Ancient American Poets by John Curl

Ancient American Poets presents a survey of indigenous poetry that focuses on three Amerindian poets. Included are The Flower Songs by Nezahualcoyotl (Aztec), The Songs of Dzitbalche by Ah Bam (Yucataec Maya), and The Sacred Hymns of the Situa by Pachacuti (Inca), followed by biographies and commentaries on these poets’ lives and times. Each poem is presented in its original language and in translation. By reading this poetry and exploring the lives of the three poets, one can visualize the indigenous world in the century before the Spanish conquest and gain a view of Amerindian history radically different from its usual presentation.