Write a comment
The Moth

The Moth

A sad Peruvian Myth about a secret lover

Freely translated from Arguedas and Carrillo

A man and a woman lived happily together with their only child, a little boy. But the man went off on a journey, leaving his wife in tears, and while he was away, she spent the nights sleeplessly spinning.

One night, as the little boy lay awake, he asked his mother, “What is that flutters there beside you, that I hear you talking to?” The mother answered, “Oh, just someone who loves me, a little friend who comes and keeps me company.”

When the man returned from his journey, his wife was out of the house. He began talking with his little boy, asking him how his mother had spent the nights while he was gone. Someone who loves her came every night, said the little boy, and she stayed up late, spinning and talking to him.

Hearing this, the man went out to find his wife. When he found her, he threw her over a cliff and killed her. Then one night, as he sat quietly before the fire, thinking of what had happened, his little boy cried out, “There he is, Mama’s lover! The one who came and kept her company!” and he pointed to the moth that had come to his mother’s side during the long nights of her husband’s absence.

Realizing his mistake, the man sank into a deep despair. His grief overwhelmed him, he no longer moved and at last he was dead.

Say something here...
characters left
or post as a guest
All comments MUST be in English and will be moderated before publishing.
They will appear below within 24 hours.
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

Be the first to comment.

Peru Newsflash

Peru Event Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Latest Content...

Latest Video

Maria Reiche - Memories

Maria Reiche - Memories

Submitted by: Tintin
05 December 2021

Long Reads...

  • Peruvian Archaeology

    The Mystery of the Nazca Lines in Peru

    In the 1920s, when people first flew across southern Peru, they made an astonishing discovery. Stretching below them,…
  • Peruvian Personalities & Founders

    Francisco Pizarro González (1474-1541)

    Francisco Pizarro, a peasant from Spain, was one of the least well-equipped conquerors in history. However, in the name…
  • Peruvian Archaeology

    The colorful Fabrics and Textiles of Peru

    Europe’s first knowledge of Peruvian textiles was acquired following the Spanish invasion of Peru in 1532, when the…
  • Peruvian Legends, Myths & Tales

    The Jeweled Frog and the Condor

    By a quiet pond, at the side of a cloud-topped mountain in Peru, lived a small green frog and his large green family.…
  • Peru Info

    Peruvian Economy

    The Peruvian economy is an emerging, social market economy highly dependent on foreign trade and classified as an upper…