Pancho Nácar (b. 1909)

translated by Anthony Seidman

Daybreak Flowering

With splendor, the day is born;
a cooling breeze flutters;
the eye perceives how the sun is reddened as
it unleashes its light.

By the pond, the blackbirds preen;
a boy, whistling, draws water;
perched atop the fence, a red-
plumed bird peers for someplace to flit off.

Some, upon awakening, fetch water;
others, set off to the fields,
and with drinking gourd hanging from their shoulders,
they go, stirring dust over the road.

First Offering

Today is the first visit from your soul;
though I am here in this house, you
are in a distant tomb; in memory
of you, I light two candles to the saints.

I would set a great offering
in your memory if I lived in my pueblo;
how it aches in these moments to be
alone, to live in a foreign land.

If I were in my pueblo, I would raise an altar,
and with sacred palm leaves, sew stars
to adorn the walls, and I would set fruit
and tobacco on the sacred table, and offer liquor.

And the women, they would come and help;
those who were your friends would offer their hands;
as in a home where there is corn to be ground you
  would see
how we devoutly prepare this first offering for your soul.

Pancho Nácar: Born in 1909, Nácar, along with Macario
Matus and Andrés Hinestroza, is considered as one of
the leading poets who wrote in the Zapotec language,
known as Diidxazá, as spoken in the culturally vibrant
region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and Juchitán, Mexico.
He is especially recognized for interpolating Spanish meter
and poetics with the oral traditions of Zapotec song and
story-telling. His one book Ti gueela’ nacahuido’, A Dark
Night, was first published in 1973, and has remained a
legendary books among poets who continue to write in
their native tongue, rather than in the language of the
conquerors.

Pancho Nácar (b. 1909) © 2009
translated by Anthony Seidman © 2009

Siadó’ guíe’

Sicarú rindani gubidxa,
naga’nda; riguiñe ti bi huiini’
rihuinni gubidxa naxiñárini,
naxiñrini rucheeche xpiaani.

Cayaze bigote ruaa bizé,
ti xcuidi cabee nisa ne cutiipi,
guguhuiini’ zuba íque le’
cuyubilú neza guipapa.

Nuu tu riasa ma’ zecaa nisa,
ne nuu tu neza ra ñaa ma’ze’
nanda xi’ que’ ti xigabá,
zeyasa yu dé neza ze’.

Xandú’ Yaa

Cayaca xandú’ yaa stiu’ yanadxí,
Stubelu’cha’ zuba ndaani’ yoo;
Neca zitu ra ba’ napa’ lii,
Chupa xquíri’lu’ caguí lu bidó’.

Nandxó’ ñanda ñune’ lii xandú yaa,
Pa ñaca ndaani’ xquidxe’ nibeza’;
Dunabé huaxa naná rácani naa
Ti zitu nuaa ne xquidxi binni nabeza’.

Pa ñuaa’ ndaani’ xquidxe’ nugaanda’ biyé,
Nicaa’ bichiisa nuzuchaahui’ ndaani’ yoo;
Guirá’ cuananaxhi ña’ta’ lu bidó,
Ñaazi’ gueza, nisa dxu’ni’ nudiee’.

Guirá huna huiini’ nidxiña ñacané,
Ca ni bidxaagu’ nidxiña nudii ná’;
Sica ti yoo, ra cayuutu’ binni dé
Nihuinni ra yoo, casaca xandú’ yaa.
(Original Zapotec text)

Pancho Nácar © 2009