Ore’yomo (Two)
translated from the Spanish by Wendy Call and Shook
Young woman
May flower
chrysalis
resplendence
full moon belly
Young woman who hides
exquisite secrets beneath her skirt
Young woman who cries
for not knowing her roots
Ancient goddess
young woman
come sing with me
come forget what wounds us
this thorn that pierces us
come my sister
come with me to join our voices
against any who spit on
our roots
Ore’yomo (Dos)
Muchacha
flor de mayo
capullo
resplandor
vientre en plenilunio
Muchacha que escondes bajo tu falda
los secretos más exquisitos
Muchacha que lloras
porque desconoces tu origen
Diosa milenaria
muchacha
ven a cantar conmigo
ven a olvidar esto que nos hiere
esta espinita que se nos encarna
ven hermana mía
ven a maldecir conmigo
a todos aquellos que escupieron sobre
nuestro origen
Metza’
Papinyi’omo
jäyä’mayu
jäyä’une
sänhkä’
jomepä’yomo
Papinyi’omo nhkäwänhpapä’is mij’ nhteksi’kämä
omyajpapä’ musoki’uy
Papinyomo’ nhjyä’pyapä’is
ji’ nhkomusi’anhkä mij’ winapä’ijtku’y
Yom’komi anhuku’is’nyeram
papinyi’omo’
minä’ wanä’ äjtzyinh,
minä’ ma nhtä’ jampärame’ nhtä’ nhtoya’ram
yä’ apijt’ tä’ taj’tampapä’is
mina’ tzätzä’
mina’ ma’ nhtä’’ yatzyi’ä’tyame’
mumu’ te’ tzuj’yajupä’ nhtä’
näyi’käsiram.
From How to Be a Good Savage by Mikeas Sánchez. Translated from the Zoque and Spanish by Wendy Call and Shook. Copyright © 2024 by Wendy Call and Shook. Used with the permission of Milkweed Editions, milkweed.org