If Today Were Tomorrow
Humberto Ak'abal
“My language was born among trees,
it holds the taste of earth;
my ancestors’ tongue is my home.”
—from “The Old Song of the Blood”
A legacy of land and language courses through the pages of this spirited bilingual edition, offering an expansive take on the internationally renowned work of Humberto Ak’abal, a K’iche’ Maya poet born in the western highlands of Guatemala.
Featuring both Ak’abal’s Spanish translations from the indigenous K’iche’ and English translations by acclaimed poet Michael Bazzett, this collection blossoms from the landscape of Momostenango—mountains covered in cloud forest, deep ravines, terraced fields of maize. Ak’abal’s unpretentious verse models a contraconquista—counter-conquest—perspective, one that resists the impulse to impose meaning on the world and encourages us to receive it instead. “In church,” he writes, “the only prayer you hear / comes from the trees / they turned into pews.” Every living thing has its song, these poems suggest. We need only listen for it.
Attuned, uncompromising, Ak’abal teaches readers to recognize grace in every earthly observation—in the wind, carrying a forgotten name. In the roots, whose floral messengers “tell us / what earth is like / on the inside.” Even in the birds, who “sing in mid-flight / and shit while flying.” At turns playful and pointed, this prescient entry in the Seedbank series is a transcendent celebration of both K’iche’ indigeneity and Ak’abal’s lifetime of work.
Duration - 1h 44m.
Author - Humberto Ak'abal.
Narrator - Michael Bazzett Bazzett.
Published Date - Monday, 08 January 2024.
Copyright - © 2024 Milkweed Editions ©.
Location:
United States
Networks:
Humberto Ak'abal
Michael Bazzett Bazzett
Seedbank
Milkweed Editions
English Audiobooks
Findaway Audiobooks
Description:
“My language was born among trees, it holds the taste of earth; my ancestors’ tongue is my home.” —from “The Old Song of the Blood” A legacy of land and language courses through the pages of this spirited bilingual edition, offering an expansive take on the internationally renowned work of Humberto Ak’abal, a K’iche’ Maya poet born in the western highlands of Guatemala. Featuring both Ak’abal’s Spanish translations from the indigenous K’iche’ and English translations by acclaimed poet Michael Bazzett, this collection blossoms from the landscape of Momostenango—mountains covered in cloud forest, deep ravines, terraced fields of maize. Ak’abal’s unpretentious verse models a contraconquista—counter-conquest—perspective, one that resists the impulse to impose meaning on the world and encourages us to receive it instead. “In church,” he writes, “the only prayer you hear / comes from the trees / they turned into pews.” Every living thing has its song, these poems suggest. We need only listen for it. Attuned, uncompromising, Ak’abal teaches readers to recognize grace in every earthly observation—in the wind, carrying a forgotten name. In the roots, whose floral messengers “tell us / what earth is like / on the inside.” Even in the birds, who “sing in mid-flight / and shit while flying.” At turns playful and pointed, this prescient entry in the Seedbank series is a transcendent celebration of both K’iche’ indigeneity and Ak’abal’s lifetime of work. Duration - 1h 44m. Author - Humberto Ak'abal. Narrator - Michael Bazzett Bazzett. Published Date - Monday, 08 January 2024. Copyright - © 2024 Milkweed Editions ©.
