A Stroll Through the French Quarter

Some would call me homeless.  I call myself a traveler.  In this city I traverse the wonder of human art and nature's beauty as if the two have melded together as one.  The ornate iron railings seem to grow into the sweet smelling vines and flowers that live upon them.  Hanging baskets with pink and purple impatiens and verdant ferns chuckle gently in the moist morning breeze as they adorn each balustrade.  Hidden gardens beckon me as I walk past their gates painted with worn layers of lover's hands as they steal away behind secluded walls.  They say I'm confused, yet I search to understand.  Here, the past calls to me and I listen.  Walking the streets and alley ways there is a sense of history, of lives that have loved and lost, of souls that linger in the heart of the buildings.  Always searching, the walls can not contain their bewildered wandering.  Inflicting confusion and sometimes pain on those they touch, they bath in the fountains and babble longing desires into each mind that seeks the peace of their soothing, gently bubbling water.  

petals blush gently
the patient garden awaits 
sweet stolen kisses

"For Sale," reads the sign on the window of the house before me.  Delicate filigree rails frame the porch as I approach the old glass pane and peer through it.  Inside I see a small room with peeling paint.  Worn wooden floors trace the lives that have lived here.  The ghost of Christmases past linger in the broken toys strewn across the floor.  Brightly colored beaded memories of ages of Mardi Gras dangle from hooks on the wall.  Upon the small corner desk I can see papers written in a fine pen like that of a poet's notes waiting an eternity for the completion of a long forgotten refrain.  I feel the joy that once lived here and the pain of loss that remains.

stains of memories
the children's laughter lingers
a tear on my cheek


01/15/16
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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A   Avatar
February 6, 2016 at 11:33 AM
anytime
A   Avatar
February 5, 2016 at 12:41 AM
Congrats on your win. LINDA
Inman Avatar
February 5, 2016 at 8:26 AM
Thank you PD.
A. Sharma Avatar
January 28, 2016 at 11:53 PM
Congrats on much deserved first place win with this lovely write James!!
Inman Avatar
January 30, 2016 at 8:18 AM
Thank you for reading it, Dr Sharma.
George   Avatar
January 28, 2016 at 11:52 PM
Many Congratulations on your well deserved first place win, James. Sincerely, Elaine George Just loves this!!!
Inman Avatar
January 30, 2016 at 8:17 AM
Thank you Elaine.
Gentry Avatar
January 28, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Congratulations on this 1st place win!
Inman Avatar
January 30, 2016 at 8:16 AM
Thanks Susan.
Allison Avatar
January 28, 2016 at 4:07 PM
A stunning haibun James many congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx
Inman Avatar
January 30, 2016 at 8:15 AM
Thank you Jan.
Scars Avatar
January 28, 2016 at 3:11 PM
Perfecto James!!! Congrats on your top win!! Well deserved *Smiles* -luloo
Inman Avatar
January 30, 2016 at 8:15 AM
Gracias Laura!
Lane Avatar
January 28, 2016 at 3:05 PM
My congratulations to you, James.. for your first place win. Thank you for writing for me.
Inman Avatar
January 30, 2016 at 8:11 AM
Thanks for hosting, Lin. Really enjoyed it. You had some nice entries.
Guillermo - Fraser Avatar
January 21, 2016 at 2:52 AM
James I., love how you differentiated such! your haikus are a wow!!! haiku is a not much for me but you did great! I enjoyed the read!~Olive Eloisa =`)
Inman Avatar
January 21, 2016 at 9:09 AM
Nice of you to visit Olive. Thank you for the lovely comment.
Fisher Avatar
January 17, 2016 at 9:44 AM
Great contrasts in your poem, James...and both so very true. I love New Orleans. Good luck in contest.
Inman Avatar
January 17, 2016 at 2:09 PM
Thank you David.
Nunez Avatar
January 15, 2016 at 3:59 PM
Hi James...:-) You have written a beautiful haibun which takes this reader to that lovely place...did you mean "Stroll" in your title?
Inman Avatar
January 15, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Yes I did. Thank you for pointing that out, and thanks for the nice comment Kim.
Raha Avatar
January 15, 2016 at 12:44 PM
Brilliant,just brilliant,this is a masterpiece Inman.
Inman Avatar
January 15, 2016 at 5:20 PM
Miraj, what a wonderful thing to say, thank you.
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