by Efren Paredes, Jr.
I dedicate this poem to my mother, Velia, and the Latina mothers of the world.
Diosa bronzera
anointed mother of life
First guide and protector
a multitude of delights.
Nurturer of goodness
we emulate your ways
Which sustain our existence
'til our last waking day.
Vanish the cold
with the warmth of your arms
The lessons you teach us
we wear them like charms.
Your devotion a testament
why your legacy endures
Hold the world in your hands
as if it were yours.
The calm voice of reason
that rings in our ear
Your tone is melodic
the knowledge of seers.
A heart full of treasure
a luminous star
Seemingly ever-present
you watch from afar.
Your compassion so gentle
exuberant with care
Like the beauty of mariposas
that glide through the air.
Create light in the darkness
you calm all our fears
Impart us with wisdom
wipe away all our tears.
Commune with the Cihuateteo
in the Circle of Fire
Survive through the ages
never rest or retire.
Through the annals of history
you've sat on a throne
Reigned over kingdoms
had your name carved in stone.
Your portrait adorns
sacred temple halls
On ceilings and mantles
in glyphs on the walls.
You've held your fists in the air
gripping scepters and rods
Stood at La Pirámide del Sol
where men become gods.
A courageous noble warrior
a reflection of Ollin
Your memory will be honored
as a descendant of Queens.
Diosa bronzera
keep leading the way
For the gift of our lives
We thank you each day.
Copyright © 2007 by Efren Tlecoz Paredes
http://www.4efren.com/
This poem was read at the 1st Annual Flor y Canto Poetry Contest sponsored by LASSO in Jackson, Michigan on August 7, 2007. The poem was among two of the first place winners that won that night.
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Diosa bronzera: Bronze goddess. "Diosa" is goddess in Spanish and "bronzera" is bronze in French.
Cihuateteo: Nahuatl (Aztec) for "goddesses."
La Pirámide del Sol: "The Pyramid of the Sun" located in Teotihuacán, Mexico along the Avenue of the Dead, in between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, and in the shadow of the massive mountain Cerro Gordo. The pyramid is part of a large complex in the heart of the city.
Ollin: Nahuatl (Aztec) for "the sacred movement in continuum, which gives impulse to our world."