Language:
English
Introduction
Duración:00:06:18
Opening Credits
Duración:00:00:14
Kamik
Duración:00:00:35
Hoy
Duración:00:00:33
Today
Duración:00:00:23
I: Dawn: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:13
I: Dawn: English Translation
Duración:00:00:10
I: Daybreak: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:38
I: Daybreak: English Translation
Duración:00:00:27
I: The River: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:27
I: The River: English Translation
Duración:00:00:23
I: The Azacuanes: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:21
I: The Azacuanes: English Translation
Duración:00:00:20
I: Ch'ik: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:22
I: Ch'ik: English Translation
Duración:00:00:19
I: Hunched: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:16
I: Hunched: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
I: Broken Wing: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:29
I: Broken Wing: English Translation
Duración:00:00:26
I: On the Floor: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:11
I: On the Floor: English Translation
Duración:00:00:09
I: The Song: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:17
I: The Song: English Translation
Duración:00:00:12
I: Song of the Water: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:13
I: Song of the Water: English Translation
Duración:00:00:11
I: If They Could Speak: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:21
I: If They Could Speak: English Translation
Duración:00:00:23
I: The Poncho: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:15
I: The Poncho: English Translation
Duración:00:00:11
I: Time: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:23
I: Time: English Translation
Duración:00:00:20
I: Wingless Bird: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:33
I: Wingless Bird: English Translation
Duración:00:00:33
I: Sheep: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:18
I: Sheep: English Translation
Duración:00:00:15
I: The Mutt: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:36
I: The Mutt: English Translation
Duración:00:00:29
I: Singer: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:11
I: Singer: English Translation
Duración:00:00:13
I: The Rabbit: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:20
I: The Rabbit: English Translation
Duración:00:00:16
I: My Sister: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:01:03
I: My Sister: English Translation
Duración:00:00:45
I: Cenzontle: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:28
I: Cenzontle: English Translation
Duración:00:00:19
I: My Wings: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:16
I: My Wings: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
I: At the Spring: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:14
I: At the Spring: English Translation
Duración:00:00:09
I: Bookworm: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:21
I: Bookworm: English Translation
Duración:00:00:16
I: The Butterfly: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:31
I: The Butterfly: English Translation
Duración:00:00:26
I: The Naked Tree: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:16
I: The Naked Tree: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
I: Leaves: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:08
I: Leaves: English Translation
Duración:00:00:09
I: Peach Tree: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:42
I: Peach Tree: English Translation
Duración:00:00:35
II: Apprentice: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:01:03
II: Apprentice: English Translation
Duración:00:00:53
II: A Plank: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:09
II: A Plank: English Translation
Duración:00:00:08
II: Blue: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:26
II: Blue: English Translation
Duración:00:00:24
II: Nothing: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:28
II: Nothing: English Translation
Duración:00:00:22
II: The Armchair: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:19
II: The Armchair: English Translation
Duración:00:00:17
II: What Is, Is: English Translation
Duración:00:00:15
II: What Is, Is: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:20
II: That Tree: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:19
II: That Tree: English Translation
Duración:00:00:17
II: Stars: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:28
II: Stars: English Translation
Duración:00:00:21
II: Night: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:13
II: Night: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
II: Tired: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:25
II: Tired: English Translation
Duración:00:00:20
II: Shadow: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:06
II: Shadow: English Translation
Duración:00:00:07
II: Watcher: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:22
II: Watcher: English Translation
Duración:00:00:18
II: Prayer: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:08
II: Prayer: English Translation
Duración:00:00:08
II: Soot: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:26
II: Soot: English Translation
Duración:00:00:22
II: Water and Fire: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:28
II: Water and Fire: English Translation
Duración:00:00:23
II: To Begin With: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:09
II: To Begin With: English Translation
Duración:00:00:07
II: The Caretaker: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:30
II: The Caretaker: English Translation
Duración:00:00:27
II: Woodcutter: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:36
II: Woodcutter: English Translation
Duración:00:00:29
II: To Each Its Shadow: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:19
II: To Each Its Shadow: English Translation
Duración:00:00:19
II: Sweetly: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:17
II: Sweetly: English Translation
Duración:00:00:13
II: Leaves: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:27
II: Leaves: English Translation
Duración:00:00:23
II: Even So: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:26
