Joining of Sounds

Blessings and gifts emerge in Tikal in a myriad of ways. This morning, sitting quietly in the Great Plaza, what seemed like hundreds of birds began calling overheard. I watched as pairs of parrots swooped elegantly through the sky calling in their loud, melodramatic voices. The oropendula's voice, which sounds like a great bell or water dropping echoes from the trees. Behind me came the crackling call of the royal toucan while other toucans cackled in the trees. The air was still, cool, and completely engulfed by these sounds.

In the afternoon the howler monkeys began their gravelly whoops through the trees while spider monkeys sought hidden fruits above my head. I watched as a new family of howler monkeys taught the babies to swing madly from branch to branch. They encouraged the young ones to follow them with softer hoots and calls.

To add to the brilliance of the dynamic Plaza, groups of native Maya, the descendants of the ancient Maya who once ruled Tikal swarmed into the park. They examined the buildings, talking softly in their native languages, as they looked at their past.

Out of the woods came a group of men carrying a roughly formed harp, guitar, and violin. They had just returned from a ceremony in Mundo Perdido and sat next to me to play. We solemnly greeted each other and talked about the magnificence of Tikal. The older man, in a white cowboy hat began tuning his harp and the other string players joined in. Finally, as though the three were mentally attuned to each other, they began to play. First the harp would strike its cords, then the guitar would begin to play, the violin added the water-like joining of the three instruments. Finally, a man began to beat the base of the harp to create the deep rhythm of a drum.

The music drew everyone in the Plaza to the men. People stood entranced by the simple Mayan tunes that flowed from the men. I watched, fascinated at this cultural encounter. What joy fillied me. What awe I felt at the beautiful joining of sounds from the day. What peace to be in such a magnificent place, this tropical haven in Guatemala. How grateful I am to know Tikal.