Dear Traveler,
¡Ayúdame! ¡Ayúdame! Why won’t anyone help me?
My children, dios mío, my children! Won’t anyone help my children?
I swear, I didn’t mean it…I was just so mad…I was just so, so mad…
He had sworn to me that he loved me like no other, then I saw him with her. They did nothing that I could see, but they were so close together, I grew red with fury. I could not see anything through my rage…
I swear, I thought that there was no other way. I thought that he no longer loved me, no longer loved us…I would not have done it otherwise…
Then I saw him on the shore, screaming and begging me to stop.
“Our children, our children!” he cried. “Please, my love, not our children!”
When I saw them sinking, lifeless, to the bottom of the river, I knew I could not stand to live with myself anymore…with or without his love…
But I cannot find them. I cannot find mis niños. They would not abandon me like their father did. I know they would not. Yet I search this river, night after night, and still I cannot find their souls.
Where are my babies? ¿Dondé están mis niños?
¡Ayúdame! ¡Ayúdame! Why won’t anyone help me?
~Maria (La Llorona)
* * *
Author’s Note: This was written for Rick Henry Christopher’s The Haunted Letter Challenge. You can find the challenge in the link below.
And to learn more about La Llorona, check out the Wikipedia entry.
About the Creator
Stephanie Hoogstad
With a BA in English and MSc in Creative Writing, writing is my life. I have edited and ghost written for years with some published stories and poems of my own.
Learn more about me: thewritersscrapbin.com
Support my writing: Patreon
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Comments (11)
Such a horrible tale of sadness. mad world we live in. good luck.
Somehow, I missed this one! But I love your piece, and this story is heart breaking to me. Good luck!!
So happy to see you join in, Stephanie!
Thank you for your entry, Stephanie!
La liorona's tale is very horrific indeed.
This piece captures La Llorona’s voice with chilling intensity; I could almost hear her wail rising from the riverbank.
Nice entry, very captivating. I learn about a new Spanish American folklore.
I've heard of her but was unaware of her story. My heart breaks for her. Loved your take on this challenge!
Of course, being Latina, I'm very familiar with the story of La Llorona. I liked how you characterized her voice.
This poem is beautifully haunting, Stephanie!
I think i saw a movie about her. Crazy things that we do in a rage...or madness.