WEEPING
by Sarah ChristianScher
I do not drown them lightly
mi hijos
I do not hold little heads beneath the river
simply to see the life bubble from their mouths
so many bubbles
so many years
more than I care to count
small hands holding mine
warm at first then cold and clammy
their limbs tangled in my hair
pale twigs in the river grass
I wait with their bodies
for the families
for the mothers
for the wailing
I want to see my own weeping face looking down at me
La Llorona
to know that in grief
esta mi familia
and when mothers curse my name
I know that I am not alone
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: As a child, I remember my grandmother telling me stories about La Llorona, werewolves, and other wondrous things. Those stories are the mythology of Mexico, of a people who still believe that spirits and other strange beings walk the Earth with us and if you are very unlucky, you might just see one.
IMAGE: “La Llorona” by Sean Wells. Signed posters available at etsy.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sarah ChristianScher is a grad student at Cal Poly Pomona. She’s a full-time scientist and Wednesday-night poet. She lives in Southern California with her husband Ian and their pet cactus Paddy, the Irish Cactopus.
Silver Birch Press 
Lovely poem!
The monsters in our cultures (I am Greek) are other sides of our selves, which always can teach us something, if we look for the lessons they want us to learn!
I love Mexico and have been there many times, in great resorts and off the beaten road!
All best, Sarah!