Lagniappe

Lagniappe 
 
Wide plantation shutters open 
  With the laziness of 
 	Summered streams 
To blink against the shimmering reflections 
 Of brilliant midday 
   Dancing on the cobblestones, 
  	Mingling 
          With the scent of summer lilacs, 
 Rising 
  With its bon ami 
   At the wedding of the dawn 
  	and dusk, 
When live oaks 
 	 	stretch 
   across broad avenues 
To join their hands in shady arches -  
  Stately guardians 
    Holding off the power 
     Of the sun -  
Weaving lacy shadows 
  On the sidewalks
     and wide boulevards 
Where two sisters meet – 
     One light as morning 
 	    Amber eyes of fiery gold, 
     One with hair touched by the autumn 
 	    Dark eyes deep as midnight shadows - 
 Gifting lagniappes of affection in 
 	Sweet bouquets of southern honeysuckle
	            And 
 	Nosegays filled with satin daphne -  
Shared in greeting, 
Cherished in receiving 
As summer's sweet perfume
 	Entwined about the roses, 
 	 Saved 
 	   In bands of yellowing lace, 
To walk now arm in arm 
  Under eyelet parasols 
     Exchanging letters,  
 	Wrapped in satin ribbons, 
Strolling through 
 The winding lanes of secret byways 
    Sharing sweet beignets 
  	In quiet cafes 
           In the ete afternoon 
While a playful 
 Huckleberry breeze 
   Catches emerald ribbons 
 	 	 	Floating 
    From the brims of summer straw hats, 
     Ruffling petticoats, 
       Lacy as the Spanish moss 
   	Swaying in the eddies of the air, 
Until the jasmined sigh of evening 
 Mingles with the rising dews 
 	Of the deeply running river  	 	
 To call them back into the twilight mists,
   In reveries for yet another day.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Carber Avatar
January 30, 2020 at 8:36 AM
A belated congrats Sam-- I missed this before--lovely and lyrical as always!
Kauffman Avatar
January 30, 2020 at 11:34 AM
Hi L.J. Thank you so much my friend - love your alliteration. This was written for a very special southern friend. We both share connections to New Orleans and the south. Blessings to you! Good to hear from you.
Chiri Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 4:52 AM
Sam congrats on your top win!;)
Kauffman Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 1:21 PM
Thank you dear friend. You are such a support to all of us!
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