Chi re nutijonel

 

Tijonel

¿Yatruxib’ij ri kotokik taq nutz’ib’?

¿Yatruxib’ij ch’ab’aqläj nutzyaq?

¿Yatruxib’ij ri xich’ixik nuwi’?

 

Tinwila’ na tijonel.

 

Ja ri ch’ujurneq nuk’u’x chi kij taq b’onil,

ja ri k’a runaj yina apon apo pa tijob’äl

o ja ri pajala’ yixajon qa pa etz’anib’äl.

 

Re k’o ninb’ij, k’o ninb’ij chawe tijonel.

 

Rïn chuqa’ nuxb’in wi’...

mmmmm

xa eqal eqal ninmestaj qach’ab’äl,

xa ninmestaj yich’on kik’in taq chikopi’,

xa majun chik niq’ax ta pa nuwi’ rutzij ri kaj…

 

¡Tijonel!

¿K’a ütz niqatijoj qi’ junam?

Tiqetamaj qach’abäl.

​

Kit kit kit, qol qol qol, kit kit kit, qol qol qol…

 

To my teacher

 

Miss

Does my twisted handwriting frighten you?

Does the mud on my clothing frighten you?

Does my unruly hair frighten you?

 

I know, teacher. 

 

It’s my heart gone wild for colors,

it’s my late arrivals at school 

or it’s my dances in the middle of the field.

 

I’ll tell you a secret, Miss. 

 

I’m also fearful…

mmmmm

I’m starting to forget Kaqchikel,

I’m starting to forget to talk with the animals,

I almost can’t understand the celestial signs…

 

Teacher!

Can we relearn together?

Let’s learn our language. 

 

Kit kit kit, qol qol qol, Kit kit kit, qol qol qol…

​

Translated by Sarah Gómez Negrete