"malinalli" poems - Hello Poetry

OLMEDO Cortés, I have a new, but nagging, fear. I sense the premonition of a time When you might be corrupted by the taint Of evils lying latent in our task, That vice, which our assignment permeates, Will tempt resolve to heinous compromise. CORTÉS Our mission is implicit in its vice, In evils ineradicably steeped, And our grand charge requires that we submit To its contamination and decay. A man who would embrace the human lot, To do so, must consent to be a sinner. OLMEDO Blood has been shed- For what? Lives squandered- Why? You, having tripped in sin’s attractive trap, To thus, in fragrant snares so feebly flail, Through frail and flagrant failings such a way, How can you say to me you are contrite? CORTÉS But father, mercy with my malice mingles. These dicey circumstances find me now In both a ruthless and reluctant role. What seems intolerable of this plight Is that it simply will not be reduced To trite antitheses of right and wrong. My conscience both opposes and demands A rouse to action. Enter AGUILAR, ALVARADO, MALINALLI, and a Mayan Girl. AGUILAR Captain, by your will, These endless battles have despoiled your foe, Who offer you these slave girls as a bribe. The terrorized Chontal surrender now. They will be baptized, and befriend our king, Provided that we leave their country soon. CORTÉS Easy to break that promise once we’re gone. Tell them we shall release all Mayan soil, And nomadize into the unknown North. Exit Aguilar. Here, Alvarado, [indicates girl] guide her to your tent. We’ll see what use for this one we can find. Exit all but Malinalli. MALINALLI Now, silly Malinalli, drop your sights, You pretty poppet for these bearded frights.

0

Jan 17, 2017

Jan 17, 2017 at 7:23 PM UTC

david-betten

The Floral War 2:6:73-109

OLMEDO Cortés, I have a new, but nagging, fear. I sense the premonition of a time When you might be corrupted by the taint Of evils lying latent in our task, That vice, which our assignment permeates, Will tempt resolve to heinous compromise. CORTÉS Our mission is implicit in its vice, In evils ineradicably steeped, And our grand charge requires that we submit To its contamination and decay. A man who would embrace the human lot, To do so, must consent to be a sinner. OLMEDO Blood has been shed- For what? Lives squandered- Why? You, having tripped in sin’s attractive trap, To thus, in fragrant snares so feebly flail, Through frail and flagrant failings such a way, How can you say to me you are contrite? CORTÉS But father, mercy with my malice mingles. These dicey circumstances find me now In both a ruthless and reluctant role. What seems intolerable of this plight Is that it simply will not be reduced To trite antitheses of right and wrong. My conscience both opposes and demands A rouse to action. Enter AGUILAR, ALVARADO, MALINALLI, and a Mayan Girl. AGUILAR Captain, by your will, These endless battles have despoiled your foe, Who offer you these slave girls as a bribe. The terrorized Chontal surrender now. They will be baptized, and befriend our king, Provided that we leave their country soon. CORTÉS Easy to break that promise once we’re gone. Tell them we shall release all Mayan soil, And nomadize into the unknown North. Exit Aguilar. Here, Alvarado, [indicates girl] guide her to your tent. We’ll see what use for this one we can find. Exit all but Malinalli. MALINALLI Now, silly Malinalli, drop your sights, You pretty poppet for these bearded frights.

