Aztec Poetry Openers

• Poetry in the Aztec world was known as "flower and song," the Nahuatl (Aztec language) metaphors for art and symbolism. It was the highest art form and it often celebrated the transient nature of life on earth. The theme of cut flowers was regularly used to symbolize the temporary fragility and beauty of existence.

• Life, so solid, so apparently real, was thus an illusion. Only by creating art, by imitating the Lord of the Close and the Near, could they aspire to immortality. Thus the idea that "art made things divine," and only the divine was true.

• In this they felt they were imitating their principal deity, Omeoteotl, the creator of the universe, also called the Lord and Lady of the Close and the Near.

Extended lies the city lies MexicoSpreading circles of emerald light radiating splendor like a

quetzal plumeOh author of life your house is hereYour song is heard on earth It spreads among the people…Behold MexicoProudly stands the city of Mexico, TenochtitlanHere no one fears to die in war,Keep this in mind oh Princes,Who could attack Tenochtitlan?Who could attack the foundations of heaven?

TuesdayWE ONLY LIVE IN YOUR BOOK OF PAINTINGS With flowers You paint, Giver of Life!

With songs You give color,with songs You shade

those who will live on the earth.Later You will destroy eagles and tigers:we live only in Your paintinghere, on the earth.

With black ink You will blot outall that was friendship,brotherhood, nobility.

You give shadingto those who will live on the earth.We live only in Your book of paintings,here on the earth

HUNGRY-COYOTE (NEZAHUALCOYOTL) King of Texcoco (1431-72)

Wednesday

Like the spring grassLike the spring grass

We come only to sleep,Only to dream.It is not true, it is not trueThat we have come to live on Earth!

Thursday

One by one I bring together your songsI am linking the jades, With them I make a bracelet of everlasting

gold.Bedeck yourself with them;They are your wealth in the region of

flowersThey are your wealth on the earth

Friday

• Does man possess any truth? • Does man possess any truth?

if not, our song is no longer true. Is anything stable and lasting?What reaches its aim?

• The giver of life mocks of usonly a dream we chaseoh my friendsour hearth trustBut he really mock of usbut with emotion we enjoyin the green things and in the paintingsThe giver of life make us livehe knows, he ruleshow we, the men, will dienobody, nobody, nobodyreally lives on earth.

• (Manuscript, Cantares Mexicanos/National Library of Mexico)

Aztec Poetry Openers QuizAztec Poetry Openers Quiz1. Spreading circles of emerald light radiating splendor like a _ _ _ _ _ _ _

plumequetzal2. Proudly stands the city of Mexico, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tenochtitlan3. One by one I bring together your songs I am linking the _ _ _ _ _jades4. With black ink You will blot out all that was friendship, brotherhood,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .nobility5. Like the _ _ _ _ _ _ grass we come only to sleepSpring6. Does man _ _ _ _ _ _ _ any truth?possess7. They are your wealth in the region of _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Flowers8. We come only to sleep, only to _ _ _ _ _dream.

Bonus QuestionBonus QuestionPoetry in the Aztec world was known as “_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _”"flower and song,"