Classic Poem

Cuba Libre!” Hear our daughter o'er the water bravely cry,
While the smoke that never falters from her altars stains the sky;
While the aged, and the children, and the women stricken, reel;
“Cuba Libre!” is their answer to the tyrant's fatal steel.

“Cuba Libre!” At her option, by adoption, she is ours;
Bound to us by cords of freedom mightier than earthly powers!
She is hoping, she is groping, through the murk of slavery's air.
Shall we by our deafness drive her to the silence of despair?

“Cuba Libre!” shouts Maceo, riding to a martyr's death;
“Cuba Libre!” smiles Bandera, victor in his latest breath!
“Cuba, wilt thou bow thy head? on royal promises rely?”
“Cuba Libre!” Hear a nation saying she would rather die!

“Cuba Libre!” Hear the mountains echo back the patriot boast;
“Cuba Libre!” sing the waves along two thousand miles of coast!
O'er the water hear our daughter saying: “Mother, from thy brow,
I have caught the rays of freedom, you may not disown me now?”

Valiant daughter, o'er the water, we have heard thy moving voice,
And the glory of thy story makes a patriot land rejoice!
Five and forty stars of ours salute thee o'er the tumbling sea,
Pledge their forces in their courses 'til thy single star is free!