The Ancients

The most alluring moon

has risen over the forest;

it is going to burn

suspended in the center

of the sky to lighten

all the earth, all the woods,

shining its light on all.

Sweetly comes the air and the perfume.

Happiness permeates all good men.

We have arrived inside the woods

where no one will see what we have

come here to do.

We have brought plumeria flowers,

chucum blossoms, dog jasmines;

we have the copal,

the low cane vine,

the land tortoise shell,

new quartz, chalk and cotton thread;

the new chocolate cup,

the large fine flint,

the new weight,

the new needle work,

gifts of turkeys, new leather,

all new, even our hair bands,

they touch us with nectar

of the roaring conch shell

of the ancients.

Already, already

we are in the heart of the woods,

at the edge of the pool in the stone

to await the rising

of the lovely smoking star

over the forest.

Take off your clothes,

let down your hair,

become as you were

when you arrived here on earth,

virgins, maidens.