A Flower Song
Apparently the Aztecs, Toltecs, Chichimecs and other Mexica were crazy about poetry. Despite the book-burning, slaughter, and epidemics that characterized the early stages of the Spanish conquest of the empires of Mexico, some hundreds of poems from the height of their tradition come down to us in Classical Nahuatl, preserved by Nahua and Spanish scholars of the 16th century. One of the most famous poets, Nezahualcoyotl, was a sage-king who opposed the cult of human sacrifice associated with Tezcatlipoca, God of the Smoking Mirror, and favored Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent. Flowers and feathers were the favorite offering of the Plumed Serpent. Moreover, flowers and feathers are a metaphor for poetry. Individual words, scattered petals, the down of tropical birds. The temples of blood sacrifice could be transformed into temples of flower and song. A sublimated offering to the Heart of Earth and the Heart of Sky encapsulated in the Classical Nahuatl kenning for poetry: in xōchitl in cuīcatl, meaning, "the flower and the song."
The following poem is part of a longer work, and is in a state of flux, so take the waters as they flow:
Comments (24)
This feels like a reassuring hug. I love the reminder that emptiness and shadows are temporary.
let me tell you "feathered kisses of gratitude" gave me chills
How utterly lovely and freeing in a way. You're a beautiful genius :)
What an incredible last line! Excellent acrostic, Cathy!
Beautifully done, great entry!
Wonderfully inspirational piece, Cathy! Great job!
Soothing for the soul; loved it Cathy!
I like the uplifting message behind this one Cathy, and the idea that “ emptiness is just as temporary”😊
This was extremely powerful and optimistic! Stunning work!
☺️👏💚
Delightful!🤩
Lovely!
Well done!!!
This is so beautifullt done, my friend, and the last line brings it together so well! 🤗❤️
I adore the optimism. Melancholy sunny side up. Right up my street. ❤️
This is beautiful and inspirational, and the flow is fantastic! I would barely have noticed it was an acrostic because the transitions between lines are so smooth.
Oh, Cathy, this is beautiful! So hopeful and the words just perfect!
Stunning work! Very inspirational!!!!!
Nailed it!!! 💕❤️❤️
that 'emptiness is just as temporary as the shadows obscuring the light', is what I needed to hear today. You delivered this so well Cathy!
Hi-C ~ Thank you for instilling in us a sun-shiny-day ~ j.in.l.a.
You've left me uplifted and slightly breathless. Lovely!
Beautiful sentimentality and peace to this - got me some tears. Exactly what I needed to read RN, stunning 🤍
Beautiful!!! ‘Feathered kisses of gratitude’ loved that line.