Birth of the Maya Hero Twins
A birthing poem from my next book with companion illustration by Leonard Greco.
Birthing at the Place Called Los Sapos Now we shall tell of the birth of Hunaphu and Ixbalanque —Popol Vuh (Morley & Goetz) My back rests against a slope of water-smoothed stone. I lower myself until I squat like a frog. After gush of water, hours of cramp and pain, I pant and curse the warrior who enchanted me. I birth twins, bite across each cord, spit out the metal taste of blood. They cry for touch, skin slick, their hair smells sweet and clean like fresh corn meal. Fingers and toes curl as they suckle, I coo their names: Ixbalanque, Hunaphu. They smile in their sleep: warm weight and tiny breaths upon my chest.