc'ad for hours in sjlence. Aftcr, rvhen I
had gon., to br:d, nrv
grandfäther rvoul<ì turn on thc shortn,ave rarlìo
hc kept insiclc
the cupboard. Everv night, I <lrificd to.1".p
li*t".,lng t,r.tn_
tions coming in ancl out of tunc, tlrc p,:orliann4tìne
pun.tuatcd norv and tlen bv a low hurr-..Ì bullctin
in Spanish or
the scratching notes .rl a danztln plavtxì out oveÌ.rìistan<.r-s
I
could not vct lathom.
In my grandfathc'r's housc thert, r,r,as no tclcvision
s<:t. no
m^agaz-incs, no photographs, onlv books
anrl the c¡uict turning
,,f'¡rages. ( )f mr parr.nts, as uf nrost r_hinqs.
h,,
llrr l,.. ì
greu,up rvith the undr:rstanding that mv fàthcr"¡r"k"
hacl h<,en in
priso¡. ¿¡¡l had ,li.'d thcrc. ¿n,l tlr¿r in Á"r
{ricl.rrn rn,rrhcr
had sent r¡c awav. If I askcd ml grandfätht rìn.,
qucstions ot.
Ana Mcnéndcz
Loving Che
hclrr'ìrr.n I u,as a r:hilcì, Ihart ljrtlc nr(,m()rl of it. perhaps I
scnsc.l ;rlrcady thal slrt harl becn parl ol'somc grcat clisappoint_
mcnt, that shc l,r,as o¡c ol tlrc rnanv thines of'the past that it
u,¡s l¡cst nr'¡t to s¡:rr:rk about, It is truc, also, that f<rr thc
vc:ars
,'l nrr thil,lh,,c,rl,rnr.gr.rnrìlitlrrrrorr¡rri.,.,lthcrrh.,lc,,l
rh,,
t,or-l<l I k¡rcrv.Ycf sonrclrovr,, in spitc of tìrcsc ì.¡uric<ì solr<lrvs,
hc harl m ana¡crl tr) gilc mc ¡n uncvr:nt fìì, cvt:n plcasant
chilclhoorì; arrrì rvhat I l.cm<,mbur m()s1 Ììo\., arc t}ìc ordinar!
nrrrkinqs,,l tr,,rrinq u¡r: spÌ.rshinq irr,r
p,,,,1 uirh rh,.
¡l.rsri<
nciqhborhood kids, rn1 Catholir.sdrool unil'crrm anrl thc com
lorl olbr:ìng part r:f a group that aqreccl on important things.
Pcrha¡rs mv grandfathr:r, u'ith his privatc rnt:¡nr¡rics of ,ur-,i1,
had rcl orit 1¡r givr¡ rnc a blancl anrl o¡.rlinarr,ìifè; or
pcrhaps
that is thc lilc that cor¡cs t¡r thosr: u,ìro 1.,0r," .tnpp"iì ,t..,q_
glinq to rrrakc' scnsc of things.
-l'hc
tjmc r:anrc, h,lvcvcr; r¡,ht n lrv gr.an<ll'athcr's silcnct
about nrv motht'r no longcr satislì<,<l n,.,. À. u gìrl I ha<ì alrcaclv
begun io sensr. a voicl bc,hincl nic, an<.l ¿s I gl.c.u, <¡ldr:r I btc¡nrc morc an<ì mor<'
¡rreoccu¡.ricr I rr.ith thc blank s1¡acr: rvhcrc
m_v ¡lo1hr:r' shoulrl havc bccn. As I passcrì into
m1, arìolcsccncc,
I s¡rcnt ntorc an<ì m<.1-c timc thinking about hcr, ancl in cach
ima.qirring shcr grcu' morc bcautifìì, mor't. t xciting, r¡or.c cljl-
ft'tcnt ñ-'rlrr thc u'oman I
-l-hc
nr1,sqlJ ,roo, bt:comin.q.
casv
rch,.r- sl, )\1 lr crmc
t,r lrr ,'r', r.1;rirl rr.jllr liusrr,¡ri,rn ¡n<l ,lj.rr.usr.l-h, rrrr,¡ç q¡,,.
tions llrarl fìrr hirn, thc mol-t,hc st:cmc<l to rctrcat into thc
qLrilt oi'hìs l',¡,rks.Whcn I askcrì l.rinr on<,c u.þ1, hc tlicln,t harrr
.¡rc, 1.
l
h' l',r',, I ln,l
sh.rrr-,1 r¡ it Ìr
mr ¡r.anrll,rr
enc photograph of mv mothr:r that hc
coulrl shoq,me. hc
sp,,n,lc,l, sim¡lr. lhat *ht, had nt,r"r.tir.¡,n
r-,,
him ,,nc.
()r¡r di*,rqrc,.mcnls alrr.¡rs
m,rnaqcrl t,r skirt thc ctlq,,.,,l
,rur ì,'¡r-.1¡¡¡çr, horu,-r."r, an¡l J loun<l
Ir.r¡l,l nt.r.,,r
lì¡'en aftcr I enrolled at the unilersitv
I."r"Ìl,i,n.
Irvould return homc
everv Saturdav to sit \,\,ith him for lunch.
Somctimcs, u,hen
the weather rvas good, hc retreated to
the por.ch oltcr thc mt aÌ
tr.¡ smokc a cigar. C)nc dav, instcad
of <loinp thc dl.hes fìr.t o*
\ras m\',(rlslom. ldcci¡k,lto joìn lrirn
right avrn,. I s¡t bcsirlc
him anrì aftcr a nroment rler.idr.ri to h..ìp rnns"li
t,, a r.igar as
well. M1. grandfathcr's evc-. u,ide ncd
,,r'rllghtl , I.,.,.
ì
-,,"u.'r
ment, but he remaincd silcnt I sat still,
lookiig out i,rt,, th.,
vard. After- a lcw nìinutcs, hc pu1 or¡t
his c,igar'ancl I did thc
sane. A bircl callccl and thcn u,as
gonc. Somi,thing rrrstle<l in
tìre glass. It had rainc<l that mornin¡ anrì
thc brizc carri,,*l
nou tht.r¡,ri.t t.arth smr,ìl that lcminds us rve
step on li'ing
grou.<Ì.
I beqan bv tclling him about r¡r, classcs.
