Pukllay Harmony Restoration Blood Battles

sport many sports
embody a ritual of combat
trial by body muscles

instead of blood
letting battles in times
of repetitive wars

Andean festival of Pukllay
incorporated a time of ritual battles
between neighboring communities

‘Yawar Mayu' offering river of blood
in restored harmony cleansed a years
ill will between neighboring communities

conquering Spanish outlawed
community ritual battles of Pukllay
continued in remote Andean regions

battles were held at boundaries
between neighboring communities
men from the two communities

gathered to ritual battles fight
while women would sing songs
encouraging their local men

to stand to be brave to not
fear the river of blood
as battle took various forms

two opposing neighboring sides
might throw hard unripe fruit
or men might form opposing lines

strike neighboring men
with their warak'a slings
or fight close with staffs

what was aim important
some blood must be spilt
as an offering to Pachamama

blood offerings
to the great Being
who is mother earth

blood offerings
to the Apus
the Beings

who are majestic
mountain peaks
to Sacred Sites

what if a man died
during ‘Yawar Mayu' fight
a ritual rare event

his body was buried
as further offering on site
to the sacred Beings

in many modern sports skill
courage endurance even blood
is offered up in necessary games

there is a human need to vent
frustrations disharmony ill will
community balance restored

poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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