CHASQUI

The Chosen Virgin
was on her journey
of sacrifice to
Pacha Mama.
Her pure blood
would irrigate
Mother Earth
To bear robust children.

The Chasqui,
Inca Empire's
Swiftest Runner
could not bear
the pain,
but had to bear
the Quipu message
afar to distant lands.

Hearing
of his beloved's doom,
his flight to
Macchu Picchu
was faster than
Condor's
and his pain
sharper than
the stone knife
that was
to slash
his beloved wrist.
Reaching
Macchu Picchu
at the appointed hour,
pleading in vain
with the high priest.
He had no choice
but to sacrifice the holy man
to the goddess of his life.
Wearing the priest's
ragalia,
the brave Chasqui
proceeded to the altar
whispering his loving words
into the Virign's ear
while pouring chichamora
into a goblet
filled with the Virgin's Blood
irrigating Pacha Mama
praying for her favors
to bless the new harvest.

Majid Tehranian
Macchu Picchu, Peru
November 30, 1997