At a moment that starkly reflects the social crisis facing Cuba, the renowned poet Isabel Mendoza has been compelled to beg on the streets of Santiago de Cuba to feed her sick husband.
The situation was documented and reported by Yasser Sosa Tamayo, known for his charitable work with the elderly and low-income individuals, who shared the story on Facebook, emphasizing the moral dimension of a country that leaves its artists and elderly in poverty.
"Today I saw poetry begging for alms. It’s not a metaphor. It’s Isabel Mendoza. Poet. Award-winning. A woman who has sown beauty in pages and contests," wrote Sosa.
The image described by the activist is heartbreaking: Isabel walked with "clothes worn by time, counting coins to be able to feed her sick husband," a scene that contrasts with the cultural wealth that the poet has contributed to the country throughout her life.
Sosa emphasized that the poverty faced by Mendoza is not an isolated case or a personal problem of the elderly woman: "While many share poems on social media, the woman who writes them counts pennies on the sidewalk. That is not individual poverty. It's a collective failure."
The need to rely on public charity highlights the government's inability to guarantee basic rights and food security for its most vulnerable citizens, particularly elderly individuals and seniors facing economic difficulties.
In his account, Sosa emphasized Mendoza's dignity, as she did not ask for pity but rather for concrete help: "She asked for time. She asked for strength. She asked for her husband to be able to have dinner."
To accompany his gesture, in addition to a bag of food, he gifted her a rose, which he described as a symbol of respect: "The rose was not just decoration. It was respect. It was a way of telling her: culture is not disposable. It was a reminder that her dignity remains intact even if the fabric is torn."
The poetess received the rose without crying, smiling quietly, showing that adversity has not silenced her voice or her creativity.
In the video shared by Sosa, a dialogue filled with recognition and affection is observed.
He says to her, "You are a woman who makes poetry. And those of us who believe in poetry must have faith and hope in the common good."
The elderly woman hugged him and said a prayer as she received the bag of food for herself and her husband.
"We will keep seeing each other," the activist announced.
Sosa concluded with a remark that encapsulates the seriousness of the situation: "A country that leaves its poets in the street is not facing an economic crisis. It is experiencing a moral crisis... Because when beauty begs, something deep is rotting."
The story of Isabel Mendoza reveals how the negligence of the Cuban state has pushed the most vulnerable citizens to depend on private solidarity, exposing a humanitarian and ethical crisis that affects artists, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals.
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