Hymn to the Mother of the Gods

Hail to our mother,
who caused the yellow flowers to blossom,
who scattered the seeds of the maguey,
as she came forth from Paradise.

Hail to our mother,
who poured forth white flowers in abundance,
who scattered the seeds of the maguey,
as she came forth from Paradise.

Hail to our mother,
who caused the yellow flowers to blossom,
she who scattered the seeds of the maguey,
as she came forth from Paradise.

Hail to our mother,
who poured forth white flowers in abundance,
who scattered the seeds of the maguey,
as she came forth from Paradise.

Hail to the goddess who shines in the thorn bush
like a bright butterfly.

Ho! she is our mother,
goddess of the earth,
she puts life in the desert,
in the plains, in the water
and in the moountains.

Thus, thus,
you see her to be a model of liberality
toward all flesh.

And as you see the goddess of the earth do to the
wild beasts, so also does she toward the green herbs
and the fish.

An ancient Aztec Hymn
A free translation