Versos English Hartley Burr Alexander Xiuhtecutli

English poem

Xiuhtecutli

by (1873–1939)

Listen in the reader

Lord Fire! Thou who art the Central Burning, Who art armed with a spear-thrower, Who art armed with many spears---- The Gaping Jaws of Earth are beneath thee, Whereof the teeth are obsidian blades, Whereof the maw is Mictlan, Whereof the belly is the House of Bones....

Lord Fire! Thou dost give a little light, Thou dost give a little warmth, With thy spears thou dost give a little defense Against the day and the hour when I must descend....

I will make thee an offering of blood, I will make thee an offering of a man’s heart---- My heart I will give thee, That thou mayest burn a little longer, That the Jaws close not so soon upon me.... Lord Fire! Lord Fire!

The End

Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: italics.

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Misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.