Chubasco

CHUBASCO

(SUMMER SHOWER)

By Simon Vincent

The palm leans forward

Gets its face washed

As each raindrop

Falling, scrubbing,

Pelts the green leaves,

Sets them trembling,

Leaves them laughing

On their boughs-

While gently, gently

The rain moves on.

TO A BEING IMMORTAL

TO A BEING IMMORTAL

by Simon Vincent

            With diamond wings I set you free

high above a crimson sky

            you dare not fly just yet

glorious wings laden with your loot

            your perfect eyes filled with boiling tears

you yearn for a perfect sky and gentle breeze.

            You cling with tender claws

for the journey you feel can wait

            for one more kiss

                one more caress.

            Go I beg you

I set you free!

            I release you from my spell

leave me to my boring peace.

            And then finally you leave

on hollow broken wings

            through velvet clouds

no calm tonight, a angry sky, a stormy sea,

            but on you fly!

High on high, the stars to reach

            you crash through barriers not of man

with lightning speed

            and I stand in awe and watch you

as if I did not know

            as if I did not care

for scorn builds hate

            and hate is the marrow of the                       immortals.

           

            And yes I stand in awe

and feel the coldness of your new-found strength

            and on you fly

from heaven...or is it hell? 

            I then grow old

an instant all it takes

            a wise old man

the graying scars

            not healed burning at my flesh.

            The horror of it all

            To think that mere mortals

can cast a spell on a

            goddess like you.

I pray for forgiveness,

            and beg you now

for I now know that I

            cannot hold, much less release a sunbeam

            or a star.

I can only feel their presence

            for a borrowed fraction

of our time.

            And so I beg you

to release me...then.

            For flesh and blood is all I know

            For flesh and blood is all I am.         

My Mother's Obituary

Maria Rita Orta de Fernandez

On Saturday September 22, 2012 at 10:30 in the morning Maria Rita Orta de Fernandez, RN went to our Lord. She was under the care of Vitas Hospice at Metropolitan Hospital in Miami for a week. She passed away quietly from natural causes.  She was born in Cuba on May 22, 1913 making her 99 years old at the time of her passing. She was the daughter of Jose M. Orta and Abundia Rodriguez, from Rancho Boyeros, Cuba. She is survived by her two sons Angel Vicente Fernandez, Jr., his wife Grace (Spitale) and Jose Manuel Fernandez, her stepdaughter Marina Fernandez had pre-deceased her in 2002. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Vicente O. Fernandez and his daughter Monica Fernandez. Star Bradley and her husband Eric and daughter Zoe Marina,  Ariana R. Fernandez and her daughter Chloe Marina. Frank L. Fernandez, his wife Diry (Cantero) and their daughters EllaMia and Maya. And also her beloved niece Doris Millares from Mississippi, and her extended Family.

Rita was a graduate of the University Of Havana School Of Nursing in 1948. She was married to Angel V. Fernandez (Angelito) a Parliamentary Stenographer/Court Reporter until his death in 1981.  She loved the Ocean along with her husband they loved living in Jaimanitas, Cuba next to the beach.  Among her family it was often said that she was the first woman in Cuba to wear two piece bathing suits, which she made herself. In her younger days she was renowned for her beauty and grace.

Rita and Angelito emigrated together with their children from Cuba to the US in October of 1960. In the US they lived in New York City for a year and then settled in Miami. While in New York she worked as a nurse for the Bronx Hospital and got her certification as a Registered Nurse. Back in Miami she worked at North Shore Hospital and later as a commercial Nurse for Suave Shoe Corporation.

In her widowed years she enjoyed traveling with her family and gardening in her back yard. She was an independent woman till the end. Never sick a day in her life she faced life with quiet stoic demeanor, counseling all who knew her that the most important lesson in life is “understanding” one another and the situations that confront us.  And to always apply her own version of the “golden rule” she said, if someone offends you do not offend them in return because you then become like them, always know who you are and respect yourself.

Mother of All (Poem for my late Mother)

MOTHER OF ALL

Mother of all

            hold me to your bosom

one more time I pray.

            Take my hand

caress my neck

            with your ethereal touch

that soothes the searing pain.

            Let me rest, forget,

            pacify the night

so dark!

            Demons lurk, bloodied

piercing eyes of scorn

            disgrace abounds

and all along

            foolish friends sing and dance.

From deceit the truth reborn!

            Let us go then

take my hand

            the eternal waves

keep endless time

            in our world, our sea

sand between our toes

            clouds where angels sing

velvety soft and warm.

            Feels like home

the genuine for us

            no borrowed crown shall do!

And Oh, your touch

            the glow, aura, splendor

sanctuary for saints and sinners

            purity for all

devotion, love, in splendid candor.

            Fill my cup with love,

sweet nectar of your essence.

            Let me gaze into your

emerald tearless jewels

            that I scorn to share

like the moon and stars

            are theirs, so I must bear

the stranger's turn

            the fortunate souls

that fate has graced

            with your blessed eyes

and golden smile.

            Your face is time

mother of all.

            I cherish the thought

you're mine!

 

Traduccion de la poesia “Mother of All”—Escrita para mi madre, Maria Rita Orta de Fernandez, por: Simon Vincent (Angel Fernandez)

MADRE DE TODO

Madre de todo abrazame a tu pecho

Te ruego, una vez mas toma mi mano

Acariciame el cuello con tus manos de seda

Que me calman el dolor y me dejan descanzar y olvidar

Pacifican mis noches tan obscuras.

Mis demonios esperan, sangrientos

Con sus ojos sin piedad

Lleno de pena, suspiro, y mientras tanto

Los tontos cantan y bailan,

De una mentira nace la verda!

Te ruego, toma mi mano

Las olas eternas marcan el tiempo

En nuestro mundo del mar

Nuestras huellas se quedan en la arena

Las olas…bellas nubes donde los angeles cantan

Con carino y ternura!

Si, este es lo nuestro, el legitimo, no uno prestado,

Que nos llama.

Tu mano acaricia, brilla tu pavor

Eres sanctuario para santos igual que pecadores

Perdon y piedad para todos!

Devocion, Amor y Franquesa

Llena nuestra fuente con carino

Con el nectar dulce de tu alma

Dejanme amparame en tus esmeraldas brillantes que todo lo ven

Y que lagrimas no pueden conquistar,

Y que me duele compartir,

Como la luna y las estrellas son del universo

Temo que tengo que rendir su turno

A los extranjeros, a los afortunados seres humanos

Que el destino le ha dotado

La mirada de tus ojos banditos y sonrisa de gracia.

Tu cara es mi sol

Madre de todo

Bendita sea la luz que nos guia.

Que orgullo gritar…ERES MIA!