José Martínez, a Cuban poet based in Miami, once again stirred social media this Saturday with his latest satirical verse, "What Are You Waiting For?" In just a few hours, the piece amassed over 11,000 views and hundreds of likes on Facebook. His poignant question at the end—"What are you waiting for? War?"—serves as a powerful poetic blow against the island's regime.
Martínez, a psychologist and entrepreneur, has turned the traditional décima and other verse forms into tools for political critique. He begins his poem with a direct challenge: "Enough with the antics / life is passing by. / The people demand / no more improvisation." In just fifty-six seconds, he paints a damning picture of the regime, leaving no room for rebuttal.
The Target of Satire: Government and Its Supporters
The poem includes pointed remarks aimed at a recent post by "Gerardo"—presumably referring to former Cuban spy Gerardo Hernández Nordelo—which, according to Martínez, failed to garner any support: "A few days ago, I saw / what Gerardo posted. / Not even a fool supported it." For a satirical poem, this description is almost flattering compared to subsequent lines.
Martínez doesn't hold back when addressing official government pages on social media: "The government pages / are gateways to hell. / Enter the comments section / and you're met with a litany / of new words and insults." Any Cuban who's ventured into the comments on sites like Cubadebate or Granma knows this metaphor isn't far-fetched.
The poem also criticizes the few regime supporters who dare to speak up online. He describes them as "two repressed cats / with restricted profiles," dubbing them "ciberclarias." This term, a blend of "cyber" and "claria" (an invasive catfish species in Cuban waters), accurately labels the government's digital trolls and propagandists—an accuracy no official dictionary would acknowledge.
A Resonating Question Amidst Crisis
The poem culminates with the titular question, which Martínez repeats for emphasis: "If in the city and the hills / there's no support to be found, / if the system's in a hole, / what are you waiting for? War?" The answer is left hanging in the air, much like the tension in Cuba, where power outages last between 20 to 40 hours daily, and the electrical deficit has frequently surpassed 2,000 megawatts in recent weeks.
This poem is part of a particularly prolific period for Martínez. In April, he released "I Won't Sign," a direct response to the Communist Party's official campaign "My Signature for the Homeland." In May, he dramatized Raúl Castro's legal proceedings. On June 15, he unveiled "No One Flees to Communism." Just days before this latest work, he released "The Vaseline," a satirical piece critiquing the quiet rise of regime figures within the power structure, particularly El Cangrejo, a nod to Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of General Raúl Castro.
Martínez isn't alone in using satire to document the country's dire situation. Other satirical verses circulate among the Cuban diaspora, responding to the same stark reality: 1,311 protests and critical actions were documented across the island in May; the economy continues its downward spiral, and the government keeps concocting "solutions"—like the recent economic package—facing a population that, as the poem says, has had enough of improvisation.
Comments under Martínez's video echo the same frustration depicted in the poem: many users applaud someone for putting into verse what many think in prose, and more than one points out that the question—"What are you waiting for?"—has lingered unanswered for years.
Understanding the Impact of Cuban Satirical Poetry
What themes are explored in José Martínez's poem?
The poem critiques the Cuban regime, the ineffectiveness of government communications, and the delusion of its few supporters. It also questions the government's future actions amid the country's ongoing crises.
How does Martínez's poetry resonate with the Cuban public?
Martínez's work resonates by articulating widespread frustrations with the regime's failures and inefficiencies, echoing the sentiments of many who experience the hardships of life in Cuba.
Why is satire an effective tool for political criticism in Cuba?
Satire allows poets like Martínez to critique the government through humor and irony, often bypassing censorship while engaging and resonating with audiences through relatable content.