Once upon an Island

a poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

How far I’m from where I wanted to be,
Amongst mountains blue, rivers white
And mighty forests. My youth’s dream
Of doing good for mankind, wanes in to
The grim world of the impossible.

Dr. Fidel Castro is a secular pope and
I’m one of his red cardinal in a
Republic where everyone has enough
To eat and doesn’t die from curable
Diseases because they lack money.

A state where everyone can read
And write and no mighty neighbour
Casts an evil spell because a small
Nation doesn’t practice big business
Version of democracy.