Clara Santi Grefa, "Simayuka: Love Medicine."

From interviews with Tod D. Swanson

Description

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English Translation

This is simayuca; it must be dried and kept in the pocket. Have you tried it? This is for girls. When you were young, did you try it? My cousin tried it; I was a little girl at that time. She carried the young leaves and rubbed them, because she had a boyfriend. He was very tough and did not love her. That was when she greeted him and kissed him. The young man said, “Why are you doing that? Do you like me or what?” He got angry and said, “I don’t love you.” In the afternoon, the young man came crying to where she was lying down. She was waiting for him, painted with achiote. This semayuca is very good, but only the semayuca from the forest. It must be kept in the mountains, not here on the path. But I brought it from the jungle. For what? To plant it. It is no good keeping it here. Here it is too exposed; this plant must be kept well hidden, like in the jungle where no one touches it. There, you can show it to tourists, but not touch it. Otherwise, they will follow you and come back from abroad. This plant is very dangerous in Arajuno and Puní. There are very fragrant plants, but this one is an old plant and is no longer useful. This one is old. The ones from the forest are good for rubbing. It calms down grumpy girls.

Kichwa Translation

Kayta chakichisha, chakichisha borsilloi charina an simayuca. “Kan kamakangui?”, nigara. Chicagunaraygu, kay mari an kay. “Kan malta uras kamakanguichu?” Kay ñuka prima ñaña kamara; pay soltera era, ñuka ichillawa marani. Pay kayta kukullujta apasha rira, kasna kichisha, kichisha… pay charira shu enamoradota. Era piña mara, yapa piña; chi mana munara. Chi makiy saludara, kaygunay besara. Chi nira, chi joven nira: “Imangawa kasna rawangui? Imangawa? Munawanguichu?” Chi nira ña enojashka mani: “Ña kanda mana munanichu”, nira. “Bueno”, rira. Chishiyga wakasha shamura wasiy chi joven; payga tiaun gustarisha sirisha, manduruta pintarisha. Kay alli semayuca man, pero urku semayuka. Urku, kayta urkuymi charina an kayta. Mana kay ñambiy. “Mana”, nira, “pero ñuka apamukani urkumanda”. “Imangawa man.” “Tarpungawa.” “Mana, kaybi mana vallin.” Kaybi runa yapa rikun; pay escondido pay charina man, urkuy ajpiga kasillay ajpi. Chi kan gringogunata apausha rikuchi: “Kay semayuka man”, nisha, pero mana apinguichi. Chiga kanda seguingami, kanda seguingamiranun, rigrisaungauna exteriormanda. “Ah, ah, muy peligroso es esto”, kayga. “Kay ñukanchi partima, kay Arajunoma, kay Puni partima.” Buenomi tian uluroso, uluroso… kayga apa man, apa, apa man; kay no es bueno. Kayga apa man. Urkuy tiajmi alli an, chaytami alli an awingaj makiy. Piña warmita mansan.

Spanish Translation

Esto es simayuca. Se debe secar y llevarla en el bolsillo. ¿Has comprobado? Esto es para las chicas. ¿Cuándo fuiste joven, probaste? Mi prima probó; yo era una niña en ese momento. Ella llevó las hojitas tiernas y las frotó, porque tenía un enamorado. Él era muy bravo y no la quería. Fue entonces cuando ella lo saludó y lo besó. El joven dijo: “¿Por qué haces eso? ¿Acaso me quieres?”. Se enojó y dijo: “Yo no te quiero”. Por la tarde, el joven llegó llorando a donde ella estaba acostada; ella lo esperaba pintada con achiote. Es muy buena esta semayuca, pero la semayuca del monte. Esta se debe tener en las montañas, no aquí en el camino. Pero yo la traje de la selva. ¿Para qué? Para sembrar. No vale tenerla aquí. Aquí es muy vista; a esta planta se la debe tener bien escondida, como en la selva, donde nadie la toca. Ahí puedes mostrarla a los turistas, pero no tocarla. Si no, te van a seguir y regresarán del exterior. Es muy peligrosa esta planta en Arajuno y en Puní. Hay plantas bien olorosas; esta es una planta vieja, ya no sirve. Esta es vieja. Las del monte son buenas para frotarse. A las chicas regañonas las calma.

Analysis

Not available