If Today Were Tomorrow
Humberto Ak'abal
“My language was born among trees,
it holds the taste of earth;
my ancestors’ tongue is my home.”
—from “The Old Song of the Blood”
A legacy of land and language courses through the pages of this spirited bilingual edition, offering an expansive take on the internationally renowned work of Humberto Ak’abal, a K’iche’ Maya poet born in the western highlands of Guatemala.
Featuring both Ak’abal’s Spanish translations from the indigenous K’iche’ and English translations by acclaimed poet Michael Bazzett, this collection blossoms from the landscape of Momostenango—mountains covered in cloud forest, deep ravines, terraced fields of maize. Ak’abal’s unpretentious verse models a contraconquista—counter-conquest—perspective, one that resists the impulse to impose meaning on the world and encourages us to receive it instead. “In church,” he writes, “the only prayer you hear / comes from the trees / they turned into pews.” Every living thing has its song, these poems suggest. We need only listen for it.
Attuned, uncompromising, Ak’abal teaches readers to recognize grace in every earthly observation—in the wind, carrying a forgotten name. In the roots, whose floral messengers “tell us / what earth is like / on the inside.” Even in the birds, who “sing in mid-flight / and shit while flying.” At turns playful and pointed, this prescient entry in the Seedbank series is a transcendent celebration of both K’iche’ indigeneity and Ak’abal’s lifetime of work.
Duration - 11h 2m.
Author - Humberto Ak'abal.
Narrator - Michael Bazzett Bazzett.
Published Date - Monday, 08 January 2024.
Copyright - © 2024 Milkweed Editions ©.
Location:
United States
Networks:
Humberto Ak'abal
Michael Bazzett Bazzett
Seedbank
Milkweed Editions
English Audiobooks
Findaway Audiobooks
Description:
“My language was born among trees, it holds the taste of earth; my ancestors’ tongue is my home.” —from “The Old Song of the Blood” A legacy of land and language courses through the pages of this spirited bilingual edition, offering an expansive take on the internationally renowned work of Humberto Ak’abal, a K’iche’ Maya poet born in the western highlands of Guatemala. Featuring both Ak’abal’s Spanish translations from the indigenous K’iche’ and English translations by acclaimed poet Michael Bazzett, this collection blossoms from the landscape of Momostenango—mountains covered in cloud forest, deep ravines, terraced fields of maize. Ak’abal’s unpretentious verse models a contraconquista—counter-conquest—perspective, one that resists the impulse to impose meaning on the world and encourages us to receive it instead. “In church,” he writes, “the only prayer you hear / comes from the trees / they turned into pews.” Every living thing has its song, these poems suggest. We need only listen for it. Attuned, uncompromising, Ak’abal teaches readers to recognize grace in every earthly observation—in the wind, carrying a forgotten name. In the roots, whose floral messengers “tell us / what earth is like / on the inside.” Even in the birds, who “sing in mid-flight / and shit while flying.” At turns playful and pointed, this prescient entry in the Seedbank series is a transcendent celebration of both K’iche’ indigeneity and Ak’abal’s lifetime of work. Duration - 11h 2m. Author - Humberto Ak'abal. Narrator - Michael Bazzett Bazzett. Published Date - Monday, 08 January 2024. Copyright - © 2024 Milkweed Editions ©.
