More 2012 Weirdness."Seven Macaw: A Verse Drama."
This is my new 2012 project: a verse drama based on the Popol Vuh, featuring my favorite character in it, Seven Macaw -- beautiful, defiant, & doomed. A beautiful, defiant, doomed..... parrot. As in, "'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' Lords o' Xibalba!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!"
This is part of what I've got written so far. It's not in the right order, though -- I still have to write the Prelude, Among the Sky Gods. It also needs some polishing, but I though I'd share it nonetheless.
Seven Macaw
A Verse Drama Inspired By the Popol Vuh
In a long-lost, prehistoric age, the god Hurucan is planning to kill everyone on Earth in a Great Flood. Only one person dares to oppose him: Seven Macaw, a shapeshifting bird-man & self-styled sun god. But the Hero Twins have Seven in their sights -- and they're very good shots...
1.
Seven Macaw, sitting in the nance tree:
"This is the nance tree, highest tree on Earth.
This is the place where I see all the world.
But what is that, far away, at the world's rim?
Dark clouds are coming over the horizon;
Dark clouds, black clouds low on the horizon.
Something is gathering beyond my sight;
Some dread power that evades my light.
I must climb higher, I must look farther --"
What does Seven Macaw see from his tree,
At the edge of the world, on the waves of the sea?
What does he see by his dim, fading light,
Beyond the horizon, at the end of his sight?
A storm is gathering over the ocean;
It is Hurucan turning and churning;
High in heaven his wrath is burning,
Bringing the storm-winds, curling & twirling,
Heart-of-the-Sky in anger whirling.
Seven Macaw shouts into the wind:
Hear me, Hurucan!
I see your dark cloud-shadow, I know of your plans.
Hide no more from me past the horizon.
What is your purpose? Why do you threaten?
The voice of Hurucan roars on the wind:
The time is coming of storm and strife;
An end I am bringing to this age of Earth --
The end of the people unworthy of life.
Seven Macaw: It is life that decides its own worth.
Hurucan: But it was my power that gave them birth
And that power can take back what it gave.
Seven Macaw: Never, Hurucan, as long as I live!
Heart-of-the-Sky, this challenge I call:
As long as I stand, this world shall not fall!
Not one shall die while I still remain;
Not one shall you slay until I am slain.
I swear by my life, my will shall not bend,
As long as I live, the world will not end.
Huracan: So you have spoken, Seven Macaw;
By your own words you have sealed your own fall.
Seven Macaw:
We will see, Heart-of-Sky, who will win in the end.
I am the Sun. All the world is my friend.
The People of Wood do not follow your ways.
It is I who bring them their nights & their days.
The wind howls, & shakes the tree.
Hurucan:
You are not the Sun; you are only a bird.
No longer shall you speak arrogant words.
Here is the doom upon you I pronounce:
Your teeth shall be torn from your mouth:
Your eyes shall be gouged from your head;
You shall go to Xibalba, to dwell with the dead.
Seven Macaw:
Mighty Hurucan, I fear not your rage;
I will hold back the end of the age.
Bring on your wrath, bring on your storm,
I stand between you and the world that you scorn.
Hurucan:
So let it be done.
You shall live to regret
Every word you have spoken,
And more bitterly yet
Shall you be broken.
Seven Macaw:
I care not for your threat.
I am the Light, the Moon & the Sun.
I sit on the heights, on a bright metal throne --
I'll rescue the people that you have disowned.
Not one shall perish, not one shall you slay
While Seven Macaw is the maker of Day!
Hurucan:
Days you may make, Seven Macaw --
False days only, and false nights.
But I am the Maker of All
And what I made, I can destroy.
The wind shook the tree, & the leaves trembled --
But Seven Macaw trembled not.
11.
But still could Seven Macaw not see past the horizon.
He knew not Hurucan's plans, he knew not Hurucan's secrets.
And one day again he climbed the nance tree,
And one day again he spoke to the wind:
I shall see you, Hurucan!
You will not conceal yourself in clouds.
And so arose Seven Macaw:
He stood, he rose, he raised his arms;
He stood, he rose, he raised his wings,
Balanced upon the highest branch,
His feet as nimble as a bird's,
Perched upon the swaying branch,
And from his eyes he shone the light
To pierce the clouds of Hurucan;
And from his face he shone the light
To the horizon's furthest plane,
Searching, seeking, piercing --
All his will, all his mind on the horizon alone,
All his sight drawn to the horizon alone.
And as Seven-Macaw thus stood all alone,
High off the ground, on the uppermost branch,
Alone & up high on that thin, swaying branch --
There, down below, under the nance tree,
Came the two sons of Hunahpu, out from the bushes,
The two sons of One-Hunahpu, Hunahpu & Xbalanque.
