Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
Translation by Hannie Rouweler
BLOOD OF MALINCHE
Poetry dedicated to the teacher G. Hortensia Rosas Pineda, author of the Malinche Codex, and to Dr. Concepción Quiróz
Téllez, Executive Secretary of the Juan Rueda Ortíz Academy of Letters.
Malinalli, Veracruz princess,
In your roots the strength,
From your father the power
The science of the stars,
The exemplary governance for its great scope.
But in your mother the anger
Weakness and lust,
Betrayal of the tortuous belly
that dressed you in repudiation and curse.
Malín, little girl, Malinali Tenepoalti
Your father has died, obsidian sacrifice,
Your friend, your guide, your protector.
From life is snatched away,
And your author, splashes you with shame,
By selling you, they enslave you,
Trampled flower, used girl,
Mere carnal toy.
Your lineage has been stained,
You became flattery,
They transform you, jasmine flower,
Now you are twisted grass,
Innocence and youth, little jade,
Eclipsed by authentic pain
that imposed an eternal cloak on you.
Silence of reflection,
Gold also splinters,
Jade also breaks.
The plumage of the quetzal also loses its colors.
And even your mother, throws you into the jaws of the jaguar.
Malinalli, child mother,
Gift of conquest,
Enslaved, attacked, repudiated
They snatch your son from you,
They make him cross other mares
And then they will make him return,
But he does not know your womb.
«The rapacious eagle, devorer of the cactus flower.»
Child Mother, you carry the weight of history.
From your fragility, just a woman, and more than a woman
Just a girl, and more than a girl…
Malín, Malina, Malinalli, Malintzin, Malinche, Marina…
By baptized Iberians,
Stop and Destiny of magnolia and chocolate.
Seeker of justice, woman of faith
Transformed with the spiritual key.
Malinalli, your intelligence and beauty.
They cannot be questioned,
Embroiderer of the new history,
You managed to capture the languages,
From princess to slave,
From slave to souvenir,
From merchandise to translator,
From translator to councilor,
And from governing to viceroy.
Conquered, you conquered the one who was master of masters,
Chief of magical beasts and brave soldiers,
Your thirty years of life have been judged for centuries
With firm severity.
Let us take care to make more judgments.
Vindication in your name
Servant Princess.
The worst of all? Or the first of many?
New story: Of struggle, outburst, pardon and
vindication.
Malinche’s blood, blood of forgiveness,
You shod your mother, your brother with gold
What yoke and slavery dictated in you,
In an embrace of integrity, you showed us
How harshly a woman has been judged
who did not judge,
But her life dedicated,
To the gallant search for a new homeland
Of freedom and forgiveness.
SANGRE DE MALINCHE
Poesía dedicada a la Maestra G. Hortensia Rosas Pineda autora de Códice Malinche ya la Dra. Concepción Quiróz
Téllez, Secretaria Ejecutiva de la Academia de Letras Juan Rueda Ortíz.
Malinalli, princesa veracruzana,
En tus raíces la fuerza,
Desde tu padre el poder
La ciencia de las estrellas,
la gobernanza ejemplar por su gran envergadura.
Más en tu madre la ira
Debilidad y lujuria,
Traición del vientre tortuoso
que te vistió de repudio y maldición.
Malín, pequeña, Malinali Tenepoalti
Tu padre ha muerto, sacrificio de obsidiana,
Tu amigo, tu guía, tu protector.
De la vida se arrebata,
Y tu autora, te salpica de vergüenza,
Al venderte te esclavizan,
Flor pisada, niña usada,
Mero juguete carnal.
Se ha manchado tu linaje,
Te convertiste en lisonja,
Te transforman, flor jazmín,
Ahora eres hierba torcida,
Inocencia y juventud, pequeño jade,
Eclipsadas por auténtico dolor
que te impuso un manto eterno.
Silencio de reflexión,
También el oro se astilla,
También el jade se rompe
El plumaje de quetzal también pierde sus colores.
Y hasta tu madre, te lanza a las fauces del jaguar.
