Notice the effect of the language in creating imagery, rhythm and meaning as you read the Aztec chant aloud.

Bonfire to Quetzalcoatl

It ended on the beach

It ended with a hulk of serpents formed into a boat,

And when he'd made it, sat in it and sailed away

A boat that glided on those burning waters, no one knowing when

He reached the country of Red Daylight

It ended on the rim of some great sea

It ended with his face reflected in the mirror of its waves

The beauty of his face returned to him

And he was dressed in garments like the sun

It ended with a bonfire on the beach where he would hurl himself

And burn, his ashes rising and the cries of birds

It ended with the linnet, with the birds of turquoise colour, birds

The color of wild sunflowers, red and blue birds

It ended with the birds of yellow feather in a riot of bright gold

Circling till the fire had died out

Circling whilst his heart rose through the sky

It ended with his heart transformed into a star

It ended with the morning star with dawn and evening

It ended with his journey to Death's Kingdom with seven days of darkness

With his body changed to light

A star that burns forever in that sky.

Aztec Chant