I_lc askcd nrc a lcrv
<¡uestions about u,hat I was rcarling
[{e listcned anrì thcn s¡irì,
For lit<'raturc thcr.cl¡,a. no une iik. thc
Russians, nor: cr,¿-,n
Onlv tlc lì,ussians, rnv grandfathcr said, undc¡
sto,rrì lhat a nìJn (ann.ìl thrng,.bis
n¡lurr,. lLrokcrì ,ìt hitn. I,ut
he (ìi(ìn't turn tô mc. \r, onc çhoul,ln.l (.\cn
trl., I s¡irl. M\' thr,rar
I'urn",l, ¡itd thc disr',rmlort ,,1 it plrh¡ps Ìcnt
mu u,,¡,.,. ¡¡ ,,¡
nolance I hadn t_meant,,\4r' granrllattrcr slrrugg".l.
.¡u.t n..,r¡,r.
I continuc<l.Witb this hc turned to mc
and saicl, l,r:r., rofì1r,.ìi.,u
havc no righl to bc angrv at rnc. A.t t,h¡i
thcn? I sai<i, trrrn¡¡ t.,
Shakespcare.
Ana N4eninde/
ktr.¡r rnr',r'r,itr.,.r¡rr.rlìv 1,,s.
Mr !r.rn,jlitl¡cr rli,ln.r rcsÞon,l,
I
,'inr t (tn,l,.rsl.rnrl. l:..ri,ì
sl,,rrìr. lr,,r, 1.,,u,.,,u,,,hu",..qo,j.
t1t,..,.
vr.l{ ,tith¡,t¡1 lr\irU:r,,q(.1 in trìu(.1ì \ritlì
t,,.,. f p"rìa. Ilì,ntì.
l,,r'nr, . Mr qr,rn,lf,¡11,.¡ rlirln't
movl un,l I ..,,n1¡nu,,¿, l'u.¡jno
n,,r* t,, lìÌl rrp tlrr.parrst.s: I rl.¡.1
.r.,;;r;";,,.T
¡¡rl¡¡.s¡.¡¡¡¡J
h""
onr: pht.rtograph, n()t onc ìctlct;
not onc do<r¡mcnt. Éor oll I
I h¡rr' l,r.cn r.¡ist.rl irr .r lir. rrh¡1..s
t¡, k,,,p _.
r',u di,ln\ ki,lr,r,, ,r.,,,.,,r r.r.r.n
th,rl ,,,,,.r,.Jr,,,
[¡rtr.r:\\'irh
"
rhis t.r*r. r kn.u r ha, I pus¡,.,1
lrr,ì,
f
k.,,,",
,,,,n-;;r;ir;
.''ll"n'r
r.l"i*
;, iiaìll,l"rï
",,
"-l'],.. n,, gron,lt,rrr.r ..,i, 1, v,u.,,
i,,,;n'.;;:,
,lil :: :
"n,
l,rr')rrìel-llìlrs. lhis i\ !ruth tr¡ v¡rul I ,li,llr,t ln.wcr
I hcartl mr
qrandlàtl.r shi[t in his ,,hair,
an,l thcn u,c .*,cre ,f
l:*
;r.r.ü;'ì
turnccì to hinr, I s¡u. that his
ha n<l sh,xrk u,hcrc ht, hacl
lrrought
it tô
his.lìcck.
Ì,,n¡
rrhiL,, rrrl gr.,rrr,llìth,.r s¿i,1. \4ì,
ha,l ¿ It.m,,n
ln,r
.rrr.r'rì¡
th| ú)ut.t\trrl,,f
,r
,,rlr h('us,.. { sln.rll tr,.r. r1.c qrr,\r
;l ih
p¡,'. ltul ir q.rv.¡,,"1 li.uir. M.hcn .ilrc rr.rs
¡ liitl,, ;irl. r,r,;;
m{'1lr'ru\'rlt,ìpi(kt}ì,. l(.nì,rns,ìrì¡J(,,.',,¡,,,",r,.l,r.,,L,i,,i"
l,ìr"', !1r .{r.rn,l{alh(.r- p.ruj\(rl. Frr.n
tl¡r.n .,n,
.ì
snr',tì(t rrtr¿r slrt'
'llar
,rr..t...,
q.rnlt1l.ll¡,.¡.llirrt
i."",,n,,
u'rlr¡l,ltr!j.t hr.l-littlc
but still shc rvouìcl hitc into
it. Mv grandlàrhcr lookccl at
ln, . I Jir ,.r.¡,\ lurrr,,l ,l,rrr n, l,ur
h,. ,n.,na{n,l a smji,. rhar ,lccJ
, ri,.,ì rlrt ìincs in bi,, l,¡,1..
l.l1¡.¡¡ h,. I,.,rn,.il,.r, k ,¡, ir,_.i",.
I, l ¡,ut .r \j!lì flìi\ r.rin r.r
iÌÌ lr,.g,u"l j,rr tlrr li.r's, t,.rr,,t. "r1,,
¡n".
;r nrinut¡., I s¡j,1, \\,hvl
I sairl it s¡r
fà<r,,
r-,r
,i,',., i;ji^',il" i ii,::;ìiiiÏ]
thL \ri),xl( . ,r¡.ms ¡,1 hir ,.h,rir.. fr,
in,l,f fri'¡,..lf f:"¡. ìi,ì.
i:ïi::ï:ïH:
'',..
¡tainst
f
sìr<ìinq gìass rìr,,¡-
ìxìrin,l nrc.o¡rcncd and shut.
Lovr¡q 6¡o
'l ht.sh¡,1.,r,,.s
lcnsth,.nc,IalrrIth,.u slrr,,r,I I l¡.,
¿rnr .¡rrt¡,
gradrralh,,{ music,,¡¡inq
liom rht. sh,,r-trr.rr,.,,,.,i ;
;,.;,,
,i,..;,; ' "'*
anotl¡¡,.r.,. ¡rn. ¡n,i thcrr nn.,th"r,.rll ,r,;"r;
,,ì.ì;:ì :;i
whisper I had^ scarcclr. nro'ccl,
For
",-".',..".r. ;';;ìì ;,]:;
¡q ¿rc in mr.s.lI of
nizt.rj rhc sa,l r.,,itr.,,f
li,ñil" \, t,¿
r,t.h,.n
¡ st ì.rnec d(.1¿( hm,.nr ¡lr airn ¡,,r.n,.*.,. .,
,
i,
dn n.,rhins, n.,.t n,,,¡,nn
^ì,,
;
;,,, ;;
i-ll:1.,,,,11'-.,,",]
\m¿ll rl¡stl, in th,.¡rlss. r,r.,,¡¡,
l¡l¡,,¡,.,¡ .,,, ,,,,.p.
