My Father Gave Me a Gift

When I was young

my father brought me a gift,

a yellow bird

with orange spots, a little bird that sang

right by my mouth

and taught me the names of things.

We, we, we

ore, ore, ore

wik, wik, wik.

When I was young,

a yellow bird taught me to sing in Zoque,

opened up the world to me,

showed me the universe’s language.

If you give your word, you must honor it.

If you lie, you dishonor yourself.

That is why we are called Orepät, Oreyomo.

We are men and women of our word.

There in the mountains the wewe grows,

a yellow flower with orange spots,

a bird that sings

and teaches the Zoques to sing

we, we, we

ore, ore, ore

wik, wik, wik.