K'iche' Health & Peace Utzil Poem by Kimberly Burnham

In K'iche' a Mayan language spoken
by more than a million
in the Guatemala highlands

Health is strong and precious
beautiful and good
"utzil"refers to goodness
or peace
as well a blessing

Charity is utzil -anima'
and favor utzil and toq'ob
health utzil and "utzil wächaj"
to heal "utzirisaj"

Healthy children and the ritual name
for good things
of a marriage
wuqub utzil wuqub chomal

Utzil with such fluidity
encompasses all that is good
health
peace
blessing
children in the world