Best Baton Rouge Poems
In the year 2003,
both Southern University
and Louisiana State University
won national football championships
A monster celebration followed
in downtown Baton Rouge
It was broadcast live on local TV
There were speeches by the coaches,
alumni and players from both teams
and the presidents of both schools
But oh, the ceremony finale
Yes the finale was sight to behold
Both bands, in full costume dress
stood side-by-side together
and played a slow, majestic version
of our National Anthem...
Oh-say-does-that-star-spangled
banner-yet WAAAAVE!!...
A two second pause
(which seemed like an eternity)
O'er-the-land-of-the-FREEEE!!
(Cameras scanning the audience
People shedding tears
Overcome with emotion and pride)
And-the-home-of-the----BRAAAAVE!!
The cheers and applause
shook the whole town...
***Southern University won the Black College Football National Championship that year. Their band is well-known and considered to be one of the best in the country, having played at The White House and several Super Bowls...
A teen when Mom died
Five young brothers and sisters
Dunn supported them
Pro football player with heart
Started running for his life
Written for Brian Strand’s Ekphrasis contest.
Former NFL running back Warrick Dunn not only managed to support his own family
but started building homes for other families when he played with the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers. In “Running for my Life” he describes how he later met face-to-face
with the man convicted of shooting and killing his mother Betty, a Baton Rouge,
Louisiana police officer.
She became a symbols of American pride,
as she made her run down the tracks.
Those big drivers turning eight wheels
and smoke pouring from her stack.
Pulling cars from Chicago to Memphis,
on across that Delta Land,
running down to Baton Rouge and over to the Gulf Coast sands.
She saw the Yellow Dog run where the Southern Cross the Dog
ate shrimp in New Orleans and ribs from a Kansas City hog
She pulled corn out of Illinois and a load of wheat to sell
Rumble on down to Mississippi on the Monday Morning Rail
The engineer, with his hand on the whistle,
keeping the train on time.
His schedule became a badge of honor,
As he ran the railroad line.
He rolled through village and town
then turned the throttle loose,
A hundred tons of solid steel, a
hundred cars and a caboose.
She was called “the future of America,”
Before the diesel took her place.
She kept her date with destiny and lost
In the final race.
History has told the story of an era
that has come and gone,
A hundred years of running the rail,
the steam engine has sung her song.
Black and gold,
Black and gold,
Will forever burn fruitfully in my soul.
Young and old,
True fans of the New Orleans Saints.
We have been through the storm.
We have had to mourn,
But a new way of life is about to be born.
Black and white,
We’ve fought the fight,
And won!
No more being the laughing stock,
A new chapter in our lives has begun.
Red, white, and blue,
The time is due,
To show us respect,
To recollect and rebuild
The Heartbeat of America.
Yes, people claimed to be scared of us.
The people of the N.O. want the U.S.,
And the world to know,
That we are the best,
That we passed the test.
Black and gold
Floods our hearts’ bayou,
And to our dear Saints,
We love you!
Black and gold
Is in our soul,
We’ll march with you in the Super Bowl,
And back to the Superdome,
Our own home,
With a trophy in our hands,
Because of diligence,
And favor of the big man.
Black and gold,
Black and gold,
Will forever burn fruitfully in my soul.
wrote 1-27-10
Written by Nicole S. Brown, music teacher at
Park Forest Elementary School, Baton Rouge, LA,
Native of Monroe, LA, and former resident of New Orleans, LA
BOBBY MCGEE - THE POLICE REPORT VERSION
Unemployed and destitute in Baton Rouge
Intending to steal an illegal ride on a train
Feeling tired from too much drink
Bobby sexually allured a truck driver to stop
He took us to New Orleans in the rain
I withdrew my harmonica from my filthy scarf
And played some chords while Bobby sang
For the entire duration of the journey
We lived like hobos from coast to coast
As close croneys and illicit lovers
But she decided (wisely)
To abandon me at Salinas
And try for a more meaningful life
I would (foolishly) exchange my entire future
To return to that past hand-to-mouth existence
And especially the illicit sex with her
Freedom simply means all is lost
“Nothing” itself is valueless, therefore free
Feeling good was an easy option, and that
Seemed sufficient to us both then
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Just a fun piece, written by a devoted fan of
Kristofferson, writer of many great songs.
I have tried to paraphrase the story as closely as possible.
