Broken Spears

[Xipe Totec]

This is a song of mourning. It was written after the fall of another great city, Tenochtitlán. It shows the despair of the inhabitants after the destruction. It came to my mind on seeing the destruction of New Orleans and the scenes of absolute horror that have followed. Although this happened more than 500 years ago, The description of the aftermath could just as easily be describing New Orleans today. As in the case of Tenochtitlán, the weapons and shields of our warriors did not save the city.

This is my way of flying the flag at half mast for a city that greeted me in happier times, a long time ago.


The Fall of Tenochtitlán:

Broken spears lie in the roads;
We have torn our hair in our grief
The houses are roofless now, and their walls
Are red with blood.

Worms are swarming in the streets and plazas,
And the walks are spattered with gore
The water has turned red, as if it were dyed
And when we drink it,
It has the taste of brine

We have pounded our hands in despair
Against the adobe walls,
For our inheritance, our city, is lost and dead
The shields of our warriors were its defense.
But they could not save it.

We have chewed dry twigs and salt grasses:
We have filled our mouths with dust and bits of adobe.
We have eaten lizards, rats and worms
When we had meat, we ate it almost raw.

- Cantares Mexicanos, circa 1523,
The National Library of Mexico