Humidity over 110%
Blue sky
Puffy white clouds
Mouths open in awe
Taking it all in
Architecture
Cuban cigars & smoke
Everywhere
Cobblestone streets hundreds of years old
Pimp in green shirt
Has right boxing ear
Fast talker
Encourages us to go to hidden location
Goods 50% off
Our brave leader disappears
With a local panhandler to look at cigars
We stand in the heaviness
Of a local alley
Reminded that we don’t belong here
Only guests traveling through
Locals stare, unwelcome faces
Some swear at us in Spanish
Some curse us
Others cat call our beautiful teenagers
Mamas on guard ready to scrap
Stern local police with shot guns
Stare at us like we’re crazy
I believe we may be
The only guests traveling this ally
We surely took a wrong turn
Leader asks police for picture
Now they’re contemplating sending
Crazy Americans to jail
Coffee or shotgun
We choose coffee sprinting away
Dogs with ribs jut out
Running the streets mangy & hungry
They seek solace with us
The pet loving Americans
Santeria priests & priestesses everywhere
Unnerving everyone
Oh the Cuban coffee smells divine
Beautiful cafes
Ropa vieja
Black beans & rice
Mangy kitty with a heart in fur welcomes us to fine dining in the rain
Salsa music
Maracas
Pregnant women asking for milk for their babies
Havana rum
Mojitos
Fairy forest in the city that is surreal
Locals every color, eyes vary & stunning
Not much joy in many of those eyes
An occasional smile
Old sexy cars in a time warp
The best of the city feels harsh yet beautiful
Rustic doors, metal work
Laughter with friends & family
Sweating from the heat
Wet from the rain
We are guests that don’t really belong
But honor our incredible surroundings
Beaming in simply being together
Catching glimpses of all the beauty & nuances that make up this incredible city of Havana, Cuba (7/12/18)
photos: H. McCreary
strengthdefined 