Iximche
President Bush press conference, Iximche, sacred Mayan site

   by Mimi Ferraro

In Guatemala, at Iximche,  late afternoon sun sears
ball court, ceremonial plaza;  air trembles with maize.
Predictive as eclipse   serpentine history
cobra American President flicks tongue,  hisses 
sound bite drips of indigenous culture.

On pyramid steps, shadow doppelganger 
taunts the assembled  spins ritual ball  on skeletal finger;
mime tourists dance obscenely on temple roof.

The President stops speaking; howler monkey
microphone screech and someone turns sound off.

In silence, assembled Mayans pray for owl to lead mad dog
President to Metnal   lowest rung of the underworld 
remember 1980’s genocide   200,000 lost.

Later, beneath Ceiba tree, above earth’s sacred center,
priest/healer performs Saka, chants verses of the Popol Vuh
releases sacred grounds from bad Bush spirit

Before him    chorused  Mayan  voices    rise