I sat our on.the porch un,il
it ,n,urr ulmost J¡rk.,fhc sli.l.
ìng door opcncd again bchiutl
mt: and I turncd. In f,,, fì"",ir,
m! gr,rndlathcr carl.icrl .r \1r)rn
lìr(!(.c ,,1 lcì1,n. ,,,,,...
It h,¡rl I,ccn hcr i,lc,r. hr. saj¡l
alìcr 1,. ¡",1 .,",it"]l ¡n,,, l,i_
.
chair. I tlidn't want to takc you
a!\aï iiom ht:r. IJrrt shc insistcd._She said sht, u antcd
r,'u ¡rut ofithc counrn.. ilì
g;:,,;i
lathcr lit thc smalì candlc bcry
urrcn h<.s¡r r¡.,rk. ;:i;li,':;,j];:Il
ïl::,,;;;:::
;lili,
îl,r
rrenln(l htÌn. l-or.r,c¿rs. J t|ictÌ
i
;,,i.':,:
r,* i,.,r,i
ì""ä i: il:i:: ïi iî,lli,lìJl;l i î.il
"",
'r.ou no\,\, it's
onìr, bccausc, she nc¡,tr- rcspon<lcrl.
Sor¡c vcars
ago, mv gr-anrì{äthcr r:ontinucd
aftcr
¡ ntomcltt, I
n
fr.i.n,l r.r'h,' \Ä.ìs tratc¡ing 1,,Il¡r,rn.r
1,, t,rk,. ll,.r,r ".k.,;
k,ri,.
Jr,r,
Mr granr Jlathr.r t u.,r...,l r,, .n.. S,,rn,, rlr¡rr
int]sr',,,, t,.l,l,r,"i.
arrrl rcs.,¡ sr honl
¡rþ,,1¡,s¡¡¡,1,,,r ..;;u ;,;; -, ;,.;,;:1
",':; lll:,::.
no r()unrt th(. h,usc fillc,i rr ilh
ljrr. ,li[lr.r.t.nt l.r,rrili,.r. l"r,.,ì
had vanishc<J.
Mv grandläticr ancl I sat. In
sang, foll,ru,cd bv thc sor¡nd
Shc-
sjlcncc, a fàr ofl.crjckct
ìrr.czc ,-,r,,,,g f,l,'"'ìì)..
'l.thc
hcrs<if had arrangod thints.
hc (.(ìrìtinu(,(1.,"'ì,
{h¡,.
","",r,11'_
l
4¡¡ N4^nón(iez
Lov¡nÉ Che
¡l¡c rr¡rulrl join us.
Ml
grancìfatÌrcr sighcd and lìngerecl
onc ol-
th. r:,ìg.s .l thc pr¡cr in ìris hancls. Ilr tìc canrìlcÌigñt
h" ,;;;;
,,1,,1, r'rìr¡n , r,.r.,
slr¡,1,,rr. {.xrqf¡(,r.ì, int his I,onr lìnq,,rr,
high
lrt'lìrrnt th{ lr-.r!rlr l.rl'rir ,rf th¡ skin ,,rcr
his knu, 11",,. Wlì.."
I a¡rplic,ì tr, lr:¡r,,r thc corrntrr,. hr: <:ontinuc<ì,
tt. g.ru"an-"nt
t¡r¡¡k nl'housc. I (till lìa(l to ¡,r,ait lor
our vir". I hil n,r.h,,;..1
ììr¡l r, ¡r¡,,\', irrrrirhh,.r..intr,1fu.l¡¡¡1.,.lh.rrlgir,.nlr¡rAtnishr
'
I ','¡¡l,l lr, .rr tr)l¡ ( r\ir¡f. \,rmc niqhls. r.r¡u
r.ricrl
niChf lìnn
"ll
rrirìr,rrrt .t,r¡rpirrq. l,l,,rr'r kn.r¡ ilrlrt. l,lli
r,,u ,r.¡,"r,. u,i *"r,ì
ot- il ¡,¡¡ ,r.¡,-,1 in hcr arms; I ¡cvçr ]cfi
au a,r.rnl. ft *." O"
rc¡rì.,cr, hc sairl..l'hc rla¡,
¡.r,c wcr<, trr 11,¿1,q,'sþç br.ought
vou to
u,ra¡rpcrì irr st.r,cr¡l blankcts. Shc l.rjrl
vou on thc bád antì
],,u qli,ln t nrt¡r:. .. rafpr.l up likc: a littlc moth, Lrig
ìouk
irìi' ¡,r,¡t ,,\¡.r 1h..r,,,.1¡r, rr,slitì! n.,\1 ¡n,ltìr,.n,,n ".r,"r;
I hcl¡l the notc in
rlor,,,n
ml hands {ìrr a long u,hilc. Irinaìlr I hcnl
to rcad bu thc,."ilo*, light of rhc;an(lle.
l:o¡et¡,ell, hu ,tott tr.ill bc
$'ith mc,
,yoú '¡.r//.ro ¡.iròìn
a drcp ol hlool circ.tlotine in m), t eins
l rearl thc lincs sevt'ral tìmes And thcn I reloltìc<J thc
¡r;rpcr.
and sat looking out into thc rìarkcntd varrl until ,r.,.,,,¡.n,l.l
f¿thcr r,r.¡. sarinq tlral thc rlamp rri,1¡hr r*,rul,l ,1,, u. lr.¡.rn.
lr,',
\\.ì\,)ltrìrì\t .ì\ il \',lr \1r,r(. l¿kin{l inri.ntorr.
ìn.,hic,.r;
ir
Shc gavc mC.r ìrao
'rl ¡, r¡¡¡ 1111¡11 s,,rnr r lothr,s. lr, ¡tr l,.r, rn, í rh,, hr,,*n l,""r tbì
r',ru lost onr'
_1,r,¡r-at thc läit. Rr:l¡cmÌrcr hr¡r¡, vouìì cri.xl? An,ì
I_t¡rlrl
r¡.a( rr.llrint, th¡t *,c *,.uld gct
it
',,r¡r
vou anotherc,nc,
lì¡1 r'¡ru c,lr inr.rginc rtlrat l, kro, fclt.
