Snake Poems

By Francisco X. Alarcón

Book Overview

Inspired by one of the few existing treatises on the culture of Nahuatl--the Indian language primarily spoken by the Aztec--Snake Poems, by award-winning poet Francisco X. Alarcon, represents the first time a contemporary writer has returned to the Aztec heritage, empowering himself not only as a translator and commentator but as a medium in the tradition of the poet as a shaman.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811801616
• ISBN13: 9780811801614
• Release Date: February 1992
• Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Educational, provocative ...

This book is an interplay with a collection of Aztec incantations collected in the early 17th century. It includes translations, a glossary and an extensive bibliography in addition to the poetry by Alarcon. The book is primarily for lovers of poetry but is useful to anyone with an interest in MesoAmerican culture and religion.Alarcon's poetry is typical of his style - extremely spare depending heavily on its images and the connotations (as opposed to the denotations) of words. In this particular book where the number of poems in each section is determined by Aztec associations, a few of the poems are a handful of words - a snippet of a phrase. Some of these work in much the same way haiku works - but a few fail as poetry. The longer poems are consistently successful - either as new incantations or as comtemporary poetry.

Powerful. Rare. Wise. Rich in spirit.

A rare and unique book indeed! Mr. Alarcon takes us on a spiritual path to the past with poems that are vibrant, full of wisdom, and rich in the voices of ancestors.