Achi’el ri su’m

 

Nutata’ niyakatäj Qatata’ Q’ij,

salek’ achi’ achi’el ri su’m

nutz’u’ ri jun q’ij, nusamajij ri ulew

paq’ij nutij ruway rik’in ka’i’ oj.

 

Nutata’ nuchajij ri awän rik’in retamab’al

eqal eqal nuch’ojch’ob’irisaj ri xkoya’

pa rub’eyal nuwüx ri kinäq’

chuqa’ janila nik’awoman rik’in Qate’ ruwach’ulew.

 

K’o itzel taq winäq nikib’ij chi rija’ majun retamab’al ta

ruma man retaman ta nusik’ij taq tz’ib’,

po rïn jeb’ël wetaman chi janila ruq’ij ri nutata’,

nutata’ retaman nutz’ët ri nimaläj kajulew

nrak’axaj kich’ab’äl ri kaj, ri jäb’, ri taq tz’ikina’

Chuqa’ nirak’axaj ri k’aqatiläj wanima.

 

Pum pum, pum pum, pum pum, pum pum…

 

Like the sunflower

​

My father rises with Father Sun, 

like the sunflower he bends

from sunrise to sunset he works the land 

and eats tortillas and guacamole at noon 

 

My father tends the maize with his science 

he cleans the tomato with patience 

cuts the beans with prudence 

and thanks Mother Earth with reverence 

 

There are people who say he's ignorant

cause he can’t read vowels or consonants 

but I know Father's important 

cause he reads the Universe so magnificent,

he understands the Sky, 

he understands the Rain, 

he understands the birds

and he understands my radiant heart. 

 

Pum pum, pum pum, pum pum, pum pum… 

 

Translated by Juliana Palmas Vera