A Cuban woman living in Tampa has touched the hearts of many after posting a TikTok video from the account @leidycienfeguera2022. In the video, she passionately recites her own poem titled "Cuba Is No Longer Cuba." With a measured voice, a serious demeanor, and simple yet powerful words, she articulates the deep pain of a nation burdened by hopelessness, scarcity, and family separations. "Cuba is sadness, hopelessness, it's the dream you never reach and yearn for fervently. Cuba is merely the pain of a bloodstained people, because its government has stripped away its freedom of expression."
As she continues, her voice grows more passionate. Leidy paints a picture of mothers weeping during power outages because their children are hungry, and she delivers a sharp critique of the Cuban president, calling him a "traitor, a poor leader, a tyrant." She accuses him of clinging to power while turning a blind eye to the suffering of his people. Each line resonates with the experiences of countless Cubans both on the island and abroad. "Cuba lives in darkness while you enjoy paradise, while even the floor cries with the mothers' pain," she recites with conviction.
The TikTok video quickly sparked a wave of empathy and solidarity. "We've all managed to turn our pain into art," one user commented. Another admitted to watching the video multiple times, moved to tears. Many followers shared that they saw their own experiences reflected in the verses, especially those with loved ones still in Cuba.
Known as Leidy on social media, she expressed her gratitude for the support of her followers and shared that filming the video was challenging. "I had to reshoot it several times because I cried in the first take," she revealed. In another message, she added, "If I could express my pain in words, I would have a book written." She also encouraged her audience to share their thoughts if they wanted to hear more of her poetry.