Poem: Mi Bandera (My Flag)
by Bonifacio Byrne

In view of the fact that May 20th is celebrated in South Florida, and is also part of the US rhetoric about Cuba's “independence”, we offer the following historic poem that depicts the political and cultural nationalism expressed by Matanzas-born poet Bonifacio Byrne. The poet, who in 1896 was a member of the Club Revolucionario de Tampa [Tampa Revolutionary Club], wrote for papers that supported the independence and sovereignty of Cuba. 

Introductory note by Nelson Valdes. Received via Cuba-L.

A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann.

Upon returning from distant shores,
with a mournful and dismal soul,
anxiously, I searched for my flag…
and I saw another next to mine!

Where is my Cuban flag?
The most beautiful flag that exists,
I saw it from the ship this morning,
and I’d never seen such a mournful sight...!

With the faith of stern souls
I say in my loudest voice
that two flags should not stand
in the rightful place of just one: mine!

In fields that today are hallowed,
it saw brave men fighting together,
and has been the honorable shroud
of the many warriors who fell.

It stood proud in battle,
without foolish or romantic boasting;
The Cuban who does not honor it
should be flogged for cowardice!

From the depth of dark prisons
never came a lament it could hear
and its footprints in other regions
were signs of light in the snow...

Can't you see it?  That's my flag
that has never been mercenary,
and on which shines a star,
brighter as it stands alone.

From exile I brought it in my soul
among so many scattered memories,
and I learned to pay my tribute
by making it live in my verses.

Although languid and sad it rises;
my ambition is that the Sun, with its light,
shines on her, and on her alone!
in the valley, the mountain, at sea.

If into tiny pieces
my flag is one day torn ...
our dead will raise their arms
and will defend it once again!