La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)

Saguaro blossom. Image licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.  Original photo by kreyten on Flickr.  The original image can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/10271343@N00/2462280028.

 

 

Dear Readers,

 

This poem is woven around the songs “Volver, volver”, by Vicente Fernández (all the Spanish in the poem comes from the song’s lyrics), “La Llorona”, which, like "Volver, volver", has multiple versions, and the legend of “La Llorona”, who killed her children to follow her lover, was rejected, and then couldn’t enter heaven until she found her children; hence her continual tears as she wanders the earth.  The words of the poem are intended to be set to the music of “Volver, volver”.  There is a link in the Notes if you are unfamiliar with the music.  I think it is helpful to hear the song before reading the poem.

Best regards!

Rick

La Llorona

(The Weeping Woman)

      "...Driven to tears by lost love..."

Oh my love, why have you left me?

For the two of us shared love beyond compare

If you stayed, oh how I’d love you!

I'd enfold my arms around you--

We'd find love most anywhere

Y volver, volver, volver!

If I knew you truly loved me

We would share such bliss together

We'd be happy anywhere!

Este amor apasionado

Anda todo alborotado, por volver.

Voy camino a la locura

Y aunque todo me tortura, se querer.

Y volver volver, volver

A tus brazos otra vez

Llegaré hasta donde estés

Yo se perder, yo se perder

Quiero volver, volver, volver

But my love I cannot follow--

For the welfare of our children, I don’t dare!

I must keep them safely guarded

Thus my heart’s will is discarded

And no more your love will share

Y volver, volver, volver!

I must keep our children guarded

All my own needs disregarded--

Sorrow now my only fare

Nos dejamos hace tiempo

Pero me llego el momento de perder

Tu tenías mucha razon

Le hago caso al corazón

Y me muero por volver

Y volver volver, volver

A tus brazos otra vez

Llegaré hasta donde estés

Yo se perder, yo se perder

Quiero volver, volver, volver

Now I am the Weeping Woman

And this bitter loss of your love I can’t bear!

All my cries, unheeded sorrows

All my tears flood sad tomorrows

No, Llorona won’t be spared!

Y volver, volver, volver!

All my cries mourn unmet passion

All my tears earn no compassion

No, Llorona won’t be spared!

No vuelves porque no quieres!

Nos dejamos hace tiempo pero

Me llego el momento de perder

Tu tenías mucha razon, le hago caso

Al corazón y me muero por volver.

Y volver volver, volver

A tus brazos otra vez

Llegaré hasta donde estés

Yo se perder, yo se perder

Quiero volver, volver, volver!

 

 

©2012 Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

 

Notes:

 

One of the things I try to accomplish in this poem is to explore the roots of the legend of “La Llorona”, i.e., is there a reason for her situation.  Here the poem is meant to be the weaving of two soliloquies, one by the female lover (English text), the other by the male (Spanish text).  Each has a slightly different view on the reason and details of their separation, and each brings their own needs and weaknesses to the failed relationship.  I leave it to the reader to decide if the woman actually kills her children, literally becoming the legendary “La Llorona”, or is just driven to the brink of committing the crime, but keeping her children safe.

The songs “Volver, volver” and “La Llorona” are two of my wife's, Rosalinda’s, favorite Mexican songs.  Over the years they have become deep favorites of mine as well.  The concept for this poem came in May of 2012 when we visited one of our favorite restaurants in Cabo San Lucas, Mi Casa, and were played these two requested songs.  The evoked emotion was so strong that words demanded to be set down in verse.

 

There are many versions of the lyrics of both the songs “Volver, volver” and “La Llorona”, but here are two links to YouTube performances that I enjoy:

 

Volver, volver:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugNQ5uIN09Q

La Llorona:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-F8GxI0t7I

Below I give a translation of the "classical" version of "Volver, volver", the one by Vicente Fernandez. The translation is not alway completely literal, but goes with the sentiment and flow of the poem.

There are too many versions of "La Llorona" to decide which one to pick. So I will forgo that effort.  The interested reader should feel free to explore the many versions.

