Quetzalcoatl

Thou green-feathered Sky-Snake, Thou crested Serpent, Thy body is the undulating cloud, the rolling cloud, Boiling white above, Black-bellied. Forked lightnings are thy tongues, Thine eyes flash forked lightnings; Thy great drums boom From mountain to mountain, thundering---- Whither thou goest bearded with black rain, Shedding beneath thee a reek of black rain.

He was an old man when he sailed away to Tlapallan: Bright was his countenance as the silver-crested cloud; Like a descending rain was his streaming beard; His wind-blown robe was as the blue rain hiding the hill-tops. Upon the azure lake he was wafted, Serpent-treading---- Wafted beyond the horizons of day and night, Wafted unto Tlapallan, Quetzalcoatl departing.

He was an old man when he sailed afar to Tlapallan: Venerable was his streaming beard. Shall he not come again unto his children? Shall he not once more be wafted upon the azure lake, Serpent-treading, In vaporous robes resplendent? Shall he not strike forth with staves of sunbeam, Making earth fruitful, Making beautiful the feathered fields---- With corn of all colors, With flowers of all colors?

Lo, where his hand is uplifted---- Quetzalcoatl of the East, Quetzalcoatl of the West! Lo, where he hurleth into the heaven his Fire-Snakes---- Great Serpents, like undulating clouds, Crested, rain-reeking. Their bellies blacken the sky; Their fierce rains flood earth’s hill-rimmed vale; Their drumming is from mountain to mountain; From horizon to horizon is their thunder.

Wonderful are the green plumes of the quetzal, flowing: They bend in gracious curves, aslant in the sunlight; They glow like fields of bladed maize, aslant in the sunlight; All precious jewels shine within them---- Green fire-opals and blue turquoise, The colors of all flowers, The rich tasselings of bearded corn.... How beautiful are the dews dropt from the Sky-Serpent! How precious are thy gifts, O Quetzalcoatl!

My offering is corn of seven hues; My offering is blue smoke of tobacco; My offering is a precious plume of the green-feathered quetzal; A rich jewel is my offering, green, with fire in its heart! Answer me from the two horizons, O Quetzalcoatl! From the rims of night and day return unto me, O Quetzalcoatl, Lord very grateful!

Thou green-feathered Sky Snake, Thou crested Serpent, Thy body is the undulating cloud, the rolling cloud, ]