Opus 59:

How the leader of the Birds was chosen
for narrator, flute, violin and harpsichord
by
Richard Burdick, opus 58

Long ago, when the Mayans were living in the Mountains of what is now Peru on the West coast of South America, things were different. Flowers, Birds, trees and animals wore other colors and shapes than those we see today. Halach-Uinic (ha lak u nic) the great spirit guarded all Mayaland and his word was law.

One day Halach-Uinic grew tired of the constant chatter and fighting among the birds. Therefore Halach decided to appoint a bird leader so that the birds could make peace and be quite in Halach’s world. Calling for Xtun-tun-kinil (sh tun tun ke nel) the roadrunner chief of the messengers Halach sent word to all the birds to meet the next day in the center of the forest. There they would elect a leader; a strong ruler who would keep things quite for the great spirit.

As each bird learned of the election they all began to boast of their best qualities. Col-pol-che (kol pol che) the cardinal sang “Look at me! No one else is bright red and as beautiful as I. All the birds admire me. I should be queen" And she strutted before her audience fluttering her wings and raising her crest .

X-col-col-chek (she col col chek) the mockingbird trilled “I’m the only bird with such a lovely voice Listen.” Her concert caused much awe among the birds but the great sprit grumbled about the noise. The wild turkey, Cutz, strode into the middle of the circle and gobbled “There’s no doubt I should be your ruler. Am I not the strongest Bird? With my size and strength, I can stop any fight and defend any bird in trouble. You need a powerful king and I’m the one!”

Kukul (koo kul) the quetzel bird remained quiet. He listened patiently to each bird tell why each should be leader but he didn’t dare compete. Kukul was very ambitious and Proud. He had fine manners and a graceful body but his feathers were shabby and rather dull, and he thought his clothing would keep him from being the leader. Suddenly he had an idea! Kukul flew over to his friend Xtun-tun--kinil the Roadrunner and said “I would like to make you an offer. Your feathers are as handsome as any bird’s here, but you are too busy with your work as a messenger to become the leader. Would you loan me your plumage for the contest. When I’m elected I'll share the wealth and honors with you.”

Xtun was silent as he thought of the glory he would have if he were the closest friend of the ruler of the birds. It was a tempting offer but he did not care to part with his beautiful plumage. Kukul kept chattering and assuring Xtun-tun of his honesty and his good intentions. He described scenes of the riches to come. At last the roadrunner was convinced, and he removed his feathers one by one and lent them to the clever quetzal who fixed them on his body as if they were his own.
Continued on the inside of the back cover.

Within minutes the quetzal was dressed in the most splendid costume. Kukul’s tail hung in a sweeping curve of jade green plumes. His body shimmered with soft blues and greens like the Mayan sky and jungle. His breast blazed with the red of a tropical sunset. Swinging his lovely long tail in an arc, the bold bird promenaded into the clearing where all the birds of Mayaland were assembled. His entrance caused a hush, and then cries of Bravo,' "Hurrah, 'Oh," and “ah” filled the forest Some birds twitched their tails in envy others squawked in surprise. There was not one who did not feel some jealousy at the sight of this beautiful new bird. Of course they did not recognize kukul.

Halach-Uinic was pleased since he knew of kukul’s deception and thought “he is a ruler whom I can control" The Great Spirit called the crowd to order and declared, “I name the quetzal to be leader of the birds.”

A loud flapping of wings followed this announcement as each bird fluttered over to Kukul to offer congratulations. Then a big party was given in kukul's honor, and after this all the birds flew home and left him to begin his new duties as leader. Kukul found himself so busy that he had no time to return the borrowed plumes. In fact he was afraid to take them off and soon forgot his promise to the roadrunner. For a while Kukul kept the birds from fighting and the forest was quite for the Great spirit but . . .

One day a group of the birds was meeting in a Chacah, or Gumbo limbo, tree. One of the noticed that Xtun-tun-kinil had not appeared. No one had seen him since the election. They began to suspect that Kukul had played some kind of trick and they immediately organized a search for the roadrunner.
At last deep in the jungle behind a Zipche, or coffee bush, they found the X-tun-tun-kinil naked and trembling with cold, half dead, and he kept crying, “Puhey? Puhey? Which sounds like “where is he? Where is he? in the Mayan language. Quickly, the birds gave him some balche, the sacred honey drink of the Mayas, to help him recover. As soon as he was able, Xtun-tunn told them about the cruel trick played on him by the quetzel bird.

The birds felt sorry for the roadrunner. They went to kukul and told him that he should give back Xtun-tun’s feathers and resign. The Great Spirit didn’t want kukul out of office, he wanted kukul’s clothing kept secret. It would be impossible for the leader to give his feathers back. Each bird then gave a few plumes to cover the poor roadrunner. That is why today roadrunner's plumage has so many colors and odd patterns. After the roadrunner was healthy he resumed as a messenger and began to spread the word that kukul the ruler was really the Quetzel bird who had deceived all the birds. So the birds started singing and chattering all the time in protest of "Kukul the King." To this day the birds sing and chatter to displease the great spirit, mocking the “King.”

© 2009 Richard Burdick