She Made My Heart Swoon

The sixth cuicatl in Songs of the Lords of Anahuac, my English translation of the codex Romances de los señores de la Nueva España.

By Tlaltecatzin¹
Drum cadence: titoco titoco titoco titoco titoco titoco ti²

I come to guard the city
to which I am called,
for using his blooms,
the Giver of Life
paints banquets.³

You were abandoned
in your mansion,
Tlaltecatzin,
sighing,
uttering cries —

“Ya cayo! Ohuiya!”⁴

And you only sing
for my god,
sighing,
uttering cries —

Ya cayo! Ohuiya!

Just a scarlet ibis
bursting into flame,
your garland of flowers
grows bushy and lush,
sweet, motherly woman.

Fragrant popcorn bloom,⁵
you are only borrowed.⁶
You will be abandoned
and will leave in due time.
All will be shorn of the flesh.⁷

You have arrived here
among the princes,
you marvelous creature.
There you perch, my blue cotinga,
resting on my feathered mat.