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Open Poetry #22
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¡Olé!
| Open Poetry #22 |
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¡Olé! |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(This is in honor of Mexico's Independence Day, who 180 years ago sought freedom and independence from the Spaniards who ruled Mexico for over 300 years! ¡Olé Mexico!  ) ¡Olé! By: Noah Eaton 9/15/02 Sound the mariachi band Roar those trumpets ¡Viva Mexico! ¡Olé! Hence a time of sheep-eyed days and quiet nights Huitzilopochtli showed you a sacred place Where the eagle landed on a prickly-pear cactus Devouring the feisty snake Deep in the heart of Lake Texococo You built a majestic home upon the island Raising a golden arm to a land of color Which you called Tenochtitlan Through the wind I still hear the cries Of Aztec warriors fighting in the ruins I can still hear Montezuma II trilling Fearing the Spaniards as gods in gauntlets Laying anchor on this Mexico, which they called Veracruz Montezuma offering them gifts but for their freedom Your city of Tenochtitlan taken with disbelief Taken as a hostage in your own kingdom Hernando Cortes re-decorated your walls Your people bled wounds and relics shattered But what lives on still lives today Which the last Aztec emperor Cuauhtemoc bravely suffered Your people learned new ways and religion Peninsulares and creoles making their claims While you and all the mestizos struggled to survive Dragging chains, performing as slaves Of silver mines and haciendas The whole world changed before your very sight At first and the creoles seemed so secure But King Charles III made all your freedom subside French forces came and confused your government I can hear Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's speech echo The day your hearts of freedom cries "Grito de Doleres" we call this earth-shattering fortissimo You sent your followers on to rule what is truly your home I watch as more priests follow your footsteps in rebellion And even as many fell and faltered in the crossfire You have brought to this whole land your lasting impression So King Ferdinand VII, tell me, did you know who your true friends were? Your creoles looking up to you but you stared away Taxing your friends and taking away the trust they had in your purples and golds Bringing many liberals to see this peaceful day... Your creoles came with the heart of Iturbide Bringing the colors of freedom of the flag with you Bringing independence to this special land after 300 red years These colors shared between me and you... Green for hope White for unity, purity, and honesty Red for parenthood and the blood of national heroes A trinity of authentic cordiality... As Cuauhtemoc as your witness May your freedom and courage always prevail So light those candles and grab some molé And spread the fiesta around, let's hail: So sound the mariachi band Roar those trumpets ¡Viva Mexico! ¡Olé! "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." Shakira [This message has been edited by Mistletoe Angel (09-15-2002 11:29 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 Nadia Lockheart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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the_loner_23 Member Ascendant
since 2002-06-08
Posts 5479Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
This is so cool. I just had to read one of your poems before I headed to bed.  Cold hands means a warm heart |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
¡Olé! ¿Well done, but what happened to Quetzalcoatl, is that a different spelling than the "H" name at the entrance to this piece? You have a lot of history here that I didn't know but I recognized some of the place names. ¡Viva la indepencia! Whether on the shoal or on the shore, I'll seek the lighthouse evermore. [This message has been edited by VAS (09-15-2002 11:19 PM).] |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Noah - sound the mariachi band Roar those trumpets ¡Viva Mexico! ¡Olé! BC |
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Singing Sparrow Member
since 2002-05-12
Posts 94 |
y arriba y arriba! SS |
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