Can anyone explain what this poem is about for me?

Question

Yo Netzahualcoyotl lo pregunto
¿Acaso de veras se vive con raíz en la tierra?
No para siempre en la tierra:
sólo un poco aquí.
Aunque sea de jade se quiebra,
aunque sea de oro se rompe,
aunque sea plumaje de quetzal se desgarra.
No para siempre en la tierra:
sólo un poco aqui.

Answer 1

"We" are but a blot in the scheme of things.

Answer 2

Here is a translation

Basically it is saying that life on earth is temporary, eventually everything fades away.

Answer 3

Gus said:

Here is the opening of the creation story:(Maya's language) Are utzijoxik wa'e k'a katz'ininoq,

k'a kachamamoq,

katz'inonik,

k'a kasilanik,

k'a kalolinik,

katolona puch upa kaj.

"This is the account of how

all was in suspense,

all calm,

in silence;

all motionless,

all pulsating,

and empty was the expanse of the sky."

I copied this from the internet itrs an abstract of the Popol Vuh.

In case anyone's interested... in Yucatec Maya, the apostrophes are glottal stops and the x is pronounced like sh in English. The rest of the letters are pronounced like Spanish.

Answer 4

I got it in my text book from school called Voces de Hispanoamerica

Gus said:

Short version: life is temporay here on earth

The question made was, do we set roots here on earth? in other words are we here forever( like a tree, which roots are deep, a tree lives a long time)

the answer , only a short stay . 'cause everyhing is fragile , like Jade, even gold breaks, the quetzal feathers rips

no,not forever,only a short time.

The quetzal is a bird that lives on the northern part of Guatemala, also in Chiapas y Tobasco south of Mexico, It also lives in some parts of Belice whicj s to the north of Guatemala.

It is comparing us humans with things around us, and of course all has an end.

Would you please tell m where you got this? is it on the internet? thanks a lot

>

Answer 5

Here is the opening of the creation story:(Maya's language)

Are utzijoxik wa'e
k'a katz'ininoq,
k'a kachamamoq,
katz'inonik,
k'a kasilanik,
k'a kalolinik,
katolona puch upa kaj.
"This is the account of how
all was in suspense,
all calm,
in silence;
all motionless,
all pulsating,
and empty was the expanse of the sky."

I copied this from the internet itrs an abstract of the Popol Vuh.

Answer 6

Thank you so much Gus and Jmarie. Very helpful.

Gus said:

You can see the Quetzal on the head coverings of the Mayans,the aristocracy of the Mayans of old. The quetzal only lives in the places mentioned above. The legend says it does not live if it is not free. When the last battle of the Mayans was fought in Guatemala and its leader, Tecun Uman, was kill people said that the Quetzal which was flying above the battle also died. g

Gus said:

It is the history of the Mayas. Its bible is called Popus Vouhl, am not sure of the spelling, I'll look it up.Disclaimer, I am not saying that the story above is in the Popus Vouhl. But, it is a Mayan's. legend. My clue for this is the bird called the Quetzal, The aztecs had for symbol the eagle. Like I said he Quetzal is found only in the above mentioned places.

Gus said:

Short version: life is temporay here on earthThe question made was, do we set roots here on earth? in other words are we here forever( like a tree, which roots are deep, a tree lives a long time)the answer , only a short stay . 'cause everyhing is fragile , like Jade, even gold breaks, the quetzal feathers ripsno,not forever,only a short time.The quetzal is a bird that lives on the northern part of Guatemala, also in Chiapas y Tobasco south of Mexico, It also lives in some parts of Belice whicj s to the north of Guatemala.It is comparing us humans with things around us, and of course all has an end.Would you please tell m where you got this? is it on the internet? thanks a lot

>

Answer 7

The correct spelling for the Mayan's bible is Popol Vuh. It is incredible similar to the Chistian Bible. You can find more about in the internet.

