Tamakglhtastín

“Kkilatamalh kxkachikín lawan pala niksmanilh,
xaklhakgapatan klhakgat lawan luspupulu kimakgkatsika,
kiaktalamilh xtachiwin lawan akxní xaklichiwinampatán.

Xakmaxanatlipatán kintalakapstakni tsalakgolh tachiwín,
xkixapakanitá akxní kpatsalh kilatamat kxlikgalhtawakga lawan
chu akxní kpatsalh kinklilhtsukut naxmasipanikanitá’”

Like Them
(Totonacan Poem)

I wanted to live in their land and I felt absent,
I wanted to wear their clothing and I felt naked,
I wanted to speak their language and their language stoned me to death.

I wanted to write poems and words vanished,
I opened their book and searched for myself and I was deleted,
I tried to find my identity and my identity was bleeding.

Manuel Espinosa Sainos

Kolabo - Kita No Taiko & Firefly Theatre Collaboration, Edmonton 2018.