A SONG OF FLOWERS: NI XOCHITL, NI KUIKATI

Poetry / Art. Jbe Books, 2024. Hardcover, full color, 120 pages. 14.4" x 7.7" 

From the press: An ode to nature, poetry and design, this sumptuously produced book illuminates an understudied language and its poetic traditions

In Nahuatl, a language spoken in present-day central Mexico since the 7th century, poetry is designated by a pair of metaphors, in xochitl in cuicatl: “the flower, the song.” This term defines poetry as “an elevation, an outpouring that is expressed.” Poems are a bouquet of words and associations to be sung to the sky. A confluence between an art book and a book of poetry, this work is a voyage into the poetic land of Nahuatl, an exploration of the literature of the Song of Flowers. It comprises 50 poems in Nahuatl, translated into English by Adam W. Coon, written by Mardonio Caballo. His work is introduced by literary scholar Alberto Manguel, who denotes the symbolism of songs and flowers in world literature. The stunning volume is made-to-measure by designer Fernando Laposse, using natural fibers derived from wine and corn production.

Edited by Mardonio Caballo, Fernando Laposse. Text by Mardonio Caballo. Introduction by Alberto Manguel. Illustrations by Fernando Laposse.