Prelude: Exerpt from The use of thought / Samuel Ramos. -- Early influences: Major Aranda's hand / Alfonso Reyes -- My cousin Agueda and In the wet shadows / Ramón López Velarde -- Excerpt from Pedro Páramo / Juan Rulfo -- L.A. nocturne: the angels / Xavier Villaurrutia. -- Chicano/a voices I: How to tame a wild tongue / Gloria Anzaldúa -- India / Richard Rodriguez -- Mediatations on the South Valley: Poem IX / Jimmy Santiago Baca -- B. Traven is alive and well in Cuernavaca / Rudolfo Anaya . -- Contemporary Mexican voices: Excerpt from The death of Artemio Cruz / Carlos Fuentes -- Introduction from Here's to you, Jesusa! / Elena Poniatowska -- The day of the dead and I speak of the city / Octavio Paz -- Excerpt from The book of lamentations /Rosario Castellanos. -- Chicano/a voices 2: Daddy with Chesterfields in a rolled up sleeve / Ana Castillo -- Never marry a Mexican / Sandra Cisneros -- Maria de Covina / Dagoberto Gilb -- Excerpt from Crossing over: a Mexican family on the migrant trail / Rubén Martínez -- Hagiography of the Apostate / Igncaio Padilla -- Aunt Leonor and Aunt Natalia / Ángeles Mastretta -- Identity hour or, What photos would you take of the endless city / Carlos Monsiváis -- Fish of fleeting skin / Coral Bracho.