Cleveland State University

Poetry Center

Gaspar Pedro GonzÁlez
The Hummingbird (NO'TZUNUN)

   

The Dry Season

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Q'anjob'al | English | español

NO'TZUNUN (Q'anjob'al)

bird photosYakuxha heb'komam
Cha chem an kolej
Yin jun t'uj ha'
B'nb'il yetoq k'u.

Nab'alej chach k'ayajoq,
Ayachik'altek'a'ek'oq Chach juljoni
Spixan heb' pixanej.

Nani' eyach kayti' Junxa b'eq
k'amachxa.  Pixanej hach, Kawilej
hach, Yesalej chi t'ujili'elteq Xolaq
sq'ab' Yib'an q'ainl.

Yin haxik' max kan K'uan jun
yilb'anil, Sb'onil, k'al yawji Yet
wichmamil payxa.
 
—Gaspar Pedro González

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THE HUMMINGBIRD ( English )

hummingbirdNeedle of the gods
Who weaves
the huipils
On a drop of dew
Lit
by the sun.

Evanescent thought
Omnipresent, Vibrant Guardian
spirit of guardian spirits.

Now you're here Then, suddenly
you're not.  You are the heart,
life, The spirit that slips
Through the fingers Of nature.

Within the beating of your
wings A cache Color and sound
Of my ancestors.

—English translation by R. McKenna Brown
       and Gaspar Pedro González

EL COLIBRI ( español)

hummingbirdAguja de los kioses Que tejes
los güilpes En una gota de
rocio Pintado del sol.

Pensamiento volátil,
Omnipresente; Vibrante Nawal
de nawales.

Ahora estás aqui, de pronto ya
no.  Eres el alma, La vida,
Espiritu que se escurre Entre
los dedos De la naturaleza.

En tus alas quedó Achivada la
visión, El color y el sonido De
un pedazo de mi pasado.
 
—Gaspar Pedro González

 

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