2015/07/06

The Condor


The Condor
Prickly green grass
Thirsty wanderers 
Await the rain
Crying, hungry llamas
Mother's, sisters', lover's tears
A condor hovers
It's not a time to mourn
With one last look
The condor soars high
Higher and higher
Through the mist
Past the atmosphere
Into the Milky Way



For MAG

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(According to our tour guide, Oliver...)
During the time of the Incas, whenever there was a drought, the citizens would gather the llamas (believed to be the children of Mother Earth) and starve them until the rain finally fell. Llamas would actually cry tears from hunger. The women were also brought to the center of the square to cry--not out of sadness, but because their tears represented the life source that the people needed so badly. When the Spaniards came and saw the spectacle, they mistakenly thought that the town was in mourning, possibly for All Souls Day.

In contrast to All Souls Day, the Incas believed that the mighty condor was responsible for bringing the souls of the deceased to the next world. The death of loved ones was not something to be mourned; rather, their life was to be celebrated.

The Incas were also incredible astronomers; they seemed to understand the science and appreciate the beauty of the stars and our galaxy.

I'm not sure how factual all of that is; regardless, something (or someone) in the mountains inspired me to write this little piece.

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