To his brother Hunahpu spoke in a whisper:
He does not see us. He does not notice.
He sees us not as we creep from the bushes.
Let's get him now -- he won't know what hit him!
Xbalanque nodded, handing Hunahpu a dart.
You shall shoot, Brother, while I stand watch;
We will destroy him and no one will save him.
And he loaded his blow-gun, the son of the Sun:
He aimed in the silence at Seven Macaw;
Silent & deadly his aim he did draw,
He shot at the jaw, he shot with his gun.
So silent his feet, so deadly his aim,
Seven Macaw did not know when it came;
Out of the blue he was struck on the jaw,
Hurled from the sky was Seven Macaw,
Shrieking in agony, struck, stunned, surprised,
Not knowing what happened, he fell from the skies.
Down through the branches he tumbled & crashed;
Down from the treetop he helplessly fell,
Down from the heavens, down from the clouds,
Down to the ground where he crashed & lay still.
"Now", said Hunahpu, "We'll finish him off,
We'll wring the neck of this bird."
The brothers approached then, one on each side
Of Seven Macaw, where he lay broken,
But even thus they approached with caution.
"Now!" cried Hunahpu; he lunged with his knife --
Up sprang Seven Macaw, & fought for his life.
Seven Macaw: Who are you two, & why do you attack me?
Hunahpu:
I am Hunahpu; he, Xbalanque;
We are sons of One-Hunahpu,
The One and True Sun --
The one you have wronged,
Tthe one you offend.
Xbalanque:
Expect no mercy from us, Macaw --
We're here to take what's ours.
We come to claim our father's right,
We come to gain our house's fame,
We come to snuff your stolen light,
We come in the name of Huracan.
Seven Macaw:
Then, against the name of Hurucan
And whatever heralds bear it
I will fight.
So they rolled on the ground, they wrestled, they fought,
The Sons of Hunahpu & the bird that they caught.
They struggled, they jostled, dust flew from the ground,
On went the contest, round after round --
And Seven Macaw held the arm of Hunahpu;
He grappled, he tore at the arm of Hunahpu,
He yanked & he pulled off the arm of Hunahpu.
The Son of the Sun gave a terrible cry;
Off went the Macaw & away he did fly.
He carried the arm of his enemy's son,
He took it away, the trophy he'd won.
"We are not beaten, Brother," said Xbalanque.
"This is only the first round. We will get back your arm.
Then that bird will regret doing you harm."
Hunahpu stood stalwart, though bleeding and lame,
Said he, "This is not the end of the game."
This is part of what I've got written so far. It's not in the right order, though -- I still have to write the Prelude, Among the Sky Gods. It also needs some polishing, but I though I'd share it nonetheless.
Seven Macaw
A Verse Drama Inspired By the Popol Vuh
In a long-lost, prehistoric age, the god Hurucan is planning to kill everyone on Earth in a Great Flood. Only one person dares to oppose him: Seven Macaw, a shapeshifting bird-man & self-styled sun god. But the Hero Twins have Seven in their sights -- and they're very good shots...
1.
Seven Macaw, sitting in the nance tree:
"This is the nance tree, highest tree on Earth.
This is the place where I see all the world.
But what is that, far away, at the world's rim?
Dark clouds are coming over the horizon;
Dark clouds, black clouds low on the horizon.
Something is gathering beyond my sight;
Some dread power that evades my light.
I must climb higher, I must look farther --"
What does Seven Macaw see from his tree,
At the edge of the world, on the waves of the sea?
What does he see by his dim, fading light,
Beyond the horizon, at the end of his sight?
A storm is gathering over the ocean;
It is Hurucan turning and churning;
High in heaven his wrath is burning,
Bringing the storm-winds, curling & twirling,
Heart-of-the-Sky in anger whirling.
Seven Macaw shouts into the wind:
Hear me, Hurucan!
I see your dark cloud-shadow, I know of your plans.
Hide no more from me past the horizon.
What is your purpose? Why do you threaten?
The voice of Hurucan roars on the wind:
The time is coming of storm and strife;
An end I am bringing to this age of Earth --
The end of the people unworthy of life.
Seven Macaw: It is life that decides its own worth.
Hurucan: But it was my power that gave them birth
And that power can take back what it gave.
Seven Macaw: Never, Hurucan, as long as I live!
Heart-of-the-Sky, this challenge I call:
As long as I stand, this world shall not fall!
Not one shall die while I still remain;
Not one shall you slay until I am slain.
I swear by my life, my will shall not bend,
As long as I live, the world will not end.
Huracan: So you have spoken, Seven Macaw;
By your own words you have sealed your own fall.
Seven Macaw:
We will see, Heart-of-Sky, who will win in the end.
