Best Jambalaya Poems
Listen Up, all good citizens of Milton Creek
If it's a night on the town and good food you seek
Come over to Aces
With your smilin' faces
The Grand Reopening's tonight. Come, take a peek!
Milt left his Aces Hotel to the entire town
No better place for a steak house, so come on down
It's got a new name, "Hank's"
In advance I'll say, "Thanks"
It serves the finest T-bones anywhere around
Restaurant and hotel are managed by Lin Lane
The town council swears it won't be part of a chain
Come early; take a seat
The steaks cannot be beat
Tonight there's free whiskey and imported champagne
Now, Lin is from way down yonder in New Orleans
She makes good chicken gumbo like most Cajun queens
It's good down home cookin
You don't need a bookin
Heard she's servin' jambalaya and collard greens
Right here tonight, in Milton Creek, as a surprise
Hanks will be introducing burgers and french fries
A dish loved in the South
It'll taste good in your mouth
But save room for pralines, and bourbon pecan pies
Mosey on over to Aces and have a bite
Tell all your friends and bring a hearty appetite
Get on your horse and ride
No guns allowed inside
There's a big party goin' on at Hanks tonight!
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Jovial Dr Jekyll played for juvenile Justice
a just jaspered journey
jokingly jumped a joyride
to juicy jukebox jabbering
in jackal jackboots
from nearby jungle
Dr Jekyll clasped a jackknife eating
jambalaya to justify a
juggled juxtapositional
jurisdiction jamming
as jugular vein jingled jewels
joyfully jauntily jaywalking
to a jay named Jim Jolly !
Onward he jumped to a
Jungian junction
Jupiter jocund watching his
journeying joints
journalese seemed a jibe jig
but neither Jewess, Jesuit
or jeweller jiggled this job
So he jerked his jess
like a jape for Japan
Jejuning onto January for the
next jangle of jasmine
No jellyfish was Dr Jekyll in Jordanian jerkin
though sometimes Mr Hyde
with jeroboam swirling alongside !
Snow,
never Heard of that
I all hear About
is that Louisiana rain
oh Louisiana
u know
that state
with an event called mardi gras all year round
and we just live in the swamp
yeah
it’s that state
the withholder of fluxuating humidity
never known from peeps from the other states
he he he
its extremely unique
its all untold by that Louisiana rain
you really have no idea what it’s like
how upsetting
how disappointing
come live it through my eyes
no I don’t live in New Orleans
that’s not the only place
in Louisiana
though it’s a common mistake
but if I don’t live in
new Orleans
I must be a swamp
Rug rat
With an undefined education
Wrong
Totally wrong
Im the girl that knows about that Louisiana rain
I have an accent
That has a drawl
Though This place its
Almost as south as it gets
Just
Don’t include
Florida in the mixing pot
We are also the only
State with a parish instead of a county
Aren’t you intrigued?
Don’t forget the home of gumbo
Rue and our famous jambalaya
Also Lets not forget crawfish cause that’s just the best
we also live in a boot hard to forget
though Our Louisiana rain
just never told you
Shhh it’s a secret
Its called Louisiana
the Louisiana rain
What's go great about New Orleans, Louisiana, is that of its jazz music and its voodoo culture. The city has been known as "The Big Easy" since the 1800s. It seems that all of the tourists from across the United States have considered New Orleans their favorite vacation spot. There's always a Mardi Gras every day, we've got people throwing beads at each other, jazz musicians playing their instruments (the saxophones, trumpets, etc.), and people dress in costumes every single day. But what's so great about New Orleans, Louisiana, most of all is that when spring breakers come to the city for spring break, even when they're still going to college. Everybody knows that the Big Easy is also known for its Cajun cooking, especially when the chefs are known for making a lot of jambalaya, gumbo, and a lot of Cajun foods. And what's so great about New Orleans, Louisiana, is when MTV was there, especially when the MTV network executives had been recording episodes of "The Real World:" one back in 2000, the other was back in 2010. New Orleans, Louisiana, is the strongest city in America, even though it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina back in August 2005. But the famous street best known by New Orleans, Louisiana, most of all is the French Quarter and and one of New Orleans' favorite landmarks is the St. Louis Cathedral. And the New Orleans Arena and the Louisiana Superdome are home to the New Orleans Hornets (NBA-National Basketball Association) and the New Orleans Saints (NFL-National football League). Even the late Louis Armstrong was from the city. Well, I hope to go to New Orleans, Louisiana, one day. And if the City of New Orleans were to stay on the map for a long time, it's going to be like a Mardi Gras on a Saturday night and Fat Tuesday in the afternoon.
