Thunder!

THUNDER

I remember visiting a dusty village

high up the mountains of Cuba.
Sweat rolls.
Eyes squint.
Under the 
hot dry 
sun.

Da.

Wondering 
what city
lay beyond?

Habana?
Santiago?
Cienfuegos?
Pina Del Rio?

Da.

Do I hear 
cracked ruins?
Suddenly crashing?
Bursting in the 
violent air?

No. 

No se. 
Don’t you know? 
Mati says.
The voice of thunder? 
It must be thunder.
The sun is making 
you crazy.

Quietly 

we walked
the parched streets
to a crumbling 
village school.

Da.

Ask how we can help.
Mati draws back her long black hair.
Tight. Picks up a tiny naked child. 
Mere skin and bones. Crying. 
Reaching desperately for a breast.
She rocks him asleep in her arms.

The locals smile. 

Reach for 
my camera. 
David! 
Matilde! 
Show us 
your baby.

Da.

I look at Mati. 
Tenderly hugging him.
Wondering who’s child is this?
Overhead thunder rumbles.

Da. 

Lightening flashes.

Da. 

We look up. 
No clouds.
No rain.
Unreal.

Hand him back. 

Continuing on our way.
Under the unforgiving sun.

Mati, who walks beside us? 
Who walks ahead?
I count only los dos. 
The two of us. 
You and I.
Together.

Si sez she. 

Is he wrapped 
in hunger? 
Despair?

Datta.                                                                Give

Que? 

What? 
What did you say? 
Que tienes? 
It’s loco.

Da da da

Whats happening here?

Da da da da da

What’s that murmur?

That sad lament?

Da. 

Watch your step. 
The cracked dry earth.

Da. 

I don’t know. No se.

It must be 

the sun. 
It’s loco. 
Too crazy. 
It’s driving 
me nuts!

Damyata.                                                        Control

Hey, where’s the sun?

Thunder rolls.                                  
Lightening flashes.                            
Black clouds.
A damp gust.
Is that a drop 
of rain?

Da Da Da Da Da Da

Drip

Drop

Drip

Drop

Drip

Drop

Da?

Giving water?

Giving life?

Dripping

Dropping

on the rocks?

From over mountains?

Far distant above cities?

The mountain village?

Dayadhvam.                                                  Sympathy

From Beyond?

No. No. Says Mati. 

There’s no hope here.
No hope of rain.
Just dark clouds 
that's all.

Dark clouds
Thunder.
Lightening.

No rain.

Si. I know

No hope.

There’s

no hope

at all.

Remember the sun?

Who’s child was he?

Que? 

You must 
be going 
crazy.

Yes 

but
He
needed
help

and
you
gave
it to
him.

Small comfort.

I wish 

somebody 
beyond

the mountains

the cities

gave a damn.

All I hear

is thunder

Si. 

There’s

No hope 
of rain

Da.

Datta.

Dayadhvan.

Damyata.

No hope

for rain.........................

[DTC]