tlamatinis funambulism

excerpts from Víctor Terán’s “Poems/ Diidxado’”

photograph by A.B. Godfreed

The earth is like a great comal
above God’s hot coals
in my hand it lies dying
the turtle dove that dreamed of cooing you to sleep

Just yesterday
I was a bell
joyfully coming and going

Why is it birthed in me
to knife the heart

Now bring me
the birds
that you find in the trees
Love
goes and comes like the night

Laugh shadow
or beat it to look for your skeleton!

With these memories, how can I feel hurt?
Though you left me, how can I abhor you?

Who said
Forgetting exists
Maybe because of this, God doesn’t die

…

Guidxilayú ri’ naca ti dxia naro’ba’ qui gapa xhibia’
candaabi’ lu xté diuxi
ndaani’ naya’ nexheguundu’ guguhuiini’
guleza lii