visitors arrive
during Chicago’s snow storm—
warm fire inside
the Florida-boy
wearing short sleeves and jeans—
snow angels
mother and father
shouting, “Wear your jacket”—
pneumonia
ice on the front steps
beneath foot long icicles—
handrails
the oldest son
cooking jambalaya—
guests inhale deeply
the step-mother
staring outside from upstairs—
snow drifts
children and sleigh bells
laughing as they speed down hill—
sudden stop
The New Orleans Saints
playing on her wedding day—
Cajuns watch
the wedding party
lining up for their entrance—
the Saints won
© December 9, 2011
Dane Smith-Johnsen
FORM: Haiku Series
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Oh my goodness
"Lets Party, Family Reunion"
Family of 10
Its all good, we stay close knit
Look forward to cookouts
Mardi Gras here is a big hit
Our seafood is the best, fresh from the bayou
My moms the best cook
Shrimp boulettes, jambalaya, just to name a few
Born on the bayou, its in my blood
Could never leave here
Louisiana is where I spent my girlhood
Written by: Debra Falgout
Contest by "SKAT"
Hold it jumping knife
Lead me now
Off pride quality resembling stationary trains
Under velvet willows
xylem yields Zephaniah
Angelic baritone can decorate
Everything from giants hollering inspirational jargon
Kids leaping mysteriously
No-one obscures problematically quaint
Redound steadfast triumphs
unwarrantably viscous wispy
XX
YY
Zany are bold claims
Diluted evaporates frost growth
Highly~Ineffective indefinite Jade•Green knavish
Limitation manifests naturally over periods
Quantify
Regurgitated slaves troublesome ugly vagrants
Wonderfully xenophobic yearlong zadnica,
****(nic) betrothed chatter delusional escapades
Fondled gifts harass innocent journey-men
Knowledge learnt more-so note-worthy opting-out
Presidential quarts recollection subsides
Troublesome undergrads vigorously womanize
***
Yesterday's Zzz's awaken by cognitive dialect
Eventually freshmen graduate
Hiding inside jambalaya ketamine
Luring man nonchalantly obsesses prostitution
Quietly
Real sex trumping unnamed vagina wilding-out
XYZ
Ambivalent bass clowns drenched excessively
Fake giggles heard intuitively
Jakaroos knock loudly mocking noises
Obesity plagues queen rich slobs
Time undos vestiges
Worry
X
Y
Z
•THE END•
10~07~16
Abstemious!
Be cooking.
Don’t eat from gastronomic hotels.
Insist jambalaya.
Kindly live maximally nutritious, opt pawpaw.
Quench.
Revitalize strength to undertake vital works XL,
Yields; zeal.
(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
When he walks – a jogging walking stumble,
Hands flap while moving,
Heavy feet plonk onto the floor,
The dull foot tapping of a toddler,
Where he wants to play, other toddlers live,
Pushing, frowning at those smothering what they target,
Why haven’t I got?,
Why? Why? Why? Want it now?
A noise he makes means something,
A noise like “ahh” or “ehh”,
Because he put his pinching fingers to his mouth,
It means dinner-time or “derrr” to him.
He didn’t eat as much as he hoped,
It is wiped a quarter onto his face,
In his hair, on his top, on his neck somehow,
On Daddys sleeve.
