The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas

The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas — page 9
Aztlan Mexica Nahua tradition Cranes as white as purest salt clear water from the fountainhead blue skies above that peaceful isle how I long to return to Aztlan It was an island of resplendent whiteness ringed by waters of turquoise blue teeming with herons with snowy plum age The sun rose above its horizon like a bird of fire Emeralds rained when the poet prince sang his flower songs The wise men of that realm recorded in books the path of the stars across the night sky with ink both red and black The people called it Aztlan meaning Place of Whiteness some say or Isle of Herons others claim It seemed eternal and perhaps it was The golden sandals of the gods themselves trod those polished roads Boats plied its placid waters weighted with flowers and precious crops golden corn and sweet pump kins cocoa used to make the sacred drink and every possible hue of chili pepper 4