Invocation for Storing Corn
by Translated by Francisco X. Alarcon
I myself
Spirit in Flesh:come forth
elder sister
Lady of Our Flesh
soon I shall place you
inside my jade jar
hold up the four directions
don’t shame yourself
you shall be my breath
you shall be my cure
for me, Poor Orphan
for me, Centeotl
you, my elder sister
you, Tonacacihuatl
Copyright © 1992 by Francisco Alarcon
From Women in Praise of the Sacred, edited by Jane Hirshfield (New York: HarperPerennial, 1994). Used by arrangement with HarperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
