This is a short free-verse poem about a fortress by the beautiful bay of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. My maternal grandfather was held prisoner there for a time during the Spanish Civil War according to my grandmother and mom. He was tortured to reveal the names of others who opposed the fascist forces and condemned to be shot in La Plaza de Maria Pita as a traitor, despite the fact he never bore arms during the war--just spoke out in favor of the failed Republic and supported in words but not deeds the Soviet-backed anti-Franco forces. He was released by an officer in Franco's forces who allowed him to swim to the opposite shore at night. I write about my grandfather in my Unsung Heroes I: Emilio podcasts of which are also available here in both the original English and my Spanish translation. 

From Echoes of Dawn at Dusk: Collected Poems (Volume 2) (C) 2021

From Echoes of Dawn at Dusk: Collected Poems (Volume 2) (C) 2021

This poem is a variation on a theme I've written about before in a poem I posted earlier today. I just published it today on one of two sites in which I frequently post my work, HelloPoetry.com (the second is AllPoetry.com).  

From Echoes of Dawn at Dusk: Collected Poems (Volume 2) (C) 2021

From Echoes of Dawn at Dusk: Collected poems (Volume 2) (C)2021

From Echoes of Dawn at Dusk: Collected poems (Volume 2) (C)2021

From Echoes of Dawn at Dusk: Collected poems (Volume 2) (C)2021

From Echoes of Dawn at Dusk: Collected poems (Volume 2) (C)2021

Free-verse poem from my first book of poems, Of Pain and Ecstasy: Collected Poems.