All the mystique of poetry seemed to converge recently in the home of Zoila Nieves Molina Pupo, coordinator in the province of the Tecla del Duende literary gathering, with the visit of the Reading at Home initiative ("Leer en Casa" Journey).

Las Tunas, Cuba.- The initiative, created by writer and cultural promoter Lely Carrasco, along with Romina Funes from Argentina and Yirama Castaña from Colombia, brings the magic of verse to domestic spaces both inside and outside Cuba. In the Balcón de Oriente, Nieves' home became the 42nd house to host the journey.

A poem by Fredy Chikangana, read by Lely Carrasco, kicked off the activity, in which Lourdes Salgado, Iris Cruz, Acirys Espinosa, Dayislenis Velázquez, Argel Fernández Granado, Yuslenis Molina, Osmel Valdés, Mailín Valdés, and others participated. Like the name in the indigenous language of Chikangana: Wiñay Mallki, which means “root that remains in time,” the poetry of these and other authors flowed through the space in beautiful harmony, demonstrating the perpetuity of this artistic expression.

It was not in vain that Carrasco said: “The journey has the aesthetics of a loom, because each little house is a thread that connects (...). It allows each house to open another house. Here you can feel the fire of poetry, and the books are there, close by, because they are our allies.”

During the visit to Las Tunas, those present read works of their own authorship, as well as those of other colleagues, such as Adalberto Hechavarría and Jorge García Prieto (“Poe Cid”). In addition, they shared anecdotes, experiences, and reflections filled with spirituality and brotherhood.

From a geographical distance, journalist and writer Jesús Arencibia shared some of his writings dedicated to Jesús Otra Ruiz (Indio Naborí). The participants also gave each other books and expressed their willingness to continue creating “little houses” that will further strengthen the Leer en Casa Journey.