A Death in Cajamarca, Peru (Atahualpa, in Cajamarca ((in English and Spanish))

The Epic Poem:

A Death in Cajamarca, Peru
[Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]

Advance: This is a version, not a translation of any kind, on the incarceration and death of Atahualpa the Inca King of the Inca Empire, in the 16th century (Peru).

Atahualpa, enduring in Cajamarca
Greeted by De Soto, his free friend from Spain!
"Be Calm! These times will be tolerant to you."
By Riquelme, who is wearied with this place?
Unsatisfied with checkmate, looks upon Atahualpa
As simply detestable-blazing, bleak, uninviting,
And longs again to find himself in Spain,
After the embarrassment of defeat,
By the captive slave Atahualpa, Inca King
Who gave advice to Captain Hernando De Soto
And got inevitable checkmate?.
And friends and feast-saw more than all, its games-
This life seemed blank and flat. He slacks to rest
In its vast prison all alive with walls, listening
And quivering combatants with Inca robes-the air
Delighted by the roaring fermatas of men-
The sunlit canopy heaving overhead,
Inflamed and stained against its corded veins
And fluttering out its border with piercing testimony-
The wild warriors roaring from the pit below-
The wilder crowded soldiers from above
With one long yell that sends the startled blood
With thrill and sudden flush into the knees-
A hundred voices screaming-to the Inca King
Of Spanish horses galloping across the land-
The ring of swords, the sharp clashes of steel-
Live swords that spin in circles with bloody red-
Gall helmets flashing 'neath their torrent hair-
A conjuring, prophetic God-to them
Worse than the furor-the eyes of Atahualpa
To the Peruvian Indians-doing nothing-
Their muscle strained-and then comes slavery;
"Abet!-that's God's will," says Atahualpa to his people!
"?thaïs, 't is their Spain-'t is not ours and mine."

And yes, Atahualpa felt the great God was by his side
He stands with face up, as if he sees and believes
The game he so illustrates, and says, "That's death!"
"Ah! For my Spain!" I speak his very words
As for his group, I know them, every one-
An odd crazy place and full of make up, untamed-
Soto, Rada, Chavez, Atienza, and Riquelme
All seemed to me fine men devoid of revenge-
A little crazed-but who is entirely sane?
They went about with war as they were taught,
And gave away their laughter but not the gold,
And all their talk was of gold and uproar.

If Spaniards thought and said they were gods,
'T was undisruptive foolishness, not deserving death
Death to the riddled Inca King, Atahualpa

What most aroused Atahualpa's brother, Titu--
Was that his brother gave the Spaniards his resources,
And cried that wealthy men would pay his ransom;
And, worst of all, roundly denounced his people,
With all their cries to fight the Spaniards greed-;
Said they were frauds who made stretched prayers;
And were at best, only devil conquistadors;
And this it was that brought Pizarro to his death.

As it was Riquelme who voted to hang Atahualpa
Those who went with him did not believe in him
Were mostly dull, uneducated men
Simple and dazed by what he said,
And misconceiving every word he said.
He led them by an enthralled fear;
They followed him like rebels, where he went,
With feelings mixed of wonder, fear and dread.
Stricken with fear until they hung him!...

Thus much was said, by the ruling hand of Pizarro
I hear him fuming in the court below, like Pilot,
Cursing his servants and Spain.

The sun is dropping-all the sky's ablaze-
A half hour hence all will be boring and grey
again;
On through the blinding eyes of the many--
don Francisco Pizarro, like Titus of Rome
Announces the unjustifiable execution of
Atahualpa!...

As long as Inca's shall be know to men
Riquelme's name shall bear the brand of ill repute,
The curse, of generations still unborn! ...

#744 6/2005

Spanish Version

Una Muerte en Cajamarca, Perú
(Atahualpa)

Avance: Esta es una versión, no una traducción de ninguna clase, sobre el encarcelamiento y la muerte de Atahualpa, el Rey Inca del Imperio Incaico, en el siglo XVI (Perú).

