EL COHIBA

The gusanas were from old Spanish families
Cifuentes, Mendez and Garcia.
They owned the plantations
and the slaves
who grew the tobacco
leaves like magic
in the rich red-sunset soil
of Vulta Abajo.

Leaves laid out on trays
in wall-less sheds
to dry slowly
in the scented air.
Baled and shipped to Havana
and the factoria
where the torcedores roll cigars
on wooden desks.

Old black men with shock white hair
fine-boned, long fingers
coaxing the leaves to curl
and compact into perfect cigars.

Listening to the soft, sweet voices
of the lectors
reading stories - real or imagined-
to make the crafted movement
forever rolling
seem less tedious and more the Art.

Mystery and romance
rolled in their names: Montecristo;
Partagas; Romeo y Julieta
and the fabled Cohiba
exported everywhere as the best.

In '62, Pierre Salinger was sent
by master Jack
to buy every cigar in Cuba
before he imposed the embargo.

But the rich Yankees still come to Habanos
and buy the contraband cigars
place their bids
for the precious humidor
and the autograph of the century.

Exiles and mafiosi in Florida
living lives conditionally
waiting until Castro dies
imagine thieves will be welcomed
exploiters encouraged to return
and crime syndicates will once again
skim the cream.

In their Fidel-free world
they'll make fortunes
profiteering and privatising
the peoples' wealth.

Viva La Revolution !
Viva la lucha !
Venceremos !



by M.L. Emmett


M.L. Emmett comes from Reading, Berkshire, England.
Living in a Victorian cottage in Norwood, South Australia, her ambition to become their first Poet Laureate.
Poodle tragic.