Aztec Poetry

Today I read a remarkable article in the spring edition of the Humanities at BYU publication, It is with Words that we are Sustained by Allen J. Christenson. The piece covers diverse and absorbing subject matter. At the beginning of his article, the author discusses the Aztec’s love for poetry, their most sacred form of communication. The author explains that these flower-songs were recited orally, sometimes to musical accompaniment. Christenson clarifies that, although the Aztecs had no phonetic written language, we are fortunate to have some of their beautiful works because Spanish missionaries wrote them down after the conquest in 1521.
  One passage cited in the article moved me in so many ways: The grace of the words, the spiritual ramifications and the glimpse into the humanity of these ancient people. The author introduces this poem by explaining that the poet believed his songs came from heaven, and he sorrowed  over the fact that there was no way he could adequately  express these revered hymns.
It occurs to me that often, when the Spirit speaks to us, we feel this same frustration at the impossibility of expressing these sacred insights.  Here are the lines that now tie me to the poet,  Ayocuan Cuetzpaltzin.                            

From within the heavens they come,

The beautiful flowers, the beautiful songs.

Our longing spoils them, 

Our inventiveness makes them lose their fragrance.

(Leon-Portilla)