Synopses & Reviews
In 1898 Tahirassawichi went to Washington
"only to speak about religion"
(as he told the American government)
only to preserve the prayers.
And the Capitol did not impress him."
--from "Tahirassawichi in Washington"
Ernesto Cardenal, Nicaraguan poet, priest, and revolutionary, foresees a new order for humanity. Here in his Indian poems, Father Cardenal interweaves myth, legend, history, and contemporary reality to speak to many subjects, including the assaults on the Iroquois Nation, the political and cultural life of ancient Mexico, the Ghost Dance movement, the disappearance of the buffalo, U.S. policy during the Vietnam War, and human rights in Central America. Each text is rich with history, poetry, and spiritual insight.
This bilingual edition is the only complete collection of Father Cardenal's Indian poems in either Spanish or English. Cardenal has checked and approved the translations and the glossary of cultural and historical referents.
"Of epic proportions... The literal translation conveys the epigrammic style and didactic, political message.... Of timely interest."--Library Journal
"Priest and Nicaraguan revolutionary as well as poet, Cardenal epitomizes what makes literature live in Central America today. His poems are both sonorous and accessible, political and mystical." --Booklist
"... a spectacular work..." --Books of the South West
Synopsis
In 1898 Tahirassawichi went to Washington
only to speakabout religion
(as he told the American government)
onlyto preserve the prayers.
And the Capitol did not impresshim.
-- from Tahirassawichi in Washington
Ernesto Cardenal, Nicaraguan poet, priest, and revolutionary, foresees a new order for humanity. Here in his Indian poems, Father Cardenalinterweaves myth, legend, history, and contemporary reality to speak to manysubjects, including the assaults on the Iroquois Nation, the political and culturallife of ancient Mexico, the Ghost Dance movement, the disappearance of the buffalo, U.S. policy during the Vietnam War, and human rights in Central America. Each textis rich with history, poetry, and spiritual insight.
Thisbilingual edition is the only complete collection of Father Cardenal's Indian poemsin either Spanish or English. Cardenal has checked and approved the translations andthe glossary of cultural and historical referents.
Of epicproportions... The literal translation conveys the epigrammic style and didactic, political message.... Of timely interest. -- LibraryJournal
Priest and Nicaraguan revolutionary as well as poet, Cardenal epitomizes what makes literature live in Central America today. His poemsare both sonorous and accessible, political and mystical. --Booklist
... a spectacular work... -- Books of theSouth West
About the Author
ERNESTO CARDENAL, poet, priest, and revolutionary, foresees a new order for humanity. Early on, his opposition to the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza nearly cost him his life. With Thomas Merton's encouragement, he began his studies of Native American culture and history. He was later Minister of Culture in the Sandinista government. MONIQUE ALTSCHUL completed a thesis on Melville under Jorge Luis Borges and has taught at Iowa State University. Her Mitominas is a multimedia women's project. CARLOS ATLSCHUL, a psychologist, teaches at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. His essays on James Joyce have appeared in Sur.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
LOS OVNIS DO ORO
GOLDEN UFOS
NELE KANTULE
NELE OF KANTULE
ENTREVISTA CON EL CACIQUE YABILIGUINA
INTERVIEW WITH CACIQUE YABILIGUINA
LA TIERRA QUE DIOS NOS ENTREGO
THE LAND GOD GAVE US
SIERRA NEVADA
SIERRA NEVADA
LOS YARUROS
THE YARUROS
LA ARCADIA PERIDIDA
LOST ARCADIA
LOS HIJOS DEL BOSQUE DE LAS PALABRAS-ALMAS
THE SONS OF THE FOREST OF THE WORDS-SOULS
KAYANERENHKOWA
KAYANERENHKOWA
TAHIRASSAWICHI EN WASHINGTON
TAHIRASSAWICHI IN WASHINGTON
MARCHAS PAWNEES
PAWNEE MARCHES
LA DANZA DEL ESPIRITU
THE GHOST DANCE
GRABACIONES DE LA PIPA SAGRADA
THE SACRED PIPE RECORDINGS
CANTARES MEXICANOS I II III IV V VI VII
MEXICAN SONGS I II III IV V VI VII
NEZAHUALCOYOTL
NEZAHUALCOYATL
LOS TLAMATINIMES
THE TLAMATINIMES
IN XOCHITL IN CUICATL
IN XOCHITL IN CUICATL
QUETZALCOATL
ZUETZALCOATL
LA NINA NAHUATL
THE NAHUATL GIRL
MILPA
MILPA
LA CARRETERA
CAUSEWAY
BAJO EL COMAL NEGRO
UNDER THE BLACK COMAL
LAS CIUDADES PERDIDAS
LOST CITIES
MAYAPAN
MAYAPAN
KATUN 11 AHAU
KATUN 11 AHAU
8 AHAU
8 AHAU
ARDILLA DE LOS TUNES DE UN KATUN
SQUIRREL OF THE TUNS OF A KATUN
ORACULOS DE TIKAL (DE UN AH KIN DE KU)
ORACLES OF TIKAL (FROM AN AH KIN OF KU)
ECONOMIA DE TAHUANTINSUYU
THE ECONOMY OF AHUANTINSUYU
EL SECRETO DE MACHU-PICCHU
THE SECRET OF MACHU PICCHU
GLOSSARY