Against Anger, By FRANCISCO X. ALARCON

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 4, 1992 12 AM PT

tla xihualhuian / come forth

Tlazopilli / Tlazopilli

Centeotl / Centeotl

ticcehuiz / you will calm down

cozauhqui yollotli / the yellow heart

nicquixtiz / I shall make it leave

nictotocaz / I shall chase it away--

nitlamacazqui / I, Spirit in Flesh

niNahualteuctli / I, the Enchanter

niquitiz tlamazcazqui / through this drink

Pahtecatl / Medicine Spirit

Y ollocuepcatzin / will change this heart

From “Snake Poems: An Aztec Invocation” (Chronicle: $10.95; 162 pp.).

1992 by Francisco X. Alar c on. Reprinted by permission.