La Llorona

It was either William or Henry James who decreed that all of us belong to one of two categories: those who believe in ghosts and those who do not wish to believe in ghosts. These admissions may actually be of some significance, for what we fear is not so much the being as it is the unknown surrounding it. Of all the ghost stories shrouded in mystery, that of La Llorona is probably the best known. It can be traced back many miles and three centuries to become a part of the Mexican border folklore. There are countless variations on her story, but they all carry the same theme…the weeping woman seeking her children.

Among the old folk tales told up and down the Rio Grande is the story of Maria Gonzales. She was not a great beauty, and she had nothing in the way of a dowry to offer, but she fell madly in love with a dashing young nobleman who walked past her window each day. She was not alone in her love for this man. Everyone on the street watched the young man, and women everywhere wished to marry with him. He was tall and strong, with deep brown eyes and a warm, winning smile, which showed beautiful white teeth.

This man was very popular with all the women, and it seemed like he would never take a wife. Maria believed in her heart that if she could get him to notice her, let him know in some way how much she loved him, then her state of poverty would not keep them apart. She began to formulate her plans, and on the next day, she began to carry them out. At the expected time of his walk, she strolled casually out on her patio so he might see her when he walked by. She had dressed in her finest clothing and had put flowers in her black hair.

In time, she found a little more courage to stroll out to the gate and eventually to the street. The handsome man did notice her, and when his dark eyes looked into hers, there seemed to be a spark. That one moment was enough to give her hope that one day he would be hers. When he asked her to marry, even though...