\,1r'1'r¡¡¡1lli1111¡¡ op<.:ncd
thc papcr in ìris hancls. I had rc:r'l,r\i rì r,,Ut lrì,'l¡1,.t,.,'m,,$h,.r,.,rl,,nq th(.\.1t\..
¡lul it \r,ìsr,r
rrìttil \\'(. iìt-r.i\(,.ì i¡t À4i¡n¡i tlrat I rrotic.ccl
that votrr mother ha<ì
¡rinncrl a Dr)t(' lr ) ,\,(ìur srvcal cr. I thrcvl it arva1, immcd jatcìr.,
', irìr,'ur r', ,r,ljl. ir \n,l th,,¡r rh,ìt nitht. I l,,,,k ir .,ur
.,l tl.,.i
'".rslr. I rr.l. n, \,.rrr)itì t,r sh,,r.r jt t,, r.,,,,.1,,r.r, is lhc ust,,rf
l<,.c¡rinq rl1¡s1'.rl¡1¡r¡-si
Ml granrlfàtl,,r. s'mt,.,th<,,1 th" p0p..,r.,t
it lo m¡. q,ith thc same ,hnklrlg ha.,,l t
,rn hr. l¿rp ¡nql lrancjcrl
Irari
r¡.,1 j¡1,1
|
1'.¡-1¡",-.
A [cr¡'mondrs latcr., I droppecl out olcollc¡<_, an<ì bcgan t¡r tr¡r.<,]_
C)rrc rvin,{r' f)eccn rl'er dlr. I ,lr.,r'c u¡r I hc r r r.rst t, , S,,l.,ast i.rn lrrl,.r
.
I stopptxl at a small hotel and l¡ccamc its onlv grest..l-hc lìrs1
mrtrning, I took a magazine tri thc bcach ancl s.rt out all rlar.
rr rappcd in a hl¿nkct. listcninq r,, llrr. rr¡r,.s. \4 ìr,,rr r1,,. .,rn
began to set, a lìock of scaqulls r-osc aqainst thc <ìccpcrrìnq skr.
likc ¿ hr¡n,lr,,l ('\'cninq \t,ars ¡n¡l I s¡! an,ì r,r.rt<Jl,.rl rhr.r¡ rrrrlil
night li:ll.
As the months anrl th<:n lcars passccl, I t¡.avclcrl fär-thcr
¿n<l
u'icler, m¡.' rlcsirc to kccp rro"ing aln,avs rlrt¡racinq mr.snr¡ìl
tcrrnt' of plancs, mv lcar of lcaving. I vr'¡5 ¡¡1 In<lia rr h<:n I got
rrord th¡t nr\ grrn(ll¡lhcr ha,l ,li,.rì. Ir tn,,k ¡rr, tlrrL.r.,ì.ns r,,
gcl h.r, k tr' Vi¡mi. hl qhi,.h tjru,. I h,r¡l nri*s,,ì lh,. tt¡n,.r.,11. l
stalcd lr,ith lricnds fì¡.a I't'ç davs l¡cli¡rt rcturnjnq i¡r rrrr
gran(llàthq''s housc to \or1 through his things. Thc tìir nitt1r
¡ì,rnc in tht. h,'u., . ¡ rl un¡lrl, t¡, lìghr rlrr. li.,.ling th,ìl .ì! ir¡\
".
.Ana Menónde7
Loving Che
n'rinlrlc lìc \{r)rìld turn a c()rncr an(ì wavc in thc
shv mannc¡
lr¡,1. lhr. h,'rrr,. \*.¡s fillcrl rritlr ¡ ncu si¡.nt. rhat.c.m",l
1o muffic cvcn t].ìy attcrnpt to nlout.n. Llnabìc
to slccp, I sat
up all niqht in his chair. l:arlìng onc ofhis books
on thclgrorv_
ing ancl carr. of lcrns.
lr.
Shortlv at'lcr, I madc m\ lìrsr trip to Cuba. Whcn
I lanclcd
and sau,thc ca¡ìtal ìrv thr rcd Ììght ofsunstt, I
kncu, I harì r.e
Ittrtrrrl t,r lin,l rlrr r¡,,thcr. I t,u,k
r.,,,-
at thc l-lah,rn¡ Lihrc
"
an<l spcnl dar,s u,alking mv grandlàtho.'s olrì
ncighborhood_,
knocking on d,xrr.s, u,avìng tir u,omcn in thejr balconies,
recit_
in¡ to anvonc rvlro miqht listcn thc namc ol.mv mother ancl
tht:
thr,.,. lirr, s th.rt ucrl m\ onlv (r,nn(,(.tion t,,
ulr,..r,. l harl rrrnlr.
fì'om. I naclc scvcral rnorc trips, r:ach as unsucr:c,ssful
as thc last.
And tho rgh I mct manv pt oplt, an<ì passt d out nrv address
to
anvonc I thought might havc knor,,,n rnv par.cnLs, I \a,aitcd
in
vain
lìrr rvor<l L:r,cntualh., I sto¡r¡rcd travelinq to Havana. thc trip_s
It'aving mc mor.c ¿nrl mort, cxhaustecl, not onlv from
thc unL( rl¡irìt\ lìr¡1 llnnr llrt.s.lrln,,s* thal It.¡mc to
un,l"r.t¡n¡l m,,rc
dcarìy r'r'ith t'a<'h visit. Ìlar.ana, sr¡ lovcìv at fìrst glance,
was
rcalìv a <:itv ¡rl <lashcd hopcs, and cvcrrvhcrc I *,alkìd I *a.
¡c_
mindcrl that aìì in ìil¡ tcnds to dccav an<l rlcstrurtion.
placc
l
ithout thc complìc:ations that human br:ings
tcnrì to
intt'(xÌuce.