Language:
English
Introduction
Duration:06:18:09
Opening Credits
Duration:00:14:33
Kamik
Duration:00:35:36
Hoy
Duration:00:33:09
Today
Duration:00:23:52
I: Dawn: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:13:51
I: Dawn: English Translation
Duration:00:10:24
I: Daybreak: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:38:10
I: Daybreak: English Translation
Duration:00:27:06
I: The River: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:27:06
I: The River: English Translation
Duration:00:23:31
I: The Azacuanes: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:21:36
I: The Azacuanes: English Translation
Duration:00:20:44
I: Ch'ik: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:22:26
I: Ch'ik: English Translation
Duration:00:19:52
I: Hunched: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:16:10
I: Hunched: English Translation
Duration:00:14:56
I: Broken Wing: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:29:04
I: Broken Wing: English Translation
Duration:00:26:27
I: On the Floor: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:11:04
I: On the Floor: English Translation
Duration:00:09:37
I: The Song: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:17:25
I: The Song: English Translation
Duration:00:12:27
I: Song of the Water: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:13:56
I: Song of the Water: English Translation
Duration:00:11:48
I: If They Could Speak: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:21:18
I: If They Could Speak: English Translation
Duration:00:23:24
I: The Poncho: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:15:49
I: The Poncho: English Translation
Duration:00:11:30
I: Time: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:23:57
I: Time: English Translation
Duration:00:20:31
I: Wingless Bird: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:33:46
I: Wingless Bird: English Translation
Duration:00:33:35
I: Sheep: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:18:15
I: Sheep: English Translation
Duration:00:15:56
I: The Mutt: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:36:44
I: The Mutt: English Translation
Duration:00:29:19
I: Singer: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:11:45
I: Singer: English Translation
Duration:00:13:46
I: The Rabbit: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:20:54
I: The Rabbit: English Translation
Duration:00:16:17
I: My Sister: Spanish Translation
Duration:01:03:08
I: My Sister: English Translation
Duration:00:45:27
I: Cenzontle: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:28:09
I: Cenzontle: English Translation
Duration:00:19:07
I: My Wings: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:16:46
I: My Wings: English Translation
Duration:00:14:28
I: At the Spring: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:14:35
I: At the Spring: English Translation
Duration:00:09:09
I: Bookworm: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:21:26
I: Bookworm: English Translation
Duration:00:16:04
I: The Butterfly: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:31:12
I: The Butterfly: English Translation
Duration:00:26:29
I: The Naked Tree: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:16:23
I: The Naked Tree: English Translation
Duration:00:14:35
I: Leaves: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:08:53
I: Leaves: English Translation
Duration:00:09:35
I: Peach Tree: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:42:16
I: Peach Tree: English Translation
Duration:00:35:36
II: Apprentice: Spanish Translation
Duration:01:03:50
II: Apprentice: English Translation
Duration:00:53:54
II: A Plank: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:09:27
II: A Plank: English Translation
Duration:00:08:42
II: Blue: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:26:47
II: Blue: English Translation
Duration:00:24:26
II: Nothing: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:28:40
II: Nothing: English Translation
Duration:00:22:36
II: The Armchair: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:19:31
II: The Armchair: English Translation
Duration:00:17:59
II: What Is, Is: English Translation
Duration:00:15:51
II: What Is, Is: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:20:10
II: That Tree: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:19:13
II: That Tree: English Translation
Duration:00:17:51
II: Stars: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:28:56
II: Stars: English Translation
Duration:00:21:28
II: Night: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:13:51
II: Night: English Translation
Duration:00:14:51
II: Tired: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:25:00
II: Tired: English Translation
Duration:00:20:00
II: Shadow: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:06:37
II: Shadow: English Translation
Duration:00:07:29
II: Watcher: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:22:42
II: Watcher: English Translation
Duration:00:18:12
II: Prayer: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:08:40
II: Prayer: English Translation
Duration:00:08:24
II: Soot: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:26:27
II: Soot: English Translation
Duration:00:22:05
II: Water and Fire: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:28:01
II: Water and Fire: English Translation
Duration:00:23:39
II: To Begin With: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:09:32
II: To Begin With: English Translation
Duration:00:07:55
II: The Caretaker: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:30:45
II: The Caretaker: English Translation
Duration:00:27:35
II: Woodcutter: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:36:59
II: Woodcutter: English Translation
Duration:00:29:58
II: To Each Its Shadow: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:19:46
II: To Each Its Shadow: English Translation
Duration:00:19:31
II: Sweetly: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:17:33
II: Sweetly: English Translation
Duration:00:13:46
II: Leaves: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:27:11
II: Leaves: English Translation
Duration:00:23:24
II: Even So: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:26:24