II: Even So: English Translation
Duración:00:00:21
II: The Bridge: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:38
II: The Bridge: English Translation
Duración:00:00:31
II: Flowers: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:16
II: Flowers: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
II: Happy: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:19
II: Happy: English Translation
Duración:00:00:16
II: Stones: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:08
II: Stones: English Translation
Duración:00:00:07
II: Trees: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:24
II: Trees: English Translation
Duración:00:00:19
II: The Rain: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:28
II: The Rain: English Translation
Duración:00:00:29
II: They Know: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:15
II: They Know: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
II: Two Eyes: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:10
II: Two Eyes: English Translation
Duración:00:00:10
II: Clear Water: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:14
II: Clear Water: English Translation
Duración:00:00:12
II: There: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:15
II: There: English Translation
Duración:00:00:13
II: Lightning: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:18
II: Lightning: English Translation
Duración:00:00:16
II: Overheard in the Market: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:10
II: Overheard in the Market: English Translation
Duración:00:00:08
II: The Fire: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:16
II: The Fire: English Translation
Duración:00:00:15
II: Crazy: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:25
II: Crazy: English Translation
Duración:00:00:23
II: Old Cypress: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:19
II: Old Cypress: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
II: A Leap: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:29
II: A Leap: English Translation
Duración:00:00:25
II: Grandfather: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:30
II: Grandfather: English Translation
Duración:00:00:26
II: Awakening: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:28
II: Awakening: English Translation
Duración:00:00:27
II: To Fly: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:07
II: To Fly: English Translation
Duración:00:00:08
II: Landslide: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:11
II: Landslide: English Translation
Duración:00:00:10
II: Memory: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:16
II: Memory: English Translation
Duración:00:00:20
II: I Speak: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:06
II: I Speak: English Translation
Duración:00:00:07
II: The Day I Grew Old: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:35
II: The Day I Grew Old: English Translation
Duración:00:00:38
II: Beyond Help: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:28
II: Beyond Help: English Translation
Duración:00:00:29
III: K'uxk'ub'el: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:40
III: K'uxk'ub'el: English Translation
Duración:00:00:36
III: My Shadow: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:30
III: My Shadow: English Translation
Duración:00:00:36
III: The Craftsman: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:35
III: The Craftsman: English Translation
Duración:00:00:36
III: It's Been a While: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:14
III: It's Been a While: English Translation
Duración:00:00:16
III: The Moon on the Water: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:09
III: The Moon on the Water: English Translation
Duración:00:00:10
III: She: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:16
III: She: English Translation
Duración:00:00:12
III: Fig Leaf: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:19
III: Fig Leaf: English Translation
Duración:00:00:16
III: Meeting: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:22
III: Meeting: English Translation
Duración:00:00:19
III: Wish: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:22
III: Wish: English Translation
Duración:00:00:18
III: Forgotten: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:08
III: Forgotten: English Translation
Duración:00:00:08
III: Howl: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:14
III: Howl: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
III: Dusk: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:13
III: Dusk: English Translation
Duración:00:00:11
III: Rupture: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:22
III: Rupture: English Translation
Duración:00:00:22
III: I Took Your Name Out of My Head: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:26
III: I Took Your Name Out of My Head: English Translation
Duración:00:00:27
III: The Sad One: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:15
III: The Sad One: English Translation
Duración:00:00:17
IV: And Nobody Sees Us: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:46
IV: And Nobody Sees Us: English Translation
Duración:00:00:40
IV: The Dance: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:13
IV: The Dance: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
IV: Freedom: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:21
IV: Freedom: English Translation
Duración:00:00:19
IV: Flight: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:07
IV: Flight: English Translation
Duración:00:00:07
IV: Downpour: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:17
IV: Downpour: English Translation
Duración:00:00:15
IV: Distance: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:11
IV: Distance: English Translation
Duración:00:00:10
IV: The Sun: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:17
IV: The Sun: English Translation
Duración:00:00:15
IV: Before: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:13
IV: Before: English Translation
Duración:00:00:12
IV: Wild: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:15
IV: Wild: English Translation
Duración:00:00:14
IV: Jaguar: Spanish Translation
Duración:00:00:29