Answer 8

You can see the Quetzal on the head coverings of the Mayans,the aristocracy of the Mayans of old. The quetzal only lives in the places mentioned above. The legend says it does not live if it is not free. When the last battle of the Mayans was fought in Guatemala and its leader, Tecun Uman, was kill people said that the Quetzal which was flying above the battle also died.
g

Gus said:

It is the history of the Mayas. Its bible is called Popus Vouhl, am not sure of the spelling, I'll look it up.Disclaimer, I am not saying that the story above is in the Popus Vouhl. But, it is a Mayan's. legend. My clue for this is the bird called the Quetzal, The aztecs had for symbol the eagle. Like I said he Quetzal is found only in the above mentioned places.

Gus said:

Short version: life is temporay here on earthThe question made was, do we set roots here on earth? in other words are we here forever( like a tree, which roots are deep, a tree lives a long time)the answer , only a short stay . 'cause everyhing is fragile , like Jade, even gold breaks, the quetzal feathers ripsno,not forever,only a short time.The quetzal is a bird that lives on the northern part of Guatemala, also in Chiapas y Tobasco south of Mexico, It also lives in some parts of Belice whicj s to the north of Guatemala.It is comparing us humans with things around us, and of course all has an end.Would you please tell m where you got this? is it on the internet? thanks a lot

>

Answer 9

It is the history of the Mayas. Its bible is called Popus Vouhl, am not sure of the spelling, I'll look it up.
Disclaimer, I am not saying that the story above is in the Popus Vouhl. But, it is a Mayan's. legend. My clue for this is the bird called the Quetzal, The aztecs had for symbol the eagle. Like I said he Quetzal is found only in the above mentioned places.

Gus said:

Short version: life is temporay here on earthThe question made was, do we set roots here on earth? in other words are we here forever( like a tree, which roots are deep, a tree lives a long time)the answer , only a short stay . 'cause everyhing is fragile , like Jade, even gold breaks, the quetzal feathers ripsno,not forever,only a short time.The quetzal is a bird that lives on the northern part of Guatemala, also in Chiapas y Tobasco south of Mexico, It also lives in some parts of Belice whicj s to the north of Guatemala.It is comparing us humans with things around us, and of course all has an end.Would you please tell m where you got this? is it on the internet? thanks a lot

>

Answer 10

Short version: life is temporay here on earth

The question made was, do we set roots here on earth? in other words are we here forever( like a tree, which roots are deep, a tree lives a long time)
the answer , only a short stay . 'cause everyhing is fragile , like Jade, even gold breaks, the quetzal feathers rips
no,not forever,only a short time.

The quetzal is a bird that lives on the northern part of Guatemala, also in Chiapas y Tobasco south of Mexico, It also lives in some parts of Belice whicj s to the north of Guatemala.

It is comparing us humans with things around us, and of course all has an end.

Would you please tell m where you got this? is it on the internet? thanks a lot

Answer 11

I think it might mean that nothing is permanent and even strong things break

Answer 12

es para mi clase
I have to leave the library now, but if you are still logged in later I would love your help

Jmarie said:

Hola, Kelly. Pregunta: por qué estas leyendo esta poema?

¿Qué has tratado?

¿Qué crees que se trata?

Cuando lo puse en "traduccion", da algunas ideas:

I wonder what Nezahualcoyotl

Do we really are living with roots in the land?

Not forever on earth:

just a bit here.

Although it is Jade breaks,

even if gold breaks,

albeit of quetzal feathers were tears.

Not forever on earth:

just a bit here.

No es imposible a cambiar esta traduccion cuando es loco o mal. Yo prefiero a comenzar:

I, Netzahualcoyotl, ask it:

Ahorita tu!

>

Answer 13

Hola, Kelly. Pregunta: por qué estas leyendo esta poema?

¿Qué has tratado?
¿Qué crees que se trata?

Cuando lo puse en "traduccion", da algunas ideas:

I wonder what Nezahualcoyotl
Do we really are living with roots in the land?
Not forever on earth:
just a bit here.
Although it is Jade breaks,
even if gold breaks,
albeit of quetzal feathers were tears.
Not forever on earth:
just a bit here.

No es imposible a cambiar esta traduccion cuando es loco o mal. Yo prefiero a comenzar:
I, Netzahualcoyotl, ask it:

Ahorita tu!