II: Even So: English Translation
Duration:00:21:42
II: The Bridge: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:38:39
II: The Bridge: English Translation
Duration:00:31:35
II: Flowers: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:16:20
II: Flowers: English Translation
Duration:00:14:30
II: Happy: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:19:05
II: Happy: English Translation
Duration:00:16:36
II: Stones: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:08:35
II: Stones: English Translation
Duration:00:07:08
II: Trees: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:24:24
II: Trees: English Translation
Duration:00:19:15
II: The Rain: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:28:43
II: The Rain: English Translation
Duration:00:29:32
II: They Know: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:15:22
II: They Know: English Translation
Duration:00:14:09
II: Two Eyes: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:10:53
II: Two Eyes: English Translation
Duration:00:10:35
II: Clear Water: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:14:56
II: Clear Water: English Translation
Duration:00:12:35
II: There: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:15:15
II: There: English Translation
Duration:00:13:14
II: Lightning: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:18:15
II: Lightning: English Translation
Duration:00:16:23
II: Overheard in the Market: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:10:24
II: Overheard in the Market: English Translation
Duration:00:08:50
II: The Fire: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:16:59
II: The Fire: English Translation
Duration:00:15:02
II: Crazy: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:25:47
II: Crazy: English Translation
Duration:00:23:52
II: Old Cypress: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:19:13
II: Old Cypress: English Translation
Duration:00:14:04
II: A Leap: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:29:50
II: A Leap: English Translation
Duration:00:25:08
II: Grandfather: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:30:19
II: Grandfather: English Translation
Duration:00:26:48
II: Awakening: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:28:56
II: Awakening: English Translation
Duration:00:27:37
II: To Fly: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:07:24
II: To Fly: English Translation
Duration:00:08:42
II: Landslide: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:11:53
II: Landslide: English Translation
Duration:00:10:37
II: Memory: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:16:54
II: Memory: English Translation
Duration:00:20:41
II: I Speak: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:06:32
II: I Speak: English Translation
Duration:00:07:08
II: The Day I Grew Old: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:35:41
II: The Day I Grew Old: English Translation
Duration:00:38:57
II: Beyond Help: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:28:09
II: Beyond Help: English Translation
Duration:00:29:50
III: K'uxk'ub'el: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:40:08
III: K'uxk'ub'el: English Translation
Duration:00:36:54
III: My Shadow: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:30:30
III: My Shadow: English Translation
Duration:00:36:04
III: The Craftsman: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:35:54
III: The Craftsman: English Translation
Duration:00:36:17
III: It's Been a While: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:14:07
III: It's Been a While: English Translation
Duration:00:16:15
III: The Moon on the Water: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:09:09
III: The Moon on the Water: English Translation
Duration:00:10:48
III: She: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:16:04
III: She: English Translation
Duration:00:12:20
III: Fig Leaf: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:19:49
III: Fig Leaf: English Translation
Duration:00:16:30
III: Meeting: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:22:44
III: Meeting: English Translation
Duration:00:19:54
III: Wish: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:22:55
III: Wish: English Translation
Duration:00:18:10
III: Forgotten: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:08:48
III: Forgotten: English Translation
Duration:00:08:40
III: Howl: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:14:48
III: Howl: English Translation
Duration:00:14:48
III: Dusk: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:13:04
III: Dusk: English Translation
Duration:00:11:12
III: Rupture: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:22:26
III: Rupture: English Translation
Duration:00:22:49
III: I Took Your Name Out of My Head: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:26:53
III: I Took Your Name Out of My Head: English Translation
Duration:00:27:24
III: The Sad One: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:15:51
III: The Sad One: English Translation
Duration:00:17:04
IV: And Nobody Sees Us: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:46:16
IV: And Nobody Sees Us: English Translation
Duration:00:40:57
IV: The Dance: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:13:35
IV: The Dance: English Translation
Duration:00:14:28
IV: Freedom: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:21:34
IV: Freedom: English Translation
Duration:00:19:31
IV: Flight: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:07:00
IV: Flight: English Translation
Duration:00:07:42
IV: Downpour: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:17:51
IV: Downpour: English Translation
Duration:00:15:12
IV: Distance: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:11:17
IV: Distance: English Translation
Duration:00:10:19
IV: The Sun: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:17:31
IV: The Sun: English Translation
Duration:00:15:25
IV: Before: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:13:17
IV: Before: English Translation
Duration:00:12:17
IV: Wild: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:15:22
IV: Wild: English Translation
Duration:00:14:51
IV: Jaguar: Spanish Translation
Duration:00:29:35