Arts and Literature of Cuba

confessed to “counterrevolutionary activity,” pleaded for a

chance to make amends for his “gross errors,” and denounced

other critics of the Castro regime, including his friend

Guillermo Cabrera Infante, whom he accused of being an agent

of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. From the tone of the

statement, as well as its assorted ludicrous claims, those who

knew Padilla recognized that his confession had been coerced.

Intellectuals across the world were outraged. Many who

had previously supported Cuba’s socialist revolution turned

against the Castro regime. More than 60 famous writers signed

a letter to Castro decrying Padilla’s mistreatment. Though the

poet was released from prison, the government blocked him

from publishing any more of his work in Cuba.

Padilla sought to emigrate but was repeatedly denied per-

mission. Finally, in 1980, he was allowed to move to the United

States. There he taught at various universities. He also pub-

lished poetry, several novels, and, in 1989, a memoir of his

troubles in Cuba. It was called

La mala memoria

, which in

Spanish means “the bad memory.” The English translation

appeared under the title

Self-Portrait of the Other

That was also the title of a poem in which Padilla—in his

usual spare style and with hints of humor—alluded to his

ordeal in Cuba and described his need to continue expressing

himself:

Is it anxiety, nausea,

raptures?

Or is it just wanting

sometimes to shout out?