feathered serpent

I bring you tithing from Tula
though expelled from within
and offer words with my sacrifice
with butterfly, snake, bird,
and their kin
I immolate on a pyre
in the water divine
submerged as a priest king
but as Venus I rise
I am feathered serpent
here to teach and devise
and in wisdom I am toltec
even Itza will not divide
and as many moons pass
and the suns run their cycle
I remain immutable teacher
to the willing disciple
find me