Snake poems : an Aztec invocation

Francisco X. Alarcón, Odilia Galván Rodriguez, Juan Felipe Herrera

Originally published in 1992, the book propelled Alarcon to the forefront of contemporary Chicano letters. Alarcon was a stalwart student, researcher, and specialist on the lost teachings of his Indigenous ancestors. He first found their wisdom in the words of his Mexica (Aztec) grandmother and then by culling through historical texts. During a Fulbright fellowship to Mexico, Alarcon uncovered the writings of zealously religious Mexican priest Hernando Ruiz de Alarcon (1587-1646), who collected (often using extreme measures), translated, and interpreted Nahuatl spells and invocations. In Snake Poems Francisco Alarcon offered his own poetic responses, reclaiming the colonial manuscript and making it new. This special edition is a tender tribute to Alarcon, who passed away in 2016, and includes Nahuatl, Spanish, and English renditions of the 104 poems based on Nahuatl invocations and spells that have survived more than three centuries. The book opens with remembrances and testimonials about Alarcon's impact as a writer, colleague, activist, and friend from former poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera and poet and activist Odilia Galvan Rodriguez.