The Ballad of Yolotli
Yolotli, the beauty of Tenochitlan,
She was a tender, loving woman.
Every day she was catered to.
That is, until she was stolen.
Men, Warriors big and strong came from an opposing tribe.
They saw her glamour even from a distance and were mesmerized.
They charged at her with mighty force as she screamed her lungs out.
"Xochiquetzal! Help your daughter!" She cried as they tied her up, covered her eyes.
Away she went, forced away from the only home she'd ever known,
Off into the surrounding jungle,
Will she ever get to return to her beloved betrothed?
These thoughts fill her mind as she's lead blind as she struggles and fumbles.
She's brave. She gathers strength passed down to her from her patron saint mother, Xochiquetzal.
She kicks and fights her captors with every step they take.
She's not planning on making their journey easy, to let them win.
Some try to touch her but she's sweet, she's pristine, she gnashes her teeth at their hands to keep clean for purity's sake.
She's dirty, tired, aching and can feel every bone piercing in her body.
Just how long and arduous will this journey be?
Maybe when Tezcatlipoca brings the dark of night she'll be alright.
The light fades off in the distance, and they take shelter under the trees.
She wiggles and squirms with all the might her tiny build can muster.
Slowly but surely the blinding cloth falls from her face,
She can see, now time to set herself free.
As her captors sleep, their knives exposed, spears out to cut loose her hands tied with lace.
Feelings of freedom cause her body to tremble as she trips and scatters trying to run.
Eventually speed is regained and a sharp wind from the lips of Ehecatl propels her forward.
Through the unknown she glides, no clue what's to become of her next as her sense of direction is an illusion.
Her body is still shaky and unsure, each step more uneasy and awkward.
Where is this breeze leading me to, she wonders.
She follows it with no other place to turn.
She knows her gods would never lead her astray.
Further she strides slowly gaining the confidence back she so yearned.
What's that in the distance?
She's reached the vast blue sea, as deep and ongoing as the kingdom in the skies.
A place she's always loves, a place to make her feel a warmth she's been missing.
To feel the comforting pillow of sand at her feet, a hug to release all her sighs.
But just as she's relaxing in a realm of peace, there's a turbulence in the ocean waters.
Monsters coming in towards her as she can't believe her weary eyes.
Wooden effigies as she's never ever seen before.
She runs in haste behind the cover of the jungle where the bushes rise.
As she watches from afar the monsters come ashore,
Aboard them are men... No they're not men, she sees they look too different from her.
Then she sees what she just can't believe.
He's come back as the legend has said, come back to rule as things once were.
Skin as pale as the clouds of the skies.
His body covered in the shiniest adornments wielded by hands of magic.
Quetzalcoatl has made his voyage home,
Back home to show his legend wouldn't end so tragic.
Yolotli, the beauty of Tenochitlan.
One moment she's enjoying everyday life,
And the next she's among the most prominent of her gods.
She runs out and falls to her knees in front of him to show him the girl who's been through so much strife.
She knew from then on things would never be the same.
She's given herself up to Quetzalcoatl, the winged serpent, the god man.
He'll take her away with him, her beauty too much to pass up.
The god man is now here to take over a new land.
Copyright © Mariah Lopez | Year Posted 2016
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