“You declared war on us”
By Irma Pineda
Translated By Wendy Call
You declared war on us
considered us scattered dust
a puny animal
dawn’s weak light
Now you know we are many
friends of the rocks and mountains
we know the rivers’ language
we speak with the seaside sand
Now you know we are not alone
thousands of eyes watch over us in the jungle
and see us dance with death
and see you cry amidst the trees
because you too know fear
Translated from the Isthmus Zapotec and Spanish
Notes:
Read the Isthmus Zapotec-language version by Irma Pineda. Read the Spanish-language version by Irma Pineda. Read the note on this poem by Wendy Call.
Source: Poetry (February 2022)