The Rescue

El ocho patas
pulls La Llorona

from the San Antonio River
by her broken silver wings

her underwear
is muddy

her mouth
full of floodwaters

her hair
holds trembling sticks

tall buildings
leap in the sky

the Alamo
tells stormy lies

el ocho patas
drags La Llorona

onto the banks
of the pointless river

and as she
dries off

her breasts
harden on her chest

and she will not
thank him