I was surrounded by
underground water that for an instant
became sky.

Carlos Pellicer
in Sketch for a tropical ode
1932

Time was measured by the goodness of the sun,
by the netting formed by the stars .

The Chilam Balam of Chumayel
16th century

And here is the dawning
and showing of the Sun, Moon, and Stars.

Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life
16th century

The moon, wind, year, day:
everything advances, [and] also passes.

The Chilam Balam of Chumayel
16th century

The waters were divided when the great mountains
appeared.

Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life
16th century

Ceiba tree that casts my race to the winds.

Rosario Castellanos
in To the tree that stands in the middle of towns
1952

Tiger the color of light
On the outskirts of night.

Octavio Paz
in Sunstone
1957

And so it smells of soursop
from the ferns to the ceiba.

Carlos Pellicer
in Sketch for a tropical ode
1932

A serpent, barely,
unleashed that spell
that was already a bright star on the horizon.

Carlos Pellicer
in Sketch for a tropical ode
1932

The sun is such a jaguar that it passes by silently.

Carlos Pellicer
in Teotihuacan
1964

The making, the modeling of our first mother-father,
with yellow corn, white corn alone for the flesh,
food alone for the human legs and arms.

Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life
16th century

In the middle of the plaza
is a man […]
well painted
with beautiful indigo.

Maya poem from the Songs of Dzitbalché
in X-Kolom-Che or Song to he who will be shot with arrows
ca. 1740

Those who lived in the citadels
[their mountain place] multiplied then.

Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life
16th century

A tree deep-rooted yet dancing still.

Octavio Paz
in Sunstone
1957

I am like the sun and moon
for those who are born in the light,
begotten in the light.

Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life
16th century

It has reached the middle of the sky;
it shines its light on all things.

Maya poem from the Songs of Dzitbalché
in Song of the frangipani ca. 1740

Standing erect herself
alone, so alone that all the trees
gaze at her night and day.

Carlos Pellicer
in Sketch for a tropical ode
1932

And then they arrived on top of a mountain there.

Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life
16th century

Down there look runs the river of the centuries
the river of signs.

Octavio Paz
in Clear Night
1962

And now we shall tell about their stay
and their sojourn there
on the mountain.

Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life
16th century

All is transformed, all is sacred,
every room is the center of the world.

Octavio Paz
in Sunstone
1957