Moncada's Fire

The day they launched the Cuban Revolution
From darkest ashes rose, the fire
The spark that lit 10,000 evenings
Against their mortal foes they rose.

The dark was filled by Batista's brand of terror
His dungeons dank and cold.
Exploiting workers, farmers and their women
For the gringo rich, you did as you were told.

While others cowered at machine-gun fire repression
They marshalled loyalty
Against Moncada Barracks, Santiago
The armoury to fuel democracy.

They rose against the tyranny
Beyond the fear and misery
And shone a light for history
And cast that light to me.

125 men and women under 30, July 26, 1953
Raul said, "They'd lose a tempest in the seizure"
But for the fledgling revolutionaries.

At the storming of the barracks few had perished
So many more at the hands of brutality
But from that selfless act of human courage
There rose the fire that fuelled our victory.

They rose against the tyranny
Beyond the fear and misery,
And shone a light for history
And cast that light to me.

Five years, five months and five full days that courage
Inspired the Granma's exiled company
Unto Havana's open arms they rallied
Moncada's fire had burned a legacy.

They rose against the tyranny
Beyond the fear and misery
And shone a light for history
And cast that light to me.

BY ERNESTO PRESENTE

From Green Left Weekly, August 6, 2003.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 548