The peoples history is shape by their children. In the pages is registered Bonifacio Byrne, considered as a poet of the war, won title in exile with his fiery sonnets on our fighters. The poet is then revealed not only in his vis patriotic, but in the more human side as creator.
Lezama Lima characterizes him as a poet "full of successes, qualifications, wealth and true verbal intimacy, a secret voice that is revealed with sensitivity." The poem "The Witches", among many other verses hidden behind the shadow of "My flag" stands as an example of such literary skills of the creator, while accurate voice of his time not only his historical time but also his reality and cultural sensitivity.
From Matanzas and was born in 1861, a few years before to start La Demajagua war, exercised from young journalism. He founded the newspaper The morning and also the Liberal Youth. That was his first contact with the letters and the start of popularity increased with the publication of the first poetry book Eccentric, which was followed by effigies and Lira and sword among other productions of his vast literary work is not yet known as it should.
Bring the XXI century, resize and assess how accurate, deep, Bonifacio Byrne's poetry, is the proposal to be fair to the poetic contribution to culture and history of Cuba; was not happening outside the homeland in which they debated the Cuban independence of the Nation and the U.S. position to snatchthe independence in the infamous stage of the Platt Amendment.
The subsequent reading of the entire production will lead to knowledge of the poet depth, in schools and encourage our children to study the life and work of Byrne, is to motivate young people to discover who is the author of such fiery verses repeated to reinforce the national feel, bacause is a committed writer of high human sensitivity.
The war poet is credited with composing epic poetry in honor Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Ignacio Agramonte, Maceo, big men of our wars for freedom in Cuba, is kept alive through his poetry as any artist people.
Byrne died on July 5th, 1935, reconnect with his work is to recognize that walks among us, especially since the voice Camilo who alert us.
Camilo Cienfuegos said on October 26th, 1959 the last speech to the people, to denounce the bombing aircraft to the Island Yankees quoted the last stanza of the poem: "My flag" by Bonifacio Byrne:
… Si deshecha en menudos pedazos
llega a ser mi bandera algún día
nuestros muertos alzando los brazos
la sabrán defender todavía.
Camilo, a hero emerged from the bowels of his people, immortalized these energetic verses of deep patriotic content that ratify the decision of not giving the Cubans in the defense against any act of interference against our homeland.
True to the sentiment that inspired Byrne and Camilo returned, full of courage, we stick to the Lone Star flag remains floating free. The verses are an expression of collective desire, will and determination to fight, sound like the projection of the heroic past in the continuity of the future we build.
