This story is about drinking the vine of the soul from dusk to dawn. It is dedicated to the brave people of the Siecopai culture, to the unguragui and chambira palms, and to the wantas scavenging for forest fruits in the night.
When the sun lit up the day, these pictures flashed before me. There are three stories in one. The first is a gathering of people around a ceremonial fire. The second is about cells and the scientific mind. In the third we enter the realm of jaguars and anacondas.
Part I: Ceremony
C’mon, let’s go! By the side of the trail, three hawthorn trees with berries stand tall.
Let’s make camp by the river. Clear wings of dragonflies glide and spin along the banks.
Orange spotted blue butterflies hop from sand spit to sand spit. Crows dive, tumble, and even out.
We greet the dude who chants, blows, and sings all night. Ho ho ho!
We share a smile with friends who hold down the corners: turtle, fox, and hummingbird.
This is Hawk, the black sun dancer who loves Indian stories.
It was our first wedding anniversary, a full moon by the gushing river. Que romantica!
We drank a bitter potion of jungle vines, leaves, and flowers.
We sat still on round pebbles watching the flicker of flames.
Part II: The cell
This is the membrane that lets stuff in and out – the lipid bilayer made of hydrophilic and hydrophobic heads. Stay in balance!
These are various parts inside the cell – the powerhouse, the dump, the makers of proteins…
Here is the nucleus: the safe house of the secret code. Shhhhhhh……..
The helical twists we know and love. Elegant design, endless variation.
Here comes the virus! Don’t let it replicate!
Part III: Jaguars and anacondas
The rainbow serpent, protector of the universe, gets ready for transformation.
Thousands of tigres y culebras are wrapped in gold, running back and forth. They are laughing in a crystalline sky of chimes.
Between the sun and the shade, Jaguar lies in camouflage.
Jaguar’s whiskers sense unusual activity on the river rocks.
Jaguar opens her mouth and sharp teeth, she gets ready to tear it up!
Eagle claws, take me to the sky! Grab hold.
The Indian lodge! I am here! But how do you sing the universe into form and pattern? Why is the setting sun black? How do you keep the gates open? I want to learn more.
No! Not into the bowels of excrement. The storage vault of the spirit – the chipped and scarred, charred and broken. Release the worms inside!
Gotta hang by your toes. This part is painful. Drain the brain. Fill it with love.
Anda! Una escritora Chilena guapita. Too bad she is married and not your age. Run free!
And that was the end. Wish I could explain it better. Well, hope you enjoyed this story.
CACOHUITOYAI!
Mission Azul 