I've been up a bit and down
a bit and hung around
in river towns, when glory days
and gamblin' boats were beauty to behold;
long and sleek with shapely curves
and ripe just like a lady
in the bloomin' blush of prime.
Standin' high n' mighty.......she
was glidin' through the water,
lookin' every bit a woman,
feelin' fancy-free and proud.
A sacred shroud a-movin'
on the Mississippi highway,
shinning like a diamond,
in the moonlight headin' south.
Been livin' on the river most
my life. I've seen bout' everything
the river lets you see.
Winona, Minnesota, south
to Memphis, Tennessee.
Down to Shrievport, Lousianna, where
shrimpers float their bayou boats
and freighters sail the sea.
Nawlin's cajun cookin
be my comfort company,
along with Creole women
givin' spice of life to me.
The dancin' bands play Zydeco
and sing about the legendary
swamp-witch history.
The river women love me
and I tell you this I know
'cause up and down the river, river
women tell me so.
Spent my gambin' days in Natchez,
Mississippi, don't ya see,
where fine up-standin' ladies
mixed with riff-raff just like me.
Had a time or two of trouble, but
young men with a temper
can test trouble easily.
I spent some time from livin'
doin' labor for the man,
but when my time was over
and the man had cut me loose,
I left my youth behind me
and my river life began.
Born in Chauvin, Lousianna,
back in nineteen forty-three,
a bayou boy who found his joy,
dreamin' dreams of river queens,
and hopin' glory days were on their way
so he could walk the river block
and smell the rare and richer air
of up-north Baton Rouge.
Then gaze and praise her majesty;
the lady, Mississippi, flowin' south into the sea.
With cajun music ragin'
in my bones of 16 years;
and fantasies of youthful truth
now burnin' in my soul,
I left my home in Chauvin,
on my way to Baton Rouge,
to search the Mississippi for my dreams of Zydeco.
would marry any
any girl from baton rouge
the private open house
(Aieee! We Gon’ Pass A Good Time Yeah Cher …Enjoy et Laisez les bons temps rouler)
Haricot was tall and quite lean
In English they would call him String Bean
Haricot would often travel down the Bayou
by way of pirogue to visit with his sister Sue
Every one knew when Haricot came through
The morning would start with the smell of Roux
Caf Noir, Hot hush puppy’s and biscuits too
one could feel music of the zydeco by mid-afternoon
And Haricot would shout Laisez les bons temps rouler
The town folk and kinfolk alike would gather that day
Some found sipping on bourbon and café au lait
while awaiting the succulent taste of Cochon de lait
Oh the savory taste of Lagniappe which filled the air
All truly possessed la Joie de vivre
Consuming Andouille and Boudin flavored with the Bouquet Garni
Children could be found nibbling on sweet Beignet
While elders could be found playing a game of Bouree'
The women would have prepared jambalaya, Gumbo’s, Grillades
As the sunsets all will have ate every thing from their bowls and plates
And all would begin again to dance Fais-do-do
Haricot would shout too all and his sister Sue
Mon cher, mon cher sûrement ceci est la vie
Good music good friends, family, dancing and cuisine
ceci habite véritablement Sue et tout agreed
The only time I prayed or the first I can remember are the ones from bathrooms. Snorting lines of coke off the back of a toilet praying that no one caught me. Or in the bathroom at my mother's losing my mind from all the LSD I've eaten praying I don't stay like that. Or in the bathroom where I use to cook meth praying that I didn't blow the place up. Praying in my brothers bathroom because I think my heart is going to explode. Praying in the bathroom of the courthouse downtown that the judge wouldn't throw me away for life. Praying in the bathroom of a hotel in Florida because the guys corvette I stole is pounding on the door. Praying in the bathroom at Baton Rouge general that my baby wouldn't be deformed.
There are signs everywhere
From here and there
With all of the hell I caught
From where I've been to
Where I took a stand
To understand that for my life
God you have big big plans
For Nikki all things in my life
Happened for reason.
I lost a lot of me and gained
More of you and did what
You told me to do.
You told me to write.
Sometimes at day...
Sometimes at night...
You told me to let go
And live the life that's
True because Nikki
Along with Dip I, God,
Am calling You. You sent
Me to Baton Rouge to
Get rid of the dude that
Is All About Slime because
Ten years is a long time
To deal with a man who
Was not mine.You had me
Wondering Who Do You Love,
A Love Story In Poetry, when
I went through an ordeal
And fell in love against my will.
