[Spanish version]
¿Tli tiniechmojtilili?
(What did you see in me?)
¿Tli tiniechmojtilili?
What did you see in me?
by
Martín N. Méndez Huaxcuatitla
in Mösiehuali, or Tetelcingo Nahuatl
This poem was written in the Mösiehuali
(Tetelcingo Nahuatl or Tetelcingo Aztec) language, by Martín
Méndez Huaxcuatitla. It is sung to the tune written
below, which seems to have been adapted from a traditional hymn melody.
It was included in a Spanish-Mexicano Hymnal, published in 1962 by
Tipografía Indígena of Cuernavaca, Morelos.*
To listen to the different verses of the hymn
(in .mp3 formatted files of about 150K each),
click on the symbol
which appears at the end of the translation of each verse.
1. |
¿Tli |
tiniechmojtilili |
|
What did you see in me,
Beloved and blessed God?
For I have nothing good to offer,
Oh my Lord Jesus Christ!
|
|
what |
you.H.saw.it.in.me |
|
NotlasomabisTeotzi |
|
my.beloved.worshipful.God |
|
Tlö |
amo |
tlin |
cuali |
nicpia? |
|
if |
not |
that |
good |
I.have.it |
|
NotieJesucristo, |
notieJesucristo. |
|
my.lord.Jesus.Christ |
my.lord.Jesus.Christ |
2. |
Nopampa |
tomomiquiti |
|
You died for my sake
How could I ever pay it?
Receive my heart
I place it in Your blessed hands
|
|
on.my.account |
you.H.died |
|
¿Quieni |
noso |
nictlaxtlöhuas? |
|
how |
then |
I.will.pay.it |
|
Xomönili |
noyulojtzi |
|
receive.it.(you.H.) |
my.heart.H |
|
Momöpantzinco |
nocontlölia |
|
in.your.H.hands |
I.place.it |
3. |
Tlö |
amo |
tlin |
cuali |
nicpia |
|
Since I have nothing good
That I could give to You,
Receive my own soul,
Most blessed God.
|
|
if |
not |
what |
good |
I.have.it |
|
Para |
timitzmomöctilis |
|
for |
I.will.entrust.it.to.you.H |
|
Xomönili |
noölmajtzi |
|
receive.it.(you.H) |
my.soul.H |
|
NomabisTeotzi, |
nomabisTeotzi. |
|
my.worshipful.God.H |
my.worshipful.God.H |
4. |
Nönca |
noso |
noyulojtzi |
|
Here, then, is my heart,
Here then is my soul,
Take it, receive it,
It is truly Yours.
|
|
here |
then |
my.heart.H |
|
Nönca |
noso |
noölmajtzi |
|
here |
then |
my.soul.H |
|
Xomönili, |
xomocuili |
|
receive.it.(you.H) |
take.it.(you.H) |
|
Tiel |
mohuöxcatzi, |
tiel |
mohuöxcatzi. |
|
truly |
your.H.possession |
truly |
your.H.possession |
5. |
Tomotiemoli |
noyulo |
|
You searched for my heart,
You searched for my soul,
You found it, oh my Father,
On the tree, on the cross.
|
|
you.H.looked.for.it |
my.heart |
|
Tomotiemoli |
noölma |
|
you.H.looked.for.it |
my.soul |
|
Tomoniextili |
noTajtzi |
|
you.H.found.it |
my.father.H |
|
Ipan |
coruscuabitl, |
ipan |
coruscuabitl |
|
on.it |
cross.tree |
on.it |
cross.tree |
6. |
Sanamo |
tietlöocolti |
|
They felt no pity towards You
When they left You hanging there;
And it was all on my account!
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
|
|
just.not |
it.caused.sympathy |
|
Quieni |
mitzmotömpilfijqui |
|
how |
they.hung.you.H |
|
Nochi |
inu |
por |
nopampa |
|
all |
that |
for |
on.my.account |
|
Ay |
noTeotzi, |
ay |
noTeotzi. |
|
oh |
my.God.H |
oh |
my.God.H |
Author: Martín N.
Méndez Huaxcuatitla
Editing and analysis: Forrest and Jean Brewer
David Tuggy
Note
*
The orthography used here is that of the “Himnario
Mexicano-Español” (1962), except that cases of
“short” i,
which were unmarked in the “Himnario”, are here
marked with the underline (see the Vowels
of Mösiehuali). Following the
“Himnario” we have used ö
instead of the ā
or
ä which the
author, Ru Marti
Méndez, preferred to use. In the glosses H. indicates honorific forms,
and ‘it’ is used to gloss 3rd person forms where
they do not refer to a person.
The sound files are sung by David Tuggy.
© 2003, David Tuggy
All rights reserved. May be reproduced for nonprofit use so long as it is not modified in any way.
Derechos reservados. Puede reproducirse para fines no lucrativos siempre que no se altere en forma alguna.