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If we left Cuba, we can leave anything.


by Dulce Maria Menendez


The chivatos called us gusanos
because we left with large
green duffle bags filled with
only personal belongings.

They were chivatos because
they followed Fidel and like
goats ran at the mouth whenever
someone was not loyal 
to the new regime.

Gusanos they said
were spineless.

And so we left
not looking back
and settled like
pioneers and took refuge
and like worms we dug
ourselves deeper 
into the land
penetrating to 
new territories
while the chivatos 
stayed in Cuba
until the day came
when there was 
no way out 
except to swim
with the sharks.

And when we met them
in the streets of Miami,
we never apologized.

 

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