I
t¡avclr:d
bv mvscll'and rcturnccl homc alone an<ì
aftcr
u'hile dccidcd that the uncasc that hatl scttlc<l
o.,,,l. _"
v,ould fade r¡,ith time, Onc altcrnoon, r¡,hcn
I had arrivcd
a
m¡,hou,sc after wr:cks arvav, I fbund a
¡rackage lvoitlrg L,r
I v'ould havc let it rcmajn unopenccl f't,r ànothcr
.îr
a1
-.:.
ha,l I
rrr)l n{'ti( (.(ì that it h,r,l ìrct.n Ii,rrv¡rrlr,rl
Ji,rm rn ,,l,l ,r,ldr...*
Bcar'h rr hr.rt t ha,t iile,t tor ¿ rir¡c ,trrrirrg
m.r rrip<
l: ìll;ìîl
Thc package, rvhich
ha<ì becn postmarkc<l in Spain u,ith_
out a rcturn, rvas sccurccì vcrv carefulll, antl
it u,as clear that
somconc had hkcn g¡eat carc to pt.otcct
ìts Çontcnts. Thc trox
itsclfv'as flat and rcclangular an<ì u,rappc<l
in a tlick tnp.,. Eu,,n
so, its edges rverc sofi and dark from wcar
I turnccl thc box
,
cr sclt.ral timcs, t r-vinq t( ) lìn¡ I rvht,rc I
't
hc .trip ,rf I apr. I,r.,.1¡1
I ll,rrrghr I ha,ì f,rund it on rlr, ìrat.k. I,ur
f ,ri.a ,,,"f",
",h,.n
mv nail unclcr it, I sau,tlat it rvas onlv a crease
jn th. *åpAfter
some
timc of this turning antì turning ol.thc b,rl,
¡ring.
I st, u¡ ì ¡nd wcnt l-or a knilc ¡n,l
gar.,. thc rr¡<. .r g,,iìlk ,.rr . W.l,,.n
I pullctl, tht tap,.pcclcrl ,,ffcL.¡niv an,lqui,
klv, ¿lm,rsr ¡s il ir
ha,l h,.,.n nl',,nc piecc. B,.ncarh rh,.trpc, rhirr
r,,n,*
*.r0,,o,,,1
I rcttlcd in a sr¡¿ll l¡cach 1ov,¡r nortb of Miami, supporting
m_¡'sclf hr. rrriting shor.t arti<.ìcs abont thc
¡:lac<,s i .,rrir.¿.
I lì¡u¡,1 1l¿1 it l'as possibtc lo vvrjtc aìrr.lut ¡r citv vvjtlrout
havinq to t¡lk to a¡vonc. Ancl I cvcu r.amc tr¡ bcìierle that
thjs
\\';ìs a mor('hon<'st l'av to.n,ork, cafturing thc
puritv of
lror, inrlcnling rhc,.dgcs. I rricrl lo
1r''un,l 1]rt
i,,tt ,t ..rrr',,tt
l>ut lìnalìr' thcsc, too, I had ro cut. I hclrl
thc lrarc t,ox in nr.,.,
hands nou,, th<- surfacc gr:rnc luz_zl vrhcrc
the tnp" h",l pull,,il
¡\ir\. Jt \1,r\ rìot \'('rr hcJ\r t,r it. sizr.. Irh,,6l ¡1. 1,,1¡,¡r.,.
r,rttlrvì. nntlrin¡ shift,.d. l m,,r.,.r{ t,, o¡rr.¡ it.lr¡t
-..' lì,,1,.,ì
tl cntbìr:rì on the box, Ihad to sto¡t Lhcn
ancl ,,Ì.a,,n.,r',,,,,,.-..
^na
\4e¡éndcZ
¡fìcr I hlrì rr.gnirrctì nr1, l)ca(.c, I
¡rccìcrì at onc ¡¡f flc sirlcs
jth rrtl fì¡-.{cl-n¡riì r¡nlil thc t¡Jr
c.al¡r, loosc.
¡D(l
',n
? ,+5!.ãç1Fl,æi 4ñç', e ã'*ç
'l'ht:
¡raper.s rnrl ¡.rhotogra¡rhs that spiJìr:rì ,rut snrcllsl of <lal-k
rlravlcrs ar¡rl rlustr r¡rol¡.rs_ \¡¡l.nc lì,ìl .r¡rarl u,hcn
I rr¡uchctl
th¡'tl. Sornc ol thc ìctlcrs r¡, crt- ¡,rittc¡t ilt sr¡<,h a smalì h¡nrl
th¿f i1 \r,a¡' ¡s il thr, ¡.¡itcr !r,cr<, u Itìs¡ttrinq s(,crcls
into mÌ
,.rr llr,'¡',"1. jrl Iìr\t. rh,ìt l.,r .rrr¡ntint rlr,.n.rt,.s,rnrl r,.rr,ll,.,.
tions in sr¡r¡¡. sor-t of ollcr. l irìght bc ablc to ¡n¿kc sc¡15ç
ol.
1ìrcr¡. IÌut on catìr rcrt:arling I lì¡unrl rnlsc Il.<ìr.au,n <ìcepcr.rnrl
cìc'r'pcr. untiì I lì'arcrl I mighl losc. rnvscll- amonq
th<l ¡ragc.,
might (lrrì\1 n in a rlr-o¡r of mr, ,r.r¡.n l.loocl.
i ¡u\t't nlc rffttrfrñ ût,, pinlit,l,
l
o,iro¡,¡
,,,/" gu,i/.rn ,.,,.r, r,tto.
¡- titrT ,^\r. h.n,!¡¡,r ,ì¡
flt r,t.,,\
J¡
!,,.r)r,..
t¡¡,.m,,r,.¡.
Ana Mq¡¡1 n¡at
Loving Chp
ñÞ
()nt'rl¿r'. u.hcn Ilr¡¡l irlrca<ì_r grrxln
cilrl u.ilh thc rcvolLrtion. a urr¡n¡n ( atrlc to r.nv tlo¡tr.rnrl askcrl to scc tlrc ìach,
,,1 ¡1,, ¡,,,',r,.. It rr.rr,
J,rlc.ulrl ¡ì¡r sirlr lìlrh .,,nlmcr jn
llar'¡n.r. ì h¿r¡l thc blin¡ls <lrar.r,n .rq¡i¡151 thc hcal. but
tlie
rr.ilìrlt'.nc rrclt. ,,lrcnr,<l hr.ìrinrl tht:ll an<l I could hcar
Rr.atricc tr:lìing tlrc vrolnan no on(, \.aç homc. Shc clidn,t
k'avr: ar¡rl in"tcarl c¿llcrl r:¡r irr hcr voung \\,or.ìlan,s
voice,
salin,¿ shc
onh
visit, T-ìrcn, as if shc kncu,
I was listcning bcìrin<ì thr: blinds, shc rc<:itr,d in a deep
ancl
scrjous voicr': Iitrcv,cll. hn
¡.ill
he ¡,jrh nc . . . I felt thc
¡,ort
vc¡rs hcar.r. r¡n rnr' <lrcst and fìnishc<l thc lincs softlr to
nrr'.r'lf : / fàr¡",/-r,,u,tlt cr t I¡c \t tû m, ! ht rn¡n ¡.,¡hcJ t hc ¿ir,
ot¡J
in tl¡¡' ¡'aÍcr. ),ottt st1.ccL l¿ct ¡¡lcomctl likc.lìtttes. I sat in thc
afì,'r'nrir¡n hr:a1 anrì r.raitr:cì lìrr hcr lìrotstc¡rs to la¡le, I
hc¡rrl lìc¡tricc cr)rr(ì u¡ thc st¡j¡s an<l I hca¡cì hcr
¡raust_ì¡,'hir¡rì lnr'¿nrl thcn nlo\'(, r)n.
vr.¿rn(c.rl a <¡uick
uhcrr thr. sun ha¡l gonc dou,n. tht, u,oman rc.