Through all of that You were
Right there after getting declined
Seven times in Monroe
You wanted the world to know
That You placed into my
School Days, Holidays, and
All Days That Lie Between,
Along with a sequel to give
Me a fire resume that no other
Administrator hater could say
I did not belong in a classroom
That one along with many others
Tried to take my career as an
Educator to doom with lies,
You helped me give a story of my life
And shows you once again that
I'm wise and at times can see
Through racism, abuse, and
Spreading poverty because
I faced these challenges as
A youth. I learned that
Following the path of righteousness
Is much better than living foul
In my much latest book Trials
Of a Northeast Louisiana Child.
As I went through my life as
The seventh child, with seven books,
Many talents, many teaching certificates,
For my battles learning to let God
Deal with it. I know Lord God today
I saw the number seven in the heavenly
Sky three times. Seven is completion
And the goal is reaching. I know that
All is well. My books will sell.
From miniscule to massive is
My book sales in the future
Because my faith is active
And my diligence is unusual
And only came through You
Because I have stepped into
My destiny and I'm where You
Want me to be.
wrote 11-23-10
Two years and a couple of weeks and I will be on the road again. Back from living right and ready to start living wrong. Ain't that a *****. But I got a pocket full of money gotta last me till they burn me on beach of Lake Bistineau. Not much to hope for but a redneck's dream gets lost in double wides, Pearl beer and filter kings. I'll see you in Houston. I'll see you in Baton Rouge, I'll see you Oxford if your shoes ain't too blue. Until then my friend I'll see you in the Bayou, Syd & Harry's, Foresters, Magoos, and all those place we used to get lost.
Monroe*,Shreveport, Alexandria*, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge*, New Orleans*,
support the woman who has either visited or lived there before. She's coming straight from
the top of the bottom of the map. She wrote sevn books of poetry give her a hand clap in
support and buy her books that are good for people of all sorts. Buy School Days, Holidays,
and All Days That Lie Between, More School Days, Holidays, and All Days That Lie Between
for those who want to learn all across the curriculum along with something for those who love sports. For those who need inspiration, buy God's Calling You To Live a Life That's True and Trials of a Northeast Louisiana Child . No these book costs will not drive your pocket book wild. For those who love love or wants bad love to walk out the door, buy Who Do You Love? Love Story in Poetry or All About Slime. Any of these are a true treasure that is sublime. You will not want to put these down. You will be talking about it all over town. I want your support. I'm from right around the way. So please suport me today.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?
_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Nicole%20S%
20Brown
wrote 12-10-10
Gotta get to Phoenix
No I gotta go to bed
If you try to talk to me again
I'll just pretend I'm dead
Babe you made me mad tonight
Now I'm leaving at first light
So see ya later
Nothing wordy
No sad love note
Bye-bye birdy
Twisted hanky in my lap
Marker red trailing a map
Finger pointing where to find it
And my footsteps just behind it
What's chafing you is burning me
Now I'm about to set you free
So see ya later
Nothing wordy
No sad love note
Bye-bye birdy
Gotta get to Phoenix
Baton Rouge or Montreal
Drop a postcard to the folks
They'll worry after all
Years of you and none of me
Finally took its toll you see
So see ya never
Nothing wordy
Just a love note
Bye-bye birdy
Free Bird's last flight
I Need You
Midnight Rider
Tuesday's Gone
Simple kind of man
Caught Up In You
Gimme Three Steps
Hold On Loosely
Call Me the Breeze
One Way Out
These Eyes
Blue Sky
Free Bird
Dedicated to Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines, and the flight crew who died October 20, 1977 on a chartered Convair CV-240 bound for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, five miles northeast of Gillsburg, Mississippi.
Times they are so much a-changing
as Dylan proposed Bob and not Dylan
who was a genius but also a drunkard
When black seems white
and white appears black
grey silver hair is reaching
its tune and completion
Tim is told he needs a new quartet
Time Place Reason and Feeling
And yet he sings the Seniority Blues
Age is surely no achievement
and youth no transgression
but the pendulum has swung
dialectics require constant change
Surely he needs to hand over the baton
Baton Rouge? Baton Royal Marine? Beating retreat?
Why should he go with the proverbial times
when the times refuse to go with him?
Tim prefers intuition over merely following the crowd
03rd October2018
Reference to:
Bob Dylan 'The times they are a-changing'.
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh writer.
Baton Rouge in Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose,
('Me and Bobby Mac Gee' written by Kris Kristofferson
but more convincingly sung by Janis Joplin).