Volver, volver   Vicente Fernández   Este amor apasionado Anda todo alborotado, por volver. Voy camino a la locura Y aunque todo me tortura, se querer.   Nos dejamos hace tiempo Pero me llego el momento de perder Tu tenías mucha razon Le hago caso al corazón Y me muero por volver   Y volver volver, volver A tus brazos otra vez Llegaré hasta donde estés Yo se perder, yo se perder Quiero volver, volver, volver   No vuelves porque no quieres! Nos dejamos hace tiempo pero Me llego el momento de perder Tu tenías mucha razon, le hago caso Al corazón y me muero por volver.   "Y volver volver, volver A tus brazos otra vez Llegaré hasta donde estés Yo se perder, yo se perder Quiero volver, volver, volver!

Return, return   Vicente Fernández   This passionate love is beside itself, with desire to return. I'm on the road to madness And while I'm tortured by everything, I know how to love   We parted ways some time ago But I feel the full weight of my loss You had every reason to leave But now I listen to my heart And I'm dying to return   Oh, return, return, return To your arms again To be where you are I am so lost, I am so lost I long to return, return, return   You haven't returned because you don't want to We parted so long ago But I now fully feel this moment of loss You had every reason, yet finally I  heed My heart, and I'm dying to return   Oh, return, return, return To your arms again To be where you are I am so lost, I am so lost I have such longing to return, return, return!

Reviews

[Marie Anzalone]

Very familiar with both songs, my favorite version of La Llorona is the haunting one by Chavela Vargas that was used live in the movie "Frida." I sent you a critique of some of the Spanish with suggestions for improving the grammar, essence, and translation you have here. You did a nice job capturing the essence of the songs and the stories behind them. I typically like poetry a little more show and a little less tell; I like to immerse myself and interpret the work for myself- but that is just a personal preference. You put a lot of research and thought into this, thank you for sharing. Let me know if you would like any additional cultural insights.

[Helen Crutchett]

What a delightful, romantic and awesome piece you have presented here. A perfect accompaniment to the painting of Llorona! It was a pleasure to read and indeed learn more about the legend.

The videos were beautiful and set one's imagination soaring.

Thank you Rick so much for submitting this masterpiece to the contest!


Helena :)

[Great Aunt Astri]

Well, I don't know the song, but I thoroughy enjoyed reading your poem. The information you supply is very useful. It must have taken you quite some research!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This is a piece of interesting and educational folk lore. I always love to hear stories from different cultures and the various ways they explain the world in which they dwell; whether it be religious or simply folk history or legend. I just love the stories. And I've learned a great deal that has helped shape my perspective through the years studying these histories. Reading The Epic of Gilgamesh was a huge favorite. The tale of Sargon the Great was another interesting read. I've noticed that histories and legends get stolen from other cultures, changed a wee bit and then claimed as original. It seems that plagiarism is not a new concept. (laughing) But I've never worried about such silly things, after all the greatest form of flattery is imitation. But there are some paranoid, capricious and overexcitable writers out there... I'm not very adept at Spanish I'm afraid...there are so many dialects too. But this was a joy to read.

[Tomás Ó C..]

Good poem telling a tragic tale... had never heard of the legend, which is the great thing about poetry, it bridges cultures...

[Cole Hayley]

Beautiful Rick. Your passion and research you put into your piece is so breathtaking, I love the little details you give. Every one of your work is like a giant space opera, so ambitious, but you hit the nail on the head once again.

[Wondering Mind]

What an admirable effort in research and execution you've put into the creation of this masterpiece. Your yin and yang sanf beautifully here.

[Wolfhilde]

I have no words for this wonderful and beautiful poem. it is very well done!

[emmajoy]

I’ve listened to the music four times now, read your post, six or seven times and have found it difficult to review or come up with something other than what's been said. Once again you’ve taken words - in this case lyrics, and offered a different concept, asking the reader to come up with an opinion if not a judgement.

Whilst you’ve created another element, I think that whereas the woman stresses the power of her love and passion for and to the man by expressing what she could or might do, it’s the mother’s love for her children that’s paramount.

I don’t doubt my lack of Spanish was/is unhelpful re. the song because I couldn’t find emotion in the performer’s voice, the words somehow cloud them .. for me, sorry.