Iurn¡,'rl. llcalt.it.r' r,r,as bclr¡u.in thc kitt,hr:n pcclin¡ tomaI'r, . li'r 1lt, , r,.l'ilrq rrr,.,¡1. I rr.rit,.,ì .r t.rr rlillrrtt.s, lisroninq
lìu'.lounrls {)n 1lì( \1r('('t. ¡n,l tltcn lraJkc,,l out to thc hal,
l,¡11:l-,
r.or¡r. rrr.'scl['.'l'ìrc r,,rung u onrilr trr.ncrl ìrcr lìcc r.rp anrl
I
\r\\'. ('\1\rì l¡r' tìrc vclì¡¡r.r' liqht ol tht, larn¡rs, that
* r.
hcr- clark
¡r1¡llr'<l lrar
hair
k ìov iìn(l thc (.u(ìs r.t¡r-l,.,rl aroun<l her nc,.L
jn a st.r'lc tlìat \\,as
fàrnilìar to n.¡c. Shc u,as r,,run.q
anri slcndcr an<l I càn sa\¡ u,ilhout rcgrct
or Iàlsc nro,lì:sr.,,, as ,,1,J
.rqt' h,rs l,'¡q sin, r' srr.i¡r¡rc,l m,. ,,1
th,.s,. ,.,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,
that shc rr.rninclcri mc of mvscìf'at tfit,
same ol,, H,,,
Spanìsh had the rounrlcrl c<ìqcs
rnrì srtalLxlcrJ r,,in_cls,,f
Cr:ìra. hut she u.orc slim hlaÀ
pânts arì(l nrraulo. rtr,r,,r,.,,
that I kncu,shc \\,as not fionr hc¡c.
Sbc trrli rrc h.,.n.n,"
¡rrd s¡i¡l *hr. rras lo,,kin{ ft,r.ì \\i)ìr,ìrr
rrlr,,lr;rtl
rr¡,
lrtr lr¡l'r ,l¿r¡.qhtcr r,.¿rls L,.i,,r,,. I t.l,l h,.r. ¡ir.r.rr
slrc 11¡,1 1l¡1.
r" rong housc; that I u.as
noborlr,. Shc. askc,l il. ,h" miqìrt
conrc r¡p and talk. Isaid I rvas sr¡rn,
th¿t lih,. h.,l ì...,,l
mislcd to m\¡housc. She stoorl thcrtl
on th" .tr,,.,t I,.,.,k..
ing,up at me lìrr a ìong momcnr. I
ìmaginc<l hr:r trling tr.r
nlakc ,rr¡t mr li,r. i¡r th.. ,l¡rj<rrr.**,
r1.,,. ri,,.
,'n,it 'fÌr-rì ¡ll .rl ,,ntt slr.,a¡r,rl,rqiz,.rl.
ì,.,.,,1.,,¡,.,, 1n ¡,-,,n1
rrl ht r. \lrr. rr,rrt.rl. .rrr,l srill Io,,kinoì¡p.rr
,n,.
r,.,ì,qnirinq
L,.qan r,,
vlalk d,;r,r'n tovvarcl the sca. I rvatt.hccl
hcr unlil I .uììl,l n,,
longcr makc oìit hcr lìgurc in thc dr¡sk.
That night, the old u.inrl blrr¡, .ln,ì
thc rr.in¡l.r,r,s
rattlcd in tlrcir framr:s. I coulrl smcl] thc
r.on.¡ino r¡i;r.
Ilcatrir:c lit a lcllou c¿n<llc in tìrc hallu.av
anrl I J¿., ìn
l't,1. 11¡1r¡,¡n* *ha,l,,rrs !li, k,.r l,,.n,..rlh
rjr, ,l,,,,r.
I rt trtt ml'r'rc,l ¡ll,,lh, r rri¡hl rr lrt.rr tll,. u
in,l .anl rr irll
,
qhosls. Il, l¡r b,.si,l, nt¡.ir, rh¡.,l.rrk,
list,.lri.t. \f,],n,,r ,
hc'cl sai.l, is a uav ol rcljlinq thc past.
thc rlt,¡¡i.
A¡ jr À¡Þn¿¡.Jêl
lovi'1Ê Che
AÞ\\'hcn vr,rr livr.fì¡r a lonq timr: in one
placc vou hcgìn trl
Ûr¡rfìisc v,'rrr lifì'1\.ith thc citr,; its aycnrcs
an.l landi,rarks
(1)rrl('lr) st¡rnrì lÔl'r,Orrr ntcr¡rlrìcs
untiì vou ltecomc tht
lrrlt¡i¡.t r¡l 1,¡1¡¡ r,\1 n
l\ìsl. rir.rrinq I r{,un[cr scll !rilh tht.
lìslirr¡tion,rl s¡,rn,,¡,nr, lrrrt p,r*ring thr,,¡qþ For sr¡
m¿nr,
tlrr'¡r.rrl h.rs trrnr' srllì uirlr rlist.rn,,., .,, rh¿1
¡6¡n 1¡.,,,,,.
1aìk of ¿ buil<linq rlrat u"^erì to bc hcarrtilul
,r. un u.,",,,,"
'!.h¡t onl.c lrrrrqt u,ilh ycllor¡,
llou,c¡s in March, thev a¡c
rli,lll t,rlkin.. ¡l'rrur ¡ scll rllr,.r rrish,,, lr.r,. ¡",,". I"n-',
¡{ì'ai<ì, il l tr,'ìl thc qtoÌ\. no\\. altc¡ all thcse
vcars of.siI.rrtr.. flt,rt I uill l,t,r,,nlu.,,,l fì,r,,nr.,,1 rh^sc.i¡ç"-¡n*
t,rurists r¡'ho J)()in1 out onlv thc gracr,ful and vital,.,,.hã
aro ìtapnv to rl1'¿l 11,¡11.r thc surfal: of tlrings.
