Humberto Ak’abal is a Guatemalan poet. He was born in Momostenango, in Quetzaltenango province. He is regarded by his countrymen as being the main ‘literary event’ of recent years. Ak’abal holds a special position because he writes in his own Mayan language, Mayaquiché, in a country which has a tradition of repressing, rather than applauding, its indigenous population.)
The Dance
All of us dance
on a cent's edge.
The poor—because they are poor—
lose their step,
and fall
and everyone else
falls on top.