The Crescent City
Ancestral roots are calling me
to Crescent City near the sea.
A city with its past displayed
where long ago the pirates played.
The glowing lights of Vieux Carré;
Café du Monde’s belov’d beignets,
and Creole foods prepared with flare;
it’s been so long since I’ve been there.
The Cajuns live life with pizazz
and everywhere sweet sounds of jazz.
These dreams are where I long to be,
this Crescent City near the sea.
December 19, 2022
Vieux Carré (pronounced VOO kah-RAY) translates to “old square “ in English. The French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, is referred to as the “Vieux Carré.”
Beignet (pronounced bin-YEAH) is a French pastry.
Categories:
cajuns, city, nostalgia, places, travel,
Form: Rhyme
Labyrinthia P. Babineaux …………… The White Witch of the Lower 9th Ward
Papa Babineaux …………………………… The Father, an honest apothecary
Algebra Babineaux ……………………… The even-tempered Mother
Bumblebee Babineaux ………………… The precocious younger Sister
Gnat Babineaux …………………………… The curious little Brother
Cabernet Babineaux …………………… The distant Cousin
Ulysses “Zully” Kowolski ……………… The world-weary Sailorman
Nikita Something ………………………… The learned Creole Seer
Mitchell Hollywood ………………………. The adulterous Inn Keeper
Tom Sickley …………………………………… The disingenuous Feather Merchant
Fr. Marcus Paternoster ……………...... The lecherous Clergyman
Steve Merkin ………………………………… The unscrupulous Accountant
Vince Fettish ………………………………… The nefarious Fantasy Man
Xerxes the Great …………………………… The Emperor of Persia and Media
Dante Foolhardy …………………………... The Stultifying Court Jester
John Travailleur, Esq. …………………… Just another John
Plus … townspeople, pirates, Indians, street musicians and beggars, Cajuns, swamp rats, women, young ladies, and girls.
Categories:
cajuns, allegory, psychological,
Form: List
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
Categories:
cajuns, family, wedding, wedding,
Form: Haiku
Seafood Gumbo
Start with a dark brown Roux
Just like those Cajuns do
Next add the bell pepper and onion too
Tomatoes and garlic cloves, just a few
Cover it all with chicken stock
as this will help the flavors to unlock
File' and smoked sausage now go into the pot
Add the crab meat and peeled shrimp that were freshly caught
Serve it over a cup of rice
You'll find the that it tastes real nice
Put in enough pepper to set your mouth aglow
Now eat up that bowl of seafood gumbo
By Mike Francis
Categories:
cajuns, food
Form: Rhyme
alive
bright
noisy
different
jovial
pumping
energetic
outlandish
musical
death
graves
shrimp
river boats
voodoo
floats
Mardi Gras
masks
beads
eateries
fun
swamps
tour guide
horse carriages
rain
clouds
casino
Cajuns
Categories:
cajuns, life, love,
Form: List
Louisiana Cajuns
Eatin' hot cornbread,
Chompin' aligator tail
And suckin' crawfish heads.
Eatin' jambalaya
And gumbo stew:
Gourmand, Sunday dinner,
On the old bayou.
Categories:
cajuns, food, funny, people, places,
Form: I do not know?