Cuba: International Poetry Festival Pays Homage to Che Guevara

Cuba is commemorating Marxist revolutionary, Ernesto Che Guevara at the 22nd International Poetry Festival in Havana which opened Monday to mark his 90th birth anniversary.

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The festival highlighting Guevara's thoughts, life, and works, opened under the banner, 'World Meeting of Poets in Defense of Humanity' and is being held in the Habana Libre Hotel. 

According to the president of the Cuban Association of Artists and Writers, Alex Pausides, Ernesto's poetic prowess marked one of the most critical moments of the day. 

Daina Rodríguez of the Che Guevara Research Center told the Xinhua News that the revolutionary who died in Bolivia in October 1967 is widely known for his oratory skills, but little is known about his contributions to the literary art of poetry. Rodriguez noted that Guevara composed several poems, among them those dedicated to the Inca ruins, the "Rhapsody to Fidel" and the "Poem for Aleida" (his wife) are well known.  

The poetry festival includes an extensive program with several forums, recitals by Cuban artists, with book presentations and conversations with students in Havana, as well as the screening of audiovisuals.   

The festival set to conclude on June 3, will be attended by people from over 30 countries from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America who will share their views on the literary art. 

The event is a series of events, which will mark the Latin American revolutionary's birth in Rosario, Argentina, on June 14, 1928.