47

TEUHTLILLI [aside] The unknown guests which call me to the east Are such a hoax-like sighting as may lend To superstition credence; rumors, weight. I fear some rash infection has arrived. Reports pour in of towers on the waves, Maneuvered by a spectral race of men, The truth of which I must submit to test. And so it goes: The fleet of hueless troops Approaches from the seashore as I speak. Now, after weeks of waiting in the sticks, At last, my first glimpse of these lily-skins. Gods grant that they behave. Enter CORTÉS, ALVARADO, SANDOVAL, AGUILAR. AGUILAR Behold, Cortés, Your foremost model of a Mexican. TEUHTLILLI Hail, friends of Mexico! Which is your chief? Enter MALINALLI. CORTÉS Well, Aguilar? AGUILAR He speaks a nonsense tongue. We’re too far north. I can no longer help. TEUHTLILLI I ask again: Where is your leader, friends? MALINALLI [aside] (Now, silly girl, or never.) [indicating Cortés] This is he. TEUHTLILLI What’s this? A mediating concubine? AGUILAR You speak his language, girl, as well as mine? CORTÉS What, will this slave girl double-cross us all? MALINALLI Our humble chieftain greets your emperor And many times does kiss those regal hands. TEUHTLILLI That’s well. AGUILAR That’s well! CORTÉS This all seems to be well. AGUILAR Rejoice, Cortés! This maid is double-tongued. She’ll translate his words into my Chontal- From him to her, from her to me, to you. CORTÉS Then let us test these true but tedious links. MALINALLI You were saying, sir? TEUHTLILLI How many braves trail in your train? MALINALLI How many warriors tread in your wake? AGUILAR How many soldiers shadow you? CORTÉS Five thousand. AGUILAR Uh, five thousand. MALINALLI They’ve a thousand, sir. TEUHTLILLI I’ll see your thousand and I’ll raise you two. [to a servant] Deploy two thousand men to build them huts, [aside] But crammed with warlocks, witch doctors, and spies. Exit a servant. AGUILAR This works well. CORTÉS Thus the fragile chain is forged. Friend, you must look upon our advent here Not with unease, but as a world of good.

0

Mar 28, 2017

Mar 28, 2017 at 9:27 PM UTC

david-betten

The Floral War 2:7:1-41

TEUHTLILLI [aside] The unknown guests which call me to the east Are such a hoax-like sighting as may lend To superstition credence; rumors, weight. I fear some rash infection has arrived. Reports pour in of towers on the waves, Maneuvered by a spectral race of men, The truth of which I must submit to test. And so it goes: The fleet of hueless troops Approaches from the seashore as I speak. Now, after weeks of waiting in the sticks, At last, my first glimpse of these lily-skins. Gods grant that they behave. Enter CORTÉS, ALVARADO, SANDOVAL, AGUILAR. AGUILAR Behold, Cortés, Your foremost model of a Mexican. TEUHTLILLI Hail, friends of Mexico! Which is your chief? Enter MALINALLI. CORTÉS Well, Aguilar? AGUILAR He speaks a nonsense tongue. We’re too far north. I can no longer help. TEUHTLILLI I ask again: Where is your leader, friends? MALINALLI [aside] (Now, silly girl, or never.) [indicating Cortés] This is he. TEUHTLILLI What’s this? A mediating concubine? AGUILAR You speak his language, girl, as well as mine? CORTÉS What, will this slave girl double-cross us all? MALINALLI Our humble chieftain greets your emperor And many times does kiss those regal hands. TEUHTLILLI That’s well. AGUILAR That’s well! CORTÉS This all seems to be well. AGUILAR Rejoice, Cortés! This maid is double-tongued. She’ll translate his words into my Chontal- From him to her, from her to me, to you. CORTÉS Then let us test these true but tedious links. MALINALLI You were saying, sir? TEUHTLILLI How many braves trail in your train? MALINALLI How many warriors tread in your wake? AGUILAR How many soldiers shadow you? CORTÉS Five thousand. AGUILAR Uh, five thousand. MALINALLI They’ve a thousand, sir. TEUHTLILLI I’ll see your thousand and I’ll raise you two. [to a servant] Deploy two thousand men to build them huts, [aside] But crammed with warlocks, witch doctors, and spies. Exit a servant. AGUILAR This works well. CORTÉS Thus the fragile chain is forged. Friend, you must look upon our advent here Not with unease, but as a world of good.

63

CORTÉS Friend, you must look upon our advent here Not with unease, but as a world of good. AGUILAR [simultaneously] . . . but as a world of good. My potent monarch rules beyond the seas, And rumors tease his ears of Mexico. I come to you as his ambassador, MALINALLI [simultaneously] . . . to you as his ambassador, With gifts I must in person grant your lord, And bring him tidings that will save his life. TEUHTLILLI [aside] (Fresh off the boat, and asks for audience!) My ruler also is a busy king, Like yours, and he will send for his desires. MALINALLI [simultaneously] . . . he will send for his desires. He’s locked in caucus from his island throne: The teeming, lacustrine metropolis Of Mexico, called also, “Cactus Rock,” AGUILAR [simultaneously] . . . called also, “Cactus Rock,” Whose minions by the millions stir with drive, And fructify the land on floating farms. CORTÉS A land with gold in hand? TEUHTLILLI By heaps and mounds. CORTÉS “Why ask?” you’ll ask. I ask because I know That precious metal heals an arrant heart. My men are languishing from that complaint. TEUHTLILLI We have the cure to purge bad-hearted men. [aside] (By god, his helmet flashes on my mind: Dead ringer to the one our war god wears.) [to him] May I, sir, as a token of goodwill, Present my lord your brilliant helm? CORTÉS You may, If you return it filled with grains of gold. We’ll test by trial if this New World’s veins Are worth the circulation of the Old. Come sir, we’ll further parley by the fire. Escort this minister to my retreat. Exit Alvarado, Sandoval, Teuhtlilli, and servant. Well now, young lady. What whelp have we here? AGUILAR Your name, child. MALINALLI Malinalli. AGUILAR Ah, Malina. CORTÉS Well! Marina, then. I’ll sponsor you, in my kind custody. Mellifluous and honey-throated dame, Your golden tongue must buy us a good name. All exit.

