Ketzalkoatl looked at Cortez and laughed
Ketzalkoatl
ketzal= beautiful/precious
koatl= snake, wisdom, vibration
waves of energy that are everything
A manifestation of teotl
Which is NOT a god
Which is energy
Because everything is energy
Ketzalkoatl has many eyes
On many heads
Ketzalkoatl
Four syllables, like the four elements
Ketzalkoatl looking through eyes
And elements
sees that colonizer historians say
The Mexika, misnamed Aztecs
Two hundred years too late
Accused five hundred years later
Of thinking Cortez was Ketzalkoatl–
Too ridiculous!
If Ketzalkoatl had a body
She would roll around on the ground, laughing
The former Aztecs of Aztlan
Who became Mexika
But were called Aztecs
By some outdated anthropologist
With substandard research skills
They knew all the constellations
Had an accurate solar calendar
That puts the Gregorian calendar we use
To shame
They had medicine and surgeons
Built a city with libraries
Universities, baths, and zoos
Agriculture on a lake
But these so-called historians
Said the Mexika thought Cortez was Ketzalkoatl
Right
The historical Ketzalkoatl
Who may have been light skinned
Would never have returned to smelly
Who would even confuse Cortez with a god anyway?!
Who would ever make up such a dumb story?
Why do they write this in kid’s books?
People who believe those lies
Are already empty-headed or racist
So it wasn’t really necessary
And the rest of us just roll our eyes
But Ketzalkoatl
If she had a body
Would roll around
On the ground
Laughing
Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo is a poet, visual artist, and education facilitator whose work is informed by her Indigenous ancestry, Mesoamerican philosophy, Mexika & Mixtec art, Mexican culture, Raza history, and her experiences as a Chicana. Her poetry is published widely in journals and anthologies, while her paintings have been featured in over seventy exhibitions across the country.
Editorial Xingao published her book, Breathe Liberación. She earned a BFA in Pictorial Art and a BA in French from San José State University, served as Creative Ambassador of the San José Office of Cultural Affairs, and was selected as Creative Corps Initiative grantee by California Arts Council and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. She serves as a Board Member of Poetry Center San José and is the Founder of La Raíz Magazine. www.ejmontelongo.com/poetry IG:@
