from The Flower Tree, by Nezahualcoyotl, (1402-1472)

[follypersist]

Live here on Earth, blossom! As you move and shake, flowers fall. My flowers are eternal, my songs are forever: I raise them: I, a singer. I scatter them, I spill them, the flowers become gold: they are carried inside the golden place. Ohuaya, ohuyaya.

Flowers of raven, flowers you scatter, you let them fall in the house of flowers. Ohuaya, ohuyaya.

Ah, yes: I am happy, I, prince Nezahualcoyotl, gathering jewels, wide plumes of quetzal, I contemplate the faces of jades: they are the princes! I gaze into the faces of eagles and jaguars, and behold the faces of jades and jewels! Ohuaya ohuyaya.

We will pass away. I, Nezahualcoyotl, say, enjoy! Do we really live on earth? Ohuaya, ohuaya.

Not forever on earth, only a brief time here! Even jades fracture; even gold ruptures, even quetzal plumes tear: Not forever on earth: only a brief time here! Ohuaya, ohuaya.


translation by John Curl

Comments

[oddprophet]

Got to do your living while you're alive! Take in art, nature, every beautiful thing you can lay your peepers on! That's what I'm getting out of it, anyway.