¡Viva Cuba!

Ah, Cuba--cousin of the Americas--

Estrangement really does you no good.

Unless our worlds can come together,

You'll keep being misunderstood.

 

Vibrant land of son and mambo,

Habanera, rumba and danzón,

Let your music and your spirit

Conquer fears that are overblown.

 

Moros y cristianos… ¡Caramba!

Yuca, ajo, cebolla: Divine!

Your culinary flavors thrill me:

Just one taste, and I'm on cloud nine!

 

With Vietnam and China we gladly

Swept past differences under the rug

And established diplomatic relations

With little resistance and barely a shrug.

 

To you we turned our backs and let

Our differences fester and further divide us.

When we cave in to spite and resentment,

We can't see how hard feelings misguide us.

 

As unnecessary barriers fall,

Let's open up travel and trade

And end the ineffective embargo--

A punitive measure and worthless charade

 

That hurts only the people and not

The Communist government that we mistrust.

The PEOPLE are Cuba--NOT the Castros;

That is a point to remember--a must!

 

And so, Cuba--cousin of the Americas--

Let's be optimistic and hope

That major changes and better relations

Lie completely within our scope.

(12-19-14)