ñâ
cliild, I had bccn onc u,ith urath<,r..Whtl
r,..r, v,r,.nt
to thc fàrm on thc u,r¡ckcn<ìs, ancl
tlrc nigt ,. .r..iìn
oul rnoon \{¡crc so black that l,ru u:,ulcl
scarc.clu makc
,ìtr1 \'.rut- l'in.qcrs in th,..l¡r¡,
Iusr,,l 1,, 1i,..ì\Ã.akr., l),ìl
tr:red this rval, an,l tirat u.ith tlrc s<.ru¡r<ì
ol rll" *.in,i lt
thcr.' u¡s.l \l(,rnì (rrn.ting. I r.,,¡¡l1l ¡i.,.¡ jl
rnilcs .rrr.lr.
*ak.'¡h' i¡rnirr'
¡'o'''ni'
As a
rlovr n
ii;
]1,,'lì,:1,'Jl:l li;:':ll
rvonrr<.r
to
i' perha¡rs ,,,. ;,i::'Ï:l,l'î::
"
ïi'îli:ìiïì
than our imaginatìon anrl all its thrasliings
hu, o rni..,r,.,ìt
our- own thoughts. .{nrl I r¡.onclcr
nor.r il.our rccorclctl hi.to.,i.n't like this, il'o,r idt,a of l.rìst.rv isn,t an.tlrc'rr.a,r,
of'savinq alr idea of oursclvcs_ I;irst.,,',,o"..hil,lhoo.l,
,lì"
innoccncc ol'timcs gone hr.. thcn thc
trarur¡ ¡rl. o*,lk,,,.,
ing to pleasure an<l
and
tjrt-¡t
thc r..x¡ruìsiorr. 1[r¡
1taìn,
l'clolulir¡n: alì our privat<: liars anrl rlcsircs
clr¡¿rkr,,l jrr
thc qrcat storl of'm¿n. Il<,hiltcì us ljt,s
ou:- lr"uin,,i,,*,
ahead of us t¡n ll. oblir,ìon. Ilc<..rusc
it is thc oltl u,ho l,rol<
back, somttimcs rvitìr firar anrì somctirncs
*.ith
,,*..,-ì-h;.
)(ìunS rr( rll I-¡ r','luti,,n.rrir'\. slrrrgqlinq t,,rr¡,.,1
ltll't. r,rnrinr¡.,1 th.rt jrrsr ,,rcr thr rim ,,l skr
tllcrcl ìi.
th,
tìr
1.1,,..,.
th.' hl¡rlir..r tii¡rcs. l.irf ìr,,rlr rh¡. ,,1,1
,1.,,.
vorrng indulgr: in longinq..{nd thr: oì<lcr gct ",,,1
I
n()\\.. rhr,
4na Menéndez
LovinÞ
l¡.rn
1lt.ìt.l{)nqing Iirr tht.
Jìtsl s,.,.nts tht. orrlr. ¡¡1., 1,¡¡¡r,..
WIrr i¡l, ,rlizl thr. luturr,, rr.hcrr. ,rnlr
rlt.,rf h ¡u¿ilsi llrrrr
¡nr¡' ll l('\r.li(.r t,r tlli¡rk ¡rlr tlrc
rrhr.n
\\.(. \vcrr.\.,¡ult,,
¡.rst
.tnrl r¡¡¡..*t.,¡ anrl orrr h,.ginninq
l,rl hoþi¡¡,1,,s lik". ø..qottcn dream -
Chê
1
ñã
a girl, it sccmed to mr: I.lavana
was f rÌl ol.
,*n"tr..t _*u.
bcautiful womcn..l-hcv had
thcir.rl¡c,sscs ¡n".i" i" t,",
shiny r.vindou, *ho1r", ,rir"..,
thc scarnstrcsscs *".. ., nlr.
glovcs su as to not soil thc ntut"ttnl
fitm lìur.pc 'rìrt'
sarrns wcrc filrcd with *,
..r'",, -u..oq;;;,;,,; .;,';' i,::'i;;:';li,::,
l];;ll,
rnctr ha¡r to enrphasizt.nr_(,ltl
sl¿nt(,(l ,,.r."r., pt,,¡1j
rhcck. W,,mcn ¿tt.thcir àr"rm...,n,l
l,l,,,rrn¡.,1 lik, ,rr.
chids in tlic rain.
M,v two sisters kncu,, too,
hou, to rest thcir hcarls r¡n
.
thcir
hancls so
thc linc of thcir long neck, formc,l
thc
rhcr ha,t,r u¡r åi-,,,,,"f ,n..,,.
*,,,1,
lìTlj.'fl ]:'..'"i*ing
tlì('ir sh,ruldorr, sl,,rr as it.in ,l,,in.q
harr
1.,.
(lis( .,v(,r'c(l a w¿\,
tr)
:i:
li,:
pr.lrrng
,.,r,
1f1.. ,l¡r.. 1.h,,
:::i";:i;'.ï;. :;,i,;,
:,i, ;, :;,1
;,
,¡,.rì,.,,i
,; ,.";r,,.ì;;
;*,lll:, l, :::,1,l;l
thc colo¡ ol' sunset.
Mv olvn hair rvas thick an(i rl¡rk
irn<l 11,\,or.(, it siì,)rf
against mv ncck. In thc cvcnings
rvhcn thc others sa1 ,r.r
tht' ¡r,,rr h, I, lirnl,ccl r,, th. rruìl
.rn,l rr.,,,r..; ;ì,. .,.,;, :;,:
rlor¡ n.rrcr.lhe r,rofìnps.
l,.linq mr ,",r,¡,-, ," ,,,,. ,,.,.,'.;;..
watchìng tht horizon ,,,r,herc tic
i* .orrr*l .,,,,,,._,-"igìrì ;,:
lrt svr¿lIrw<',1 lrt lhr. ¡rrr,¡n.
