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leaving Cusco soon after dawn
we traverse the Sacred Valley
to Ollaytantambo
before the 82nd kilometre
the Vale believes, before and beside catholic Spanish,
much as moderns post-Mass yet worship Mother Earth, bet hedging
each home is guarded by rooftop Christian cross bestride two bulls
and a pull of corn beer (that deities drink up overnight)

even thus, gods bless with rain that washes river banks away
while seeding the white corn fields with fatted kernels
in a land where the young dream of becoming celebrity chefs
and tourists shortcut their way to peak-top Pisac shrine
by bus, rather than terrace climb from mountain foot
the natives will tell that the sacrifice be not worthy
till the gods feast on our full and our folly