Atahualpa, sufriendo en Cajamarca
Saludado por De Soto, su amigo emancipado de España
"¡Ten calma! Estos tiempos serán tolerantes para ti".
Por Riquelme, que está cansado de este lugar
Insatisfecho con el jaque mate, mira a Atahualpa
Como simplemente detestable-con ardimiento, triste poco atractivo,
Y anhela otra vez encontrarse en España.
Después de la vergüenza de la derrota,
Por el esclavo cautivo Atahualpa, Inca Rey
Quien dio un consejo al Capitán Hernando De Soto
Y consiguió un jaque mate inevitable?
Y amigos y festín-vieron más que todo, sus juegos-
Esta vida pareció blanca y plana. Él inerte para descansar
En su prisión extensa toda con paredes vivas, escuchando
Y combatientes temblorosos con trajes de incas-el aire
Encantado con el rugir creciente de hombres-
El pabellón iluminado por el sol levantado en lo alto
Inflamado y manchado contra sus acordonadas venas
Y ondeando fuera de sus bordes con desgarradores testimonios-
Los guerreros salvajes rugiendo desde el abismo-
Los soldados más salvajes atestados gritando desde arriba
Con un grito largo que envía la sangre sobresaltada
Con estremecimiento y corriente repentina a las rodillas-
Un ciento de voces gritando-al Inca Rey
De caballos españoles galopando a través del terreno-
El toque de espadas, los choques agudos del acero.
Espadas vivas que giran en círculos con rojo sangriento-
Cascos, destellando bajo sus voluminosos pelos-
La prestidigitación de un Dios profético-para ellos
Peor que el escándalo-los ojos de Atahualpa
A los indios peruanos-de no hacer nada-
Sus músculos tensos-y luego viene esclavitud;
"¡Ánimo!-ésta es la voluntad de Dios", dice Atahualpa a su gente
"? ¡ésta es, ésta es su España-esto no es mío o nuestro".

Y si, Atahualpa sintió que el gran Dios estaba de su lado
Él está de pie, con la cara elevada, como si él ve y cree
El juego que él así lo ilustra, y dice, "¡ésta es la muerte!"
"¡Ah! Por mi España!" Yo digo sus propias palabras
Como por su grupo, yo los conozco, a todos-
Un raro lugar loco y constituido de indómitos-
Soto, Rada, Chávez, Atienza y Riquelme
Todos me parecieron a mi, hombres correctos desprovistos de venganza
Un poco locos-pero ¿Quién es enteramente sano?
Ellos se ocuparon de la guerra como les enseñaron,
Y regalaron su sonrisa pero no el oro,
Y toda su conversación fue del oro y el alboroto.

Si los españoles pensaron y dijeron que eran dioses,
Esto fue una insensatez inquebrantadota, no mereciendo la muerte
Muerte para el enigmático Inca rey, Atahualpa

Lo que más azuzó al hermano de Atahualpa, Titu-
Fue que su hermano dio a los españoles sus recursos,
Y exclamó que hombres ricos pagarían su rescate;
Y, peor que todo, denunciando rotundamente a su gente,
Con todos sus gritos para pelear la ambición de los españoles-;
Dijeron que ellos eran fraudes que hicieron rezos extendidos;
Y eran a lo más, sólo conquistadores del diablo;
Y esto fue lo que trajo Pizarro a su muerte.

Como fue Riquelme quien votó para colgar a Atahualpa
Aquellos quienes fueron con él no creían en él
Fueron sobre todo endebles, hombres sin educación
Simples y aturdidos por lo que él dijo,
Y mal entendiendo cada palabra que él dijo.
El los condujo con él en un miedo cautivado,
Ellos lo siguieron como rebeldes, donde él fue,
Con sentimientos mezclados de duda, miedo y temor.
Afligidos con miedo hasta que ellos lo colgaran!....

Así, mucho fue dicho, por la mano gobernante de Pizarro
Yo lo oí exasperarse abajo en la corte, como Pilatos.
Maldiciendo a sus criados y a España
El sol está bajando-todo el cielo está en llamas-
A media hora de aquí, por lo tanto, todo será aburrido y gris otra vez;
Sobre los ojos ciegos de muchos
Don francisco Pizarro, como Tito de Roma
Anuncia la injustificable ejecución de Atahualpa

Mientras el Inca sea reconocido por los hombres
El nombre de Riquelme llevará la marca de reputación enferma,
La maldición, de generaciones aun no nacidas!...

Dennis Siluk his web site is http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

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