^na
Menénciez
Iu
Lovìn(
srn¡llcl. antl da¡kcr than mv sistcrs, r,r,ith a bor,,s
.,linnr lri|l,,. Ihr.nrt.n ,lirl n l sinq s,,nts
tc, mr rrindor¡ .rr
lriqht. lrr th(.Jli('t.n¡,r)ns. lhl suit,rrs *1,,,,.",r" Jor
mv "j.,
tr'"r lì'r{r¡1 rt\ ntm(. ¡l thl rlo,rr. ì3ut l\Ju. hovr
thl mcn
Icancd bat.k lì-om thr:ir vgivcs at thr, littlc
rcstâur.ant bv thc
r.rr11,,¡..,¡.llr. rr'¡.r lhr.ir ¡.v¡s rl.rrkt,nr.rl t(, mJt(.ìr
n,r. ,,*.n.
'\ r,'¡¡¡1.q qir.ì anrl llr,..rrlr kn,,rrinq th¡l silr,nr.r,
hcl,l tlrt,
lrcar-icr bal¿n< r. ¡rl trutl.r
Clìr:
¿s
ñZà
Mv mother lct mt rr¡am thc
rong bcrì,re r kncu, it.
il"
lbre anvonc' r,r,as u¡;, I lclt throuqh thc
back ¿,ror' nn,ì,n,.rr,
allers of.,,l,,t.pinq,1,,s''. .\, liftì.r,.nr,,,.,S,r,,,,ì.'
j;"
ll"*l |hc rajn antl hc¡t. thr. ..1t,r.,,.l.
h.od.
,,,,, ,.,,u1ìì ,.,.,r,,
cvelvwhcre in l-lavana, got insirìc
ar,,l metal. Cam
,";J,ìilill;,ìÏ,iì:;:il:l
"ur,r,l
n¡stc<Ì, f<rundations .r,.,astt,tl.
,he strcet-sicrc ràccs or the
\,('ar J
(r,at rrf-l)àint. n(.\À. crrrl,ìin\
lrr.hin¡l llr,. r,. i,t
-nc\^
dows, brass knockcrs takcn rJou.n
anrì soakcrl..l.ìlc aìì,,".
wcrc l.hc rlim b.r, ks¡tl,.s of s,, ¡¡¡,.þ
inrl.st^. l,,rinr ¡,., 1,.,1
awav vvith abandon and molrì darkc.nc<l
thc-cnrptv jrlac,-:s,
rÀ/herc
thc cement hacl crackccl, small
¡nrplc n,r.,.",:, lri,',_somed, as if evcrv house hclrì a
garrlr:n ¡,,rir,rn.r.rvilhìn rts
'r¡,alls. I ran through the allevs,
u,ilcì for tht, rlisorrlt,r th¿rt.
voung as I r',.as, shonc exotic ancl lrcautjtul
in thc Ii.¿lrt tha1
sl;rntcd thro¡pl1 rh¡. I,ujl,lir rt..
;:,,::i:*.ììî:::liï-"i.',l;":i
Ana l\,4enóndez
Lovi¡g
¡SZà
Itun.u,aìking in tlic oltì par.t ol torvn afier
a storrn, thc
c¿rlrblcstoncs.slick antl shinv. I am heqinning
to likc nar
rr,\\ \1rr., ls,,l.rrk
l,l¡.r.s.Th..r.itl is l¡r.fir.rt l,,uc. I¡lcljoht
in tht sintnlr.rhin¡.¡ ,¡ ( rrrvcrl (.(,rtìi( c
thar , ¡t..h,,. thc.ìu
,'n ,,r' ¡ntl,. tlr, ,,,.llr,',n, of ¡ l,illìr,,¡r,l
sll,rrr.inp throuoh
':ì ..S'
llì( lr,l) \\ ill,l,,rr',, ,,1 \,)nl.oìt. s hr)m(..
lll, r.rin nrrrs llrr,rrrgh tlrr.grrrorl,¡i jn thc st,rnr.s ¿lrrl
.
thr. slj,L. r,l rir,.s .t hr,t.. rl,,un ih,. ,,11...,r,
I.ruqhr.r st.t.¡rs
fi'onr lìttl,'r,¡¡¡ns likc succl mcrlir:inc.
A1 a corncr, I stop to
lct
¿
c¡r
pass, a black Chcvrolct
s<'qrrincd ,.n.ith thc rt lìcrrion of str(.ct
lam¡rs. A light gocs
out in a r.,¡rn AI),i.rì mc; a slir,r,r.,,f. lacv curtaìn
iulls
¡'rr'¡_r'. I'hr: (ìar s1r)ps an<ì l¡cn's .uric.,,,
,r.,und low anrì
angr-r'. I slan<1,
¡rr.t,ssirrg mvscll'against thc cìamp oi<l vvalis.
Thc <ìrilcr (ilì('n{ thc <l,ror anrì pulÌs o r.,.ro.,.,ua
from the
l¡at k. l.Jis fàrr is turncrl ,rncl in
tht: ,lark I imaginc a
shr,'url r.or','r.. his hc¡rl. I.lc stands in the
ot ll1'1'
¡¡.,,
hea<ìlight'ì. An_
gcts orrt of thc car-,
I
lc is cl¡-csscd all jrì q.hitc in
that l.nul<h ¿llcr', rl',hitc shr¡cs an<i
¡ralc strarv lrat collcctirl{ \\.rt(.ì ,rn'lrr rirrr. lrllilq in linl rlrr,¡rlr.ts jikt,¡
vr.i]
.rlrrrul lli. Lrcr.. 111,. nìiìrì
r,,
rl,,j
*lrr,,¡clc,l
tr,(.s
Iìqr:rt. anrl
hcn¡ls ¡1,.'r.hinr, spcaking quir:tlv.
IIc rvalks bacì to th<:
r.'r l11¡ l¡¡¡.1¡r, ¡ lì.,,rrr .¡¡,¡ll r.,,,,,rr. .\lr,l tlrr.n tht.¡ri.t,rl
Ch-a
shot. And the man's lifc
¡rasses bcfc¡rc mc as if.l had bcr:n
the onc to dic: I rcmembcr brcakfast thnt
*u.ning, 1.,,,k
ing out over the street, buttcring brta<ì,
slolvlv ì.,ti..;ng
coffcc, *'atching sugar <ìissolvc. I rcmcmhcr
hi..r ì.r,,".
"ì
mv own and lcan against the stonc an(l crv
lor all thc
tìrings I havcn'r finishr,d.
,,,,.JÏ :ïì,ì::::;J
ancr rh,:n
"'å:
J'-r'
rhc rain rusrrins