A jambalaya of interesting stimuli,
Cars, trains, planes, colours, noises, toys, people, lights,
Memories of desires, tastes, feelings and smells,
Too much can causes a brain electrical discharge.
The chapter of fun is ending,
He sees his bus and hears “home?” spoken with both request and instruction,
Bus wheels rumbling, the motion of movement, the background noises; dings and beeps,
The bus moves off with a heave of people.
He is quiet at the second bus stop,
He moves with only a twitch,
He banks his memories and falls asleep,
It’s a tough life being a toddler.
Louisiana Cajuns
Eatin' hot cornbread,
Chompin' aligator tail
And suckin' crawfish heads.
Eatin' jambalaya
And gumbo stew:
Gourmand, Sunday dinner,
On the old bayou.
MUSICAL PASSION
Music is the living soul
And beating heart of humanity.
It lights my fire of passion
Or tames my restless spirit.
Music calls me to live, taste, feel and see.
The spark of hope and change is ignited.
I hear the voice of the silenced and
Feel the anguish of the oppressed.
The soothing, soulful sounds of
Mangione’s flugelhorn makes me
“Feel so Good. “
The gritty, nasally voice of Dylan
Calls me to listen, for the answers
“Blowin’ in the Wind.”
The rich baritone of Cash
Warns me not to fall
In to the “Ring of Fire.”
Fogerty’s powerful voice
Invites me to dance with Willie and the Po Boys
“Down on the Corner.”
With Hank I can taste that
Home made “Jambalaya”
On the bayou.
Peter, Paul and Mary
Take me to that cherry lane
with “Puff the Magic Dragon.”
I can now call myself “Deacon Blues”
When I lose,
Becker and Fagan tell me.
I can taste the sweet
Tupelo Honey that flows
From the voice of Van Morrison
Jim Morrison said it for me
taking poetic license
music Light’s My Fire.
Panoply of mystical elements of holly day style
breathe prez sense frostily exaled aired
per millennia athwart
(this terrestrial spaceship planet Earth)
two plus seventeen carousel rides resonated
veritable pantheon of pagan rituals
and quirky superstitions lit
(akin to a lit Christmass tree)
starry eyed imagination
as catalyst viz *****Sapiens
furrowed stern brow of forehead
aft stemmed whilst Santa oft puzzling
(allocating suitable gifts)
inducing him to tug thought generating beard
pondering, whence agents provocateurs
receive just desserts
fueled hodge podge, mished mashed, helter skelter
eclectic December twenty fifth
encompassing tens of thousands previous generations
bred despacito fixtures via paganism,
Manicheaism, Jainism, et cetera
ancient brutish credos, ethos, faiths
brewed nebulous concoction
within mindset of early mankind
loose confection, confederation, conglomeration
indiscriminately torquing, vetting, whetting
disparate constituent beliefs
contagion wrought spirit paradigm
inculcating oral tradition Madonna and child
occupying high chair
whereat superstitions birthed patchwork
comprising divergent ensemble heralding
tender petsmart impact, where world wide web populated
with sacrificial pacification sans deity
via oblation, immolation, flagellation appeasing Dominatrix
borrow wing, vis a vis amalgamated viz Roman sol invictus
wrought fiery brimstone tempting those who dared
assert contrary fledgling jambalaya outlook
provoking regally supreme sacerdotal wiseman
punishing opposing incorporating
novel modus operandi explaining sacrilegious worship
Jambalaya tastes so fine
With sweet plantains fried…
Serve this dish up nice and hot,
Sure to hit the spot…
Of course you’ll feel fine
Won’t you sit,
Dine!
Dive deep
into my inner place
once more, maybe twice.
Fly while standing still,
as I did before
I learned the truth.
Lose myself in painting
to the point of no breath
or thought beyond the canvas.
Write with abandon
about heart, butterflies,
and her fierce beauty.
Walk among white marble tombs,
eat crawfish jambalaya,
dance the zydeco.
One more glass of wine,
just the one...
Any more and I’m lost.
Never lose myself again
to the blackness
of no memory.