I am the Sun. All the world is my friend.
The People of Wood do not follow your ways.
It is I who bring them their nights & their days.
The wind howls, & shakes the tree.
Hurucan:
You are not the Sun; you are only a bird.
No longer shall you speak arrogant words.
Here is the doom upon you I pronounce:
Your teeth shall be torn from your mouth:
Your eyes shall be gouged from your head;
You shall go to Xibalba, to dwell with the dead.
Seven Macaw:
Mighty Hurucan, I fear not your rage;
I will hold back the end of the age.
Bring on your wrath, bring on your storm,
I stand between you and the world that you scorn.
Hurucan:
So let it be done.
You shall live to regret
Every word you have spoken,
And more bitterly yet
Shall you be broken.
Seven Macaw:
I care not for your threat.
I am the Light, the Moon & the Sun.
I sit on the heights, on a bright metal throne --
I'll rescue the people that you have disowned.
Not one shall perish, not one shall you slay
While Seven Macaw is the maker of Day!
Hurucan:
Days you may make, Seven Macaw --
False days only, and false nights.
But I am the Maker of All
And what I made, I can destroy.
The wind shook the tree, & the leaves trembled --
But Seven Macaw trembled not.
11.
But still could Seven Macaw not see past the horizon.
He knew not Hurucan's plans, he knew not Hurucan's secrets.
And one day again he climbed the nance tree,
And one day again he spoke to the wind:
I shall see you, Hurucan!
You will not conceal yourself in clouds.
And so arose Seven Macaw:
He stood, he rose, he raised his arms;
He stood, he rose, he raised his wings,
Balanced upon the highest branch,
His feet as nimble as a bird's,
Perched upon the swaying branch,
And from his eyes he shone the light
To pierce the clouds of Hurucan;
And from his face he shone the light
To the horizon's furthest plane,
Searching, seeking, piercing --
All his will, all his mind on the horizon alone,
All his sight drawn to the horizon alone.
And as Seven-Macaw thus stood all alone,
High off the ground, on the uppermost branch,
Alone & up high on that thin, swaying branch --
There, down below, under the nance tree,
Came the two sons of Hunahpu, out from the bushes,
The two sons of One-Hunahpu, Hunahpu & Xbalanque.
To his brother Hunahpu spoke in a whisper:
He does not see us. He does not notice.
He sees us not as we creep from the bushes.
Let's get him now -- he won't know what hit him!
Xbalanque nodded, handing Hunahpu a dart.
You shall shoot, Brother, while I stand watch;
We will destroy him and no one will save him.
And he loaded his blow-gun, the son of the Sun:
He aimed in the silence at Seven Macaw;
Silent & deadly his aim he did draw,
He shot at the jaw, he shot with his gun.
So silent his feet, so deadly his aim,
Seven Macaw did not know when it came;
Out of the blue he was struck on the jaw,
Hurled from the sky was Seven Macaw,
Shrieking in agony, struck, stunned, surprised,
Not knowing what happened, he fell from the skies.
Down through the branches he tumbled & crashed;
Down from the treetop he helplessly fell,
Down from the heavens, down from the clouds,
Down to the ground where he crashed & lay still.
"Now", said Hunahpu, "We'll finish him off,
We'll wring the neck of this bird."
The brothers approached then, one on each side
Of Seven Macaw, where he lay broken,
But even thus they approached with caution.
"Now!" cried Hunahpu; he lunged with his knife --
Up sprang Seven Macaw, & fought for his life.
Seven Macaw: Who are you two, & why do you attack me?
Hunahpu:
I am Hunahpu; he, Xbalanque;
We are sons of One-Hunahpu,
The One and True Sun --
The one you have wronged,
Tthe one you offend.
Xbalanque:
Expect no mercy from us, Macaw --
We're here to take what's ours.
We come to claim our father's right,
We come to gain our house's fame,
We come to snuff your stolen light,
We come in the name of Huracan.
Seven Macaw:
Then, against the name of Hurucan
And whatever heralds bear it
I will fight.
So they rolled on the ground, they wrestled, they fought,
The Sons of Hunahpu & the bird that they caught.
They struggled, they jostled, dust flew from the ground,
On went the contest, round after round --
And Seven Macaw held the arm of Hunahpu;
He grappled, he tore at the arm of Hunahpu,
He yanked & he pulled off the arm of Hunahpu.
The Son of the Sun gave a terrible cry;
Off went the Macaw & away he did fly.
He carried the arm of his enemy's son,
He took it away, the trophy he'd won.
"We are not beaten, Brother," said Xbalanque.
"This is only the first round. We will get back your arm.
Then that bird will regret doing you harm."
Hunahpu stood stalwart, though bleeding and lame,
Said he, "This is not the end of the game."