A death in Cajamarca, Peru (Atahualpa, in Cajamarca ((in English and Spanish))

The epic poem:

A death in Cajamarca, Peru

[Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]

Preview: This is a version, not a translation of any kind, about the imprisonment and death of Atahualpa the Inca King of the Inca Empire, in the 16th century (Peru).

Atahualpa, enduring in Cajamarca

Received by De Soto, your free friend from Spain!

“Be calm! These times will be tolerant of you.”

For Riquelme, who is worn out with this place?

Dissatisfied with the checkmate, he looks at Atahualpa

So just obnoxious, hot, gloomy, unattractive,

And longs to meet again in Spain,

After the shame of defeat,

By the captive slave Atahualpa, King Inca

Who gave advice to Captain Hernando De Soto

And inevitably got checkmate….

And friends and party–he saw more than anything, his games–

This life seemed empty and flat. loosens up to rest

In his vast prison all alive with walls, listening

And trembling fighters in Inca robes, the air

Enchanted by the roaring fermatas of men–

The sunlit canopy rising above,

Swollen and stained against his corded veins

And fluttering off its edge with piercing testimony–

The wild warriors that roar from the pit below–

Wildest crowded soldiers from above

With a long cry that sends the startled blood

With excitement and a sudden blush at the knees–

One hundred voices shouting–to the Inca King

Of Spanish horses galloping across the land–

The sound of swords, the sharp clashes of steel…

Living swords that spin in circles with red blood–

Ice hooves glistening under her torrent of hair–

A magical and prophetic God, for them

Worse than fury: the eyes of Atahualpa

To the Peruvian Indians, without doing anything,

His muscle tensed, and then comes the bondage;

“Abet! That is God’s will!” Atahualpa says to his people.

“…The Thais, it’s their Spain, it’s not ours or mine.”

And yes, Atahualpa felt that the great God was by his side

He stands with his face up, as if he sees and believes.

The game illustrates it and says: “That’s death!”

“Ah! For my Spain!” I speak the same words

As for your group, I know them, all of them…

A strange crazy place full of makeup, untamed–

Soto, Rada, Chavez, Atienza and Riquelme

They all seemed to me good men devoid of revenge–

A little crazy, but who’s completely sane?

They walked with the war as they were taught,

And they gave away their laughter but not the gold,

And all their talk was gold and riot.

If the Spaniards thought and said that they were gods,

It was nonstop nonsense, not serving death.

Death to the riddled Inca king, Atahualpa

What most aroused Atahualpa’s brother, Titu–

It was that his brother gave the Spaniards their resources,

And he cried out that rich men would pay his ransom;

And, worst of all, he roundly denounced his people,

With all their cries to combat the greed of the Spaniards–;

They said they were fakers who made long sentences;

And they were at best only conquerors of the devil;

And this was what led to Pizarro’s death.

As it was Riquelme who voted to hang Atahualpa

Those who went with him did not believe in him

They were mostly boring and uneducated men

Simple and stunned by what he said,

And misunderstanding every word he said.

He guided them by a captivated fear;

They followed him like rebels, wherever he went,

With mixed feelings of wonder, fear and dread.

Terrified until they hanged him!…

So it was said, by the ruling hand of Pizarro

I hear him smoking in the courtyard below, like Pilot,

Cursing his servants and Spain.

The sun is setting–the whole sky is on fire–

In half an hour everything will be dull and gray

again;

Through the blinding eyes of the many–

don Francisco Pizarro, as Titus of Rome

Announces the unjustified execution of

Atahualpa!…

As long as the Incas are known by men

Riquelme’s name will bear the mark of bad fame,

The curse, of generations yet to be born! …

#744 6/2005

Spanish version

A Death in Cajamarca, Peru

(Atahualpa)

Preview: This is a version, not a translation of any kind, about the imprisonment and death of Atahualpa, the Inca King of the Inca Empire, in the 16th century (Peru).

Atahualpa, fulfillment in Cajamarca

Greeted by De Soto, his friend emancipated from Spain

“Be calm! These times will be tolerant for you.”

For Riquelme, who is tired of this place

Dissatisfied with the checkmate, he looks at Atahualpa

As simply obnoxious–burningly, sadly unattractive,

And yearns again found in Spain.

After the shame of defeat,

By the captive slave Atahualpa, Inca King

Who gave advice to Captain Hernando De Soto

Got an inevitable matte jackfruit…

And friends and feast–they saw more than anything, their games–

This life seemed white and flat. The inert to rest

In his sprawling prison all with living walls, listening

And trembling fighters in Inca suits–the air

Delighted with the growing roir of men–

The sunlit pavilion raised high

Swollen and stained against his corded veins

And rippling off its edges with heartrending testimonials–

The wild warriors roaring from the abyss–

The wildest soldiers crowded screaming from above

With a long cry that sends the startled blood

With shudder and sudden current to the knees–

A hundred voices shouting–to the Inca King

From Spanish horses galloping across the terrain–

The touch of swords, the sharp clashes of steel.

Living swords that spin in circles with bloody red–

Hooves, glinting under their voluminous hairs–

The sleight of hand of a prophetic God–for them

Worse than the scandal–Atahualpa’s eyes

To the Peruvian Indians–of doing nothing–

His muscles tense—and then comes bondage;

“Courage! This is the will of God”, says Atahualpa to his people

“…this is it, this is your Spain–this is not mine or ours.”

And yes, Atahualpa felt that the great God was on his side

He stands with his face raised, as if he sees and believes

The game that he thus illustrates it, and says, “this is death!”

“Ah! For my Spain!” I speak your own words

As for their group, I know them, all of them–

A weird crazy place made up of untamed–

Soto, Rada, Chavez, Atienza and Riquelme

They all seemed to me, right men devoid of revenge

A little crazy–but who is entirely healthy?

They took care of the war as they were taught,

And they gave away their smile but not the gold,

And all their talk was of gold and fuss.

If the Spaniards thought and said they were gods,

This was unwavering folly, not deserving of death.

Death for the enigmatic Inca king, Atahualpa

What most incited Atahualpa’s brother, Titu–

It was that his brother gave the Spaniards their resources,

And he exclaimed that rich men would pay his ransom;

And, worst of all, roundly denouncing his people,

With all their cries to fight the ambition of the Spaniards–;

They said that they were frauds who did extended prayers;

And they were at best only conquerors of the devil;

And this was what Pizarro presented at his death.

As it was Riquelme who voted to hang Atahualpa

Those who went with him did not believe in him

They were mostly weak, uneducated men

Simple and stunned by what he said,

And misheard every word he said.

He led them with him in a captivated fear,

They followed him like rebels, where he went,

With mixed feelings of doubt, fear and dread.

Afflicted with fear until they would hang him!….

Thus much was said, by the ruling hand of Pizarro

I heard him rage down at court, like Pilate.

Cursing his servants and Spain

The sun is going down–the whole sky is on fire–

Half an hour from here, therefore, everything will be dull and gray again;

Over the blind eyes of many

Don Francisco Pizarro as Titus of Rome

Announcement of the unjustifiable execution of Atahualpa

As long as the Inca is recognized by men

Riquelme’s number will bear the renowned brand that it encloses,

The curse, of generations not yet born!…