The Mexican folktale of La Llorona or
The Wailing Woman was a part of my
childhood that I could have done without.
But since IT IS Halloween weekend, I thought I would share the tale with you so you can have an
insight to my messed up childhood.
The tale of La Llorona has been passed down through
generations for the past 500 years. I don't think there
is a single soul in Mexico who hasn't heard it, not to
mention the millions of Latin-Americans who reside in
the U.S. who have also learned it from their parents.
La Llorona
Don't go down to the river, child,
Don't go there alone;
For the sobbing woman, wet and wild
Might claim you for her own.
She weeps when the sun is murky red;
She wails when the moon is old;
She cries for her babies, still and dead,
Who drowned in the water cold.
Abandoned by a faithless love,
Filled with fear and hate.
She flung them from a cliff above
And left them to their fate.
Day and night, she heard their screams,
Borne on the current’s crest;
Their tortured faces filled her dreams,
And gave her heart no rest.
Crazed by guilt and dazed by pain,
Weary from loss of sleep,
She leaped in the river, lashed by rain,
And drowned in the waters deep.
She seeks her children day and night,
Wandering, lost, and cold;
She weeps and moans in dark and light,
A tortured, restless soul.
Don’t go down to the river, child,
Don’t go there alone;
For the sobbing woman, wet and wild,
Might claim you for her own.
In most versions of folk legend La Llorona, as a result
of betrayal, killed her children in revenge. Her spirit is
forced to wander near the banks of rivers wailing "mis
hijos, donde estan mis hijos?" ("my children, where are
my children?") in search of her lost progeny.
"Be good or La Llorona will get you" is a warning heard
by most Hispanic children who grow up in fear of the woman who has violently transgressed the role of mother.
Her story has even been turned into a movie.
Yes, I know, it's a horrible tale.
I'm sorry that children, including myself,
have, are, and will be subjected to that story.
What are parents thinking, or are they?
I never nor would I ever pass it on
to my girls" the Llorona ends with me"
So now, let me show you the inspiration to my post.
(look at image for a minute)
This is the pic that my beautiful and talented cousin,
gave me flashbacks of my childhood and La Llorona.
The image is appearing in her lovely home, by the way.
I don't know if I can go visit her anymore after this. lol
For those of you who have not visited Ana's lovely blog,
please take a minute to do so. You won't be disappointed!
Have a Wonderful Weekend!
