The Parable of Lord Centipede
“The Parable of Lord Centipede”

1
I have come to tell you, my fellows,
Of a time when here In this region, these plains,
This broad Yucatan
Dwelled ancient giants
And hunchbacked dwarves.
No human being like you or me
Had ever arrived in these lands.

2
For many, many years
Lord Centipede with his seven heads
Strode up and down the plains alone.
If you saw him suddenly cross your path,
It was to devour you
Or to trouble your life
Should you not understand
What he asked of you.
3
But, behold, the day arrived
When there was one
Who could respond—
Nota giant or dwarf,
But a man.

4
When he heard the answered words
Lord Centipede raged and raged
Because the man who could respond
To what he asked Had to be Lord Centipede, too!
How else could a being understand
And respond to that seven-fold mind?

5
Thus was he seized by this evil lie
Which he began to believe and repeat,
Having been deceived in his pride
By the human response.

(Songs of Dzitbalché 10)