Imagination Prompts: Fascination
What are you currently fascinated with?
A bit of an abbreviated account of something I came across this week. From my notes:
In Mexico there is the story of Maria. La Llorona.
She is an exceptionally beautiful woman, with large dark eyes and thick silken hair that is said to move like a waterfall. Blindly passionate, Maria is desperately in love with a man -- unnamed in most texts but for the sake of this depiction he will be addressed as 'Lalo'. The couple fell together many times over the years and created three children. Spurred on by her own desires and harassment from the local church, Maria often begs Lalo to marry. The only thing she talks about is them being together -- a beautiful wedding in front of the entire village and a house for their family. She knows what she needs and has tried everything to persuade him.
But he rejects her. Every time he says no. He does not visit regularly and as the years pass it becomes apparent that his feelings towards her are growing more cold and intolerant. Maria pleads but Lalo always disappears -- he doesn't want all of the baggage that she brings, he says. The run-down house and the children that are always screaming... Why would he want something like that? What a horrible life that would be.
So Maria drowns her three children. She knows that her children would want her to be happy with Lalo. She loves them so much but she loves their father more. She would do anything to be with him and surely this proves it.
But Lalo rejects her again. He calls her horrible names and spits. Rumors spread across the village overnight and she is persecuted for her sacrifice. They want her dead because of her devotion. Lalo leaves and swears that he will not return.
So Maria drowns herself. She knows that it is the only way. She has no lover and no beautiful children. In the darkest hour her neighbors and priest have turned their backs on her.
But her God rejects her as well. She stands at the gates of Heaven and begs to be let in. Her life has been so hard but always she has been devoted -- surely her God must reward that. But He asks Maria where her children are. She cries and cries and tells Him that she does not know. Instead of opening his arms and comforting her, her God casts her out. Maria cannot enter Heaven until she finds her children.
So Maria is condemned to walk the Earth. She was once an exceptionally beautiful woman but decades of crying have left her disfigured -- her glassy wet eyes droop over her cheek bones and her jaw hangs open in a permanent wail. She doesn't know where her children are, has no lover, and has been spurned by her people and God. All day and night she cries over her misfortune and three drowned offspring. She drifts from town to town, looking in windows and searching for them.
Every once in a while she thinks she finds one. A little boy or girl wandering alone. They look just like hers and in rush of joy she grabs them up, hugging them tight and taking them away to show her God. Maria is so excited and happy that she doesn't notice the little differences until it is too late. She returns to Earth and continues to search.
A bit of an abbreviated account of something I came across this week. From my notes:
In Mexico there is the story of Maria. La Llorona.
She is an exceptionally beautiful woman, with large dark eyes and thick silken hair that is said to move like a waterfall. Blindly passionate, Maria is desperately in love with a man -- unnamed in most texts but for the sake of this depiction he will be addressed as 'Lalo'. The couple fell together many times over the years and created three children. Spurred on by her own desires and harassment from the local church, Maria often begs Lalo to marry. The only thing she talks about is them being together -- a beautiful wedding in front of the entire village and a house for their family. She knows what she needs and has tried everything to persuade him.
But he rejects her. Every time he says no. He does not visit regularly and as the years pass it becomes apparent that his feelings towards her are growing more cold and intolerant. Maria pleads but Lalo always disappears -- he doesn't want all of the baggage that she brings, he says. The run-down house and the children that are always screaming... Why would he want something like that? What a horrible life that would be.
So Maria drowns her three children. She knows that her children would want her to be happy with Lalo. She loves them so much but she loves their father more. She would do anything to be with him and surely this proves it.
But Lalo rejects her again. He calls her horrible names and spits. Rumors spread across the village overnight and she is persecuted for her sacrifice. They want her dead because of her devotion. Lalo leaves and swears that he will not return.
So Maria drowns herself. She knows that it is the only way. She has no lover and no beautiful children. In the darkest hour her neighbors and priest have turned their backs on her.
But her God rejects her as well. She stands at the gates of Heaven and begs to be let in. Her life has been so hard but always she has been devoted -- surely her God must reward that. But He asks Maria where her children are. She cries and cries and tells Him that she does not know. Instead of opening his arms and comforting her, her God casts her out. Maria cannot enter Heaven until she finds her children.
So Maria is condemned to walk the Earth. She was once an exceptionally beautiful woman but decades of crying have left her disfigured -- her glassy wet eyes droop over her cheek bones and her jaw hangs open in a permanent wail. She doesn't know where her children are, has no lover, and has been spurned by her people and God. All day and night she cries over her misfortune and three drowned offspring. She drifts from town to town, looking in windows and searching for them.
Every once in a while she thinks she finds one. A little boy or girl wandering alone. They look just like hers and in rush of joy she grabs them up, hugging them tight and taking them away to show her God. Maria is so excited and happy that she doesn't notice the little differences until it is too late. She returns to Earth and continues to search.