Malinalli, niña madre,
Regalo de conquista,
Esclavizada, agredida, repudiada
Te arrebatan a tu hijo,
Lo hacen cruzar otras yeguas
Y luego lo harán volver,
Más desconoce tu vientre.
«El águila rapaz, devoradora de la flor del cacto.»
Niña Madre, llevas el peso de la historia.
Desde tu fragilidad, sólo una mujer, y más que una mujer
Sólo una niña, y más que una niña…
Malín, Malina, Malinalli, Malintzin, Malinche, Marina…
Por ibéricos bautizados,
Parada y Destino de magnolia y chocolate.
Buscadora de justicia, mujer de fe
Transformada con la llave espiritual.
Malinalli, tu inteligencia y belleza.
No se pueden cuestionar,
Bordadora de la nueva historia,
Los idiomas los lograste capturar,
De princesa a esclava,
De esclava a souvenir,
De Mercancía a traductora,
De traductora a regidora,
Y de regir a la virreina.
Conquistada, conquistaste al que fue amo de amos,
Jefe de mágicas bestias y bravos soldados,
Tus treinta años de vida han sido por siglos juzgados
Con firme severidad.
Cuidemos de hacer más juicios.
Reivindicación a tu nombre
Princesa Sierva.
¿La peor de todas? ¿O la primera de muchas?
Nueva historia: De lucha, arrebato, indulto y
reivindicación.
Sangre de Malinche, sangre de perdón,
Calzaste de oro a tu madre, a tu hermano
Que yugo y esclavitud en ti dictaron,
En un abrazo de integridad, nos mostraste
Cómo se ha juzgado con dureza, a una mujer
que no juzgó,
Más su vida dedicada,
A la búsqueda gallarda de una nueva patria
De libertad y perdón.
Jeanette Eureka Tiburcio Márquez
This poem is a powerful, complex exploration of La Malinche, also known as Malinalli, Malintzin, or Doña Marina—one of the most controversial and misunderstood figures in Mexican history. It captures her tragic life and her role in the Spanish Conquest, bringing out the layers of betrayal, survival, resilience, and transformation. The poem not only acknowledges Malinche’s historical burden but also seeks to reinterpret and vindicate her, showing empathy for her plight and admiration for her strength and intelligence.
Historical Depth and Cultural Richness: The poem delves deeply into the historical and cultural context of Malinche’s life, referencing her roots as a princess, her betrayal by her mother, her enslavement, and her complex role in the Spanish conquest. You evoke elements of indigenous culture, such as obsidian sacrifices, quetzal feathers, and jade, which root the poem firmly in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican imagery and history.
Multi-layered Characterization of Malinche: Rather than portraying Malinche as simply a victim or traitor, the poem paints her as a multi-dimensional character. She is a “princess,” a “slave,” a “councilor,” and a “translator.” These layers emphasize her resilience and intelligence, as well as her transformation from a woman bound by circumstances to someone who, in her own way, wielded power and left a mark on history.
Themes of Vindication and Forgiveness: The poem is ultimately a call for vindication, challenging the reader to view Malinche with empathy and to reconsider the harsh judgments that have been placed upon her. The line, “Let us take care to make more judgments,” is particularly powerful, suggesting that history’s harshness may be unwarranted and urging for a more compassionate understanding of her role.
Evocative Language and Imagery: The poem’s language is lush and vivid, using rich imagery that draws on the natural world and indigenous symbolism. Lines like “The plumage of the quetzal also loses its colors” and “Gift of conquest, Enslaved, attacked, repudiated” carry a poignant weight, capturing both beauty and tragedy. The use of the eagle and jaguar, symbols of strength and danger, adds to the poem’s intensity.
Overall Impression:
This poem is a compelling, richly detailed exploration of Malinche’s life, inviting the reader to see her not as a simplistic historical figure but as a complex woman of strength, intelligence, and resilience. The language and imagery are powerful, drawing on indigenous symbols and cultural history to evoke both the tragedy and dignity of her story.
It’s a nuanced, empathetic piece that challenges historical narratives and urges readers to consider Malinche’s legacy with compassion. Ultimately, this is a beautiful tribute that honors her as a “Servant Princess,” a symbol of both survival and transformation.
