Potato Memories
Yuyasqay papacha
Allin jamuykuy kachun. Noqa sutiymi Jhon Cristhian Palomino. Noqa kani kay Amaru ayllumanta. Kunan ruaykusaq huj jarawita umalliqnintaqmi nin “Yuyasqay papacha”. Kaynantaq nin.
Inty taytaq k’anchayninwan, Mama killaq puriyninwan, Para yakuq apichaykusqan, Pacha mamaq sonqompin, wiñaykunqui mihuy papacha.
Wayqeykuna panaykunan huchuyraq hatunraq mihuykusunkiku. Chaymy noqa ancha kusisqa tarykuni. Sonqoypas pukchirinraqmi.
Wayna khuyakuq kaqtiymy, phasñaq sonqonta suwaykamuny. Ichaqa qanmi qhachun waqachi papacha: Sut’inchaypuwanqui noqapakchus, manachus kayta.
Sichus pistuyniquita allinta orqoktinkun, noqawan qhepananpaq. Ichaqa mana alllinta ruwaqtinmi, saqeynaykunaykupaq.
Perú suyuy rikchayniyuq, parikunqui peruanita papacha. Llimpiykikunapas, pukawan yuraqwan michusqa. Puka sansa k’anchayniyuq, tarikunqui huayro papacha. Sonqoykipas munay hak’u tarikun, yarqaynitapas tasnuyachin.
Añay
Potato Memories
Welcome. My name is John Cristhian Palomino.
I am from the community of Amaru.
Today, I will be reciting a poem entitled Potato Memories. It goes like this.
With the brightness of the Sun God, with the Mother Moon’s walk, with the rain water the heart of the earth becomes moist.
You grow, little potato, to feed my brothers, older and younger.
You are the food, that’s why I am full of joy, my heart fills with love.
Being a young man in love, I steal the heart of a young lady.
But you Qhachun Waqachi potato, test her.
Is she my lady or not?
If she removes your cover properly, the women I love will stay with me.
But if she doesn’t remove it well, we will have to stay apart
You look like my Peru. Here you are, Peruvian potato.
Because your colours, red and white combine, dazzling with a reddish ashen colour (cenizo rojizo), here you are Huayro potato. Your heart is sweet and floury, and it calms my hunger. .
Thank you
Translated by Aniceto Ccoyo Ccoyo, Jessica Villacorta & Tammy Stenner
Biography of the author
Jhon Cristhian Palomino was born in the community of Amaru (district of Pisac, Cuzco). He studied at the Qello Qello high school. His parents are cultivators. They taught him traditional agricultural knowledge; as well as respect for Mother Earth who year after year provides us with food. He likes to compose poems and Andean music.