Guantanmera

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Guantanamera 15X38 Pastel and pencil on paper
Guantanamera recognizes the unique connection between Cuban flower bats and the plants they pollinate.  Cuban flower bats are special - they have softer, longer calls, and they do not hover in place. Disc-shaped leaves above flowers have evolved to intensify bat sonar, making them more attractive to bats with specialized flight patterns and ecolocation calls.
As a result, the bats and the plants they pollinate are heavily dependent on each other.
A flowering vine species called Marcgravia evenia is endemic to Cuba and relies heavily on bats for pollination, so much so that it sends out a ‘bat signal.’
This plant has evolved disc-shaped leaves that suspend above a ring of flowers, resembling a satellite dish, precisely what it does. The shape acts as a reflector for the biosonar, or echolocation, emitted by the animal. With this design, the Cuban flower bats can find the plants with greater ease and pollinate them with more frequency.
 - One Earth
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Echolocation patterns and plant shapes
Guantanamera is based on the song Guantanmera, a traditional Cuban folk song that has the power of a national anthem. The lyrics of Guantanamera are adapted from the Cuban poet José Martí's poem I am a Sincere Man. The text on the artwork contains lines from the song and the poem.
Excerpts from Guantanamera and I am a Sincere Man
by José Martí  with translations

Mi verso es de un verde claro y de un carmin encendido.
My verses are clear green and flaming red.

He visto el nacimiento de hermosas alas.
I have seen the birth of beautiful wings.

He visto el cielo. Sé que el mundo cederá.
I have seen the sky. I know the world will yield.

Soy de la tierra donde crecen las palmeras.
I am from the land where the palm trees grow.

Cuelgo de un árbol marchito.
I hang from a withered tree.

Y antes de morirme quiero, echar mis versos del alma.
Before I die I want to cast these verses from my soul.
Image credit - Pixabay Cuban Forest Banner