0

Apr 6, 2017

Apr 6, 2017 at 1:15 PM UTC

david-betten

The Floral War 2:7:40-76

CORTÉS Friend, you must look upon our advent here Not with unease, but as a world of good. AGUILAR [simultaneously] . . . but as a world of good. My potent monarch rules beyond the seas, And rumors tease his ears of Mexico. I come to you as his ambassador, MALINALLI [simultaneously] . . . to you as his ambassador, With gifts I must in person grant your lord, And bring him tidings that will save his life. TEUHTLILLI [aside] (Fresh off the boat, and asks for audience!) My ruler also is a busy king, Like yours, and he will send for his desires. MALINALLI [simultaneously] . . . he will send for his desires. He’s locked in caucus from his island throne: The teeming, lacustrine metropolis Of Mexico, called also, “Cactus Rock,” AGUILAR [simultaneously] . . . called also, “Cactus Rock,” Whose minions by the millions stir with drive, And fructify the land on floating farms. CORTÉS A land with gold in hand? TEUHTLILLI By heaps and mounds. CORTÉS “Why ask?” you’ll ask. I ask because I know That precious metal heals an arrant heart. My men are languishing from that complaint. TEUHTLILLI We have the cure to purge bad-hearted men. [aside] (By god, his helmet flashes on my mind: Dead ringer to the one our war god wears.) [to him] May I, sir, as a token of goodwill, Present my lord your brilliant helm? CORTÉS You may, If you return it filled with grains of gold. We’ll test by trial if this New World’s veins Are worth the circulation of the Old. Come sir, we’ll further parley by the fire. Escort this minister to my retreat. Exit Alvarado, Sandoval, Teuhtlilli, and servant. Well now, young lady. What whelp have we here? AGUILAR Your name, child. MALINALLI Malinalli. AGUILAR Ah, Malina. CORTÉS Well! Marina, then. I’ll sponsor you, in my kind custody. Mellifluous and honey-throated dame, Your golden tongue must buy us a good name. All exit.

49

MARÍA DE ESTRADA Freeze, ***** It’s your mistress bids you halt. Let’s see what trulls the latest nets have trawled. Not bad, sad slave. You’ll fit your new career: A teenage tartlet to refresh their tents. Don Alvarado keeps a natty ring Pranked up with goads, whose stingers top its face, To spur reluctant steeds through rocky rides. You’ll buckle underneath such battery. I hope your yelps won’t stir my husband’s sleep. María de Estrada, at your service, serf. I reign sole victrix of this manly camp, For I’m not fit to mince and kiss my hand, Like all those gingerbread girls back in Spain. No, Cuba was a rowdy, lax frontier Where I was raised to tussle with the boys, And now stand champion in these warlike ranks- For boundaries built up by prejudice Are not reformed by mediocrities. Once I have overmatched your Amazons, I’ll force those tomboy squaws to nurse my brats- If but a single, over-muscled pap Can fortify the husky chaps I’ll breed. Enter GARRIDO with baggage, and passes over the stage. Look to your maidhood, miss, or be dismayed. [to Garrido] Hold, boy! You’ve got my bag of needments there. Exit. MALINALLI What gibberish! So much chin-music to me, But something of her drift I comprehend. I must assert my merit here. But how? My *** A trump card every girl here holds. But what my prodigy at languages? I’ll trail their chieftain, and my gift of tongues Shall lift his veil unto this ****** world. Exit.

0

Feb 22, 2017

Feb 22, 2017 at 3:25 PM UTC

david-betten

The Floral War 2:6:110-140

MARÍA DE ESTRADA Freeze, ***** It’s your mistress bids you halt. Let’s see what trulls the latest nets have trawled. Not bad, sad slave. You’ll fit your new career: A teenage tartlet to refresh their tents. Don Alvarado keeps a natty ring Pranked up with goads, whose stingers top its face, To spur reluctant steeds through rocky rides. You’ll buckle underneath such battery. I hope your yelps won’t stir my husband’s sleep. María de Estrada, at your service, serf. I reign sole victrix of this manly camp, For I’m not fit to mince and kiss my hand, Like all those gingerbread girls back in Spain. No, Cuba was a rowdy, lax frontier Where I was raised to tussle with the boys, And now stand champion in these warlike ranks- For boundaries built up by prejudice Are not reformed by mediocrities. Once I have overmatched your Amazons, I’ll force those tomboy squaws to nurse my brats- If but a single, over-muscled pap Can fortify the husky chaps I’ll breed. Enter GARRIDO with baggage, and passes over the stage. Look to your maidhood, miss, or be dismayed. [to Garrido] Hold, boy! You’ve got my bag of needments there. Exit. MALINALLI What gibberish! So much chin-music to me, But something of her drift I comprehend. I must assert my merit here. But how? My *** A trump card every girl here holds. But what my prodigy at languages? I’ll trail their chieftain, and my gift of tongues Shall lift his veil unto this ****** world. Exit.

35

[May 1; In a Mexican-controlled territory on the Gulf Coast.] Enter AGUILAR and MALINALLI. AGUILAR Blood. MALINALLI Sangre. AGUILAR Gold. MALINALLI Oro. AGUILAR War. MALINALLI Guerra. AGUILAR God. MALINALLI Dios. Yo soy Marina. Yo soy traducidora. Enough lessons, Aguilar! AGUILAR Cortés insists you must perfect his tongue. I’ll have succeeded once I’m obsolete. MALINALLI Aguilar, Sometimes, I think of that Guerrero. AGUILAR Why? MALINALLI He entered my world; now I enter his. At first, a forced exchange, but in the end, We both embrace our foster families, And shall go as enigmas to our graves. AGUILAR Hush now, here comes that meddling Mexican. (Enter TEUHTLILLI, with two attendants.) MALINALLI Where do you come from? TEUHTLILLI From where do I come? From Mexico. MALINALLI You may, or you may not. Perhaps you tease. I know we all would like To claim that we’re from Mexico these days. TEUHTLILLI I come to greet my sovereign, who is here. MALINALLI [to Aguilar] He says he’s here to meet his sovereign lord. AGUILAR You err, my dear. He must’ve said, “your lord.” MALINALLI In fact, he claims his king is here with us. AGUILAR Captain, come forth! Our emissary’s here. And, sir- I’d look as kingly as you can.

0

Aug 18, 2023

Aug 18, 2023 at 10:27 PM UTC

david-betten

The Floral War 3.1.1-27

[May 1; In a Mexican-controlled territory on the Gulf Coast.] Enter AGUILAR and MALINALLI. AGUILAR Blood. MALINALLI Sangre. AGUILAR Gold. MALINALLI Oro. AGUILAR War. MALINALLI Guerra. AGUILAR God. MALINALLI Dios. Yo soy Marina. Yo soy traducidora. Enough lessons, Aguilar! AGUILAR Cortés insists you must perfect his tongue. I’ll have succeeded once I’m obsolete. MALINALLI Aguilar, Sometimes, I think of that Guerrero. AGUILAR Why? MALINALLI He entered my world; now I enter his. At first, a forced exchange, but in the end, We both embrace our foster families, And shall go as enigmas to our graves. AGUILAR Hush now, here comes that meddling Mexican. (Enter TEUHTLILLI, with two attendants.) MALINALLI Where do you come from? TEUHTLILLI From where do I come? From Mexico. MALINALLI You may, or you may not. Perhaps you tease. I know we all would like To claim that we’re from Mexico these days. TEUHTLILLI I come to greet my sovereign, who is here. MALINALLI [to Aguilar] He says he’s here to meet his sovereign lord. AGUILAR You err, my dear. He must’ve said, “your lord.” MALINALLI In fact, he claims his king is here with us. AGUILAR Captain, come forth! Our emissary’s here. And, sir- I’d look as kingly as you can.

44