Otomí (Hñähñu)
· HñähñuEndangeredOtomangue · Hidalgo, Querétaro, Estado de MéxicoThe Wind and the Ancient Mountains
Ha hnini ya, ndähi mi 'da nts'oho ndoho. Mi jähñä ne mi pätri nge ya mäkä ts'ondähi. Mi 'ñenthe mi zoni ya. Ya ts'ondähi, ya tsoho ne ya hñä'i, mi 'yo xi nzofo. Ndähi mi 'yo xi 'ñuni, mi ñehe 'da ndähi xi hñehi. Mi nthe ts'oho ne ya doho. Pe ya ts'ondähi mi 'yo xi nzofo. 'Nehe, ya ts'ondähi más tsoho mi ñä. "Ndähi, ri hñä'i hñehi, pe ri ts'ofo hñehi. Di b'ehe di joni ya dähñä." Ndähi, ya ho'ño, mi ñehe 'da t'äxä ndähi ne mi t'äxä ya nthebe. Ha ya ts'ondähi mi hño'ätho ya, ne ndähi mi hñoho ya.
Long ago, the wind was a restless spirit. It roared and pushed against the great mountains. It tried to move them. The mountains, ancient and strong, stood firm. The wind grew angry, becoming a powerful wind. It picked up dust and stones. But the mountains remained firm. Then, the oldest mountain spoke: "Wind, your strength is great, but your patience is greater. We stand here to protect the valleys." The wind, now humbled, became a gentle breeze and shaped the clouds. Thus, the mountains learned to endure, and the wind learned respect.
— True strength